from The Republican (Danville, Indiana)—issue of Thursday, January 13, 1898—page 8, column 3:
[Suits Filed]
Rachel R. Tharp vs. Joshua S. Tharp. Divorce. Plaintiff alleges that when she and the defendant were married, he agreed to provide three of her children by a former marriage with a home until they were twenty-one years of age and at that time give each a horse, bridle and saddle; but instead of so doing he drove her children away from home; that within a week after the marriage he told her that her son Oliver could not stay three days longer and that she called to his mind what he had promised and he said that it made no difference, that it was his place and he was going to run it; that said Oliver was compelled to seek employment and that in so doing he soon afterwards met his death; that said defendant refuses to furnish said plaintiff with money to erect a suitable monument at the grave of said Oliver but allowed her to sell her stove and dining room and other articles to secure necessary money for said purpose; that her son Frank worked for said defendant and that the defendant compelled him to leave without decent clothes and no place to go to work; that in the spring of 1892 he took a contract to blow stumps and demanded that her son Edgar should do the work and because the plaintiff would not consent thereto he abused her and called her vile and harsh names in the presence of others and for this and other reasons he became angry at her and told her that her youngest son, Edgar, had to leave home; that on account of he being her youngest child and tender in years she grieved and suffered in mind and body and was greatly injured physically and mentally; that when she remonstrated with the defendant, he told her that she could leave too and “I will give you $150 and that's all you will get.” She alleges that he continually found fault [with] her work, accused her of being extravagant, of being lazy and would scold her and make fun of her when she was sick and could not work; that he would visit frequently in Nebraska and Missouri and though she had a sister and son living near the same places he would visit he never took her with him but once and that was in consideration of her promise to continue to live with him after he had acknowledged that he had done wrong and promised to do better; that two days before he started to the world's fair he told her she could go with him; that he left her at the railroad station in Chicago, to come home without a cent of money and she asked him for some money to have with her in case of an emergency and that he gave her twenty-five cents while he went to Nebraska with a large amount of money and checks; that when a dying sister in Nebraska wrote her to come see her, the defendant refused to give her money; that he never furnished her any money to visit her children and would become angry when she wanted to visit them; that on one occasion his abuse was such that she was compelled to leave him and in order to have her come back in the presence of witnesses he acknowledged he had done wrong and promised to do better but his abuse continued; that on one occasion she wanted to visit in Nebraska and he refused to give her the money but allowed her to borrow it and that he abused her while taking her to the train and that when she returned home she was compelled to earn the money to repay what she had borrowed; that he would abuse her if she asked the use of a horse and buggy; that he would lock up the horse and buggy to prevent her using them; that he compelled her to walk to church. And thus the recital continues at some length. Wherefore plaintiff asks for a divorce and alimony in the sum of $6,000 and that her name be changed to Rachel Harrison.