A Case for Divorce
A woman details years of abuse and threats in a petition for divorce against her husband, seeking custody of their five children.
Sarah E. Cheaney filed her complaint in the superior court yesterday for a divorce from her husband, William C. Cheaney, on the ground of brutal treatment. They were married September 6, 1866, at Knoxville, Knox County, Illinois, and have five minor children, 19, 16, 14, 8, and 5 years of age. She cites acts of cruelty, personal indignities, stating that he has frequently beaten her and threatened her life, and that he has always been a hard and cruel father to his children. There is alleged to be community property, including fifteen acres of land in Des Moines, horses, and household goods. She seeks custody of the children and the property.
“She cites acts of cruelty, personal indignities, having frequently beaten her and threatened her life.”
In 1894, divorce was often the only legal avenue for women to escape violent domestic situations, though the process required public documentation of 'personal indignities' and specific acts of cruelty. This narrative highlights the gendered power dynamics of the era's legal system.
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