Jotham Viles's Wives

Jotham Viles married four women and had 8 or 9 nine children. Only his last wife did not bear him a child. His first wife was Mary Ann Leach, the assumed daughter of William R. Leach and Hannah Sewell. She has been the focus of much of my research. There is no document to date that establishes her parentage but there is much circumstantial evidence. Jotham Viles of Starks and Mary Ann married on October 1, 1848 in Augusta, Kennebec, Maine. Their intentions were published in the Maine Farmer on September 17, 1848 and the marriage announcement was published in the Age on October 12, 1848. This union produced 5 or 6 children: Clarissa, Serena, John, Helen, Frank? and Mary. All of the children were born in Walworth County Wisconsin.

Jotham's next wife was Sarah Diana Frost. They were married on June 3, 1861 in Tipton, Cedar, Iowa. There is evidence that they were living in both Wisconsin and Iowa during the next few years. Jotham and Sarah had two girls, Elsie Matilda and Iona. Sarah died on April 28, 1879 in Eden, Benton, Iowa.

Jotham's third wife was Laura E. Shutt (Schutts) Smith. They married on November 11, 1879 in Vinton, Benton, Iowa by L. S. Keagle. Laura's first husband, Silas Smith, did not die and in fact married two women after Laura and had many children. Laura brought her two sons with Silas with her, Frederick and George Smith. Jotham and Laura had one son of their own, Sewall Chadborne. Laura died on July 7, 1886.


Jotham married his last wife, Letha Ann Taylor Dodge, less than two years before his death. Letha was previously married to Elijah S. Dodge and had three sons by that union. Letha was 59 years old when they married February 16, 1889 by Levi S. Keagles and no children were produced by this marriage.

William R. Leach's Land Sold at Sheriff's Sale in 1837

William R. Leach of St. Albans, Somerset, Maine owed Samuel Shaw and Elijah Wood Jr. of Palmyra, Somerset, Maine $200 for Fifty acres more or less. The land was part of lot No. seven in the second range in the town of St. Albans. William's brother, Jeremiah Leach was the highest bidder and paid the $200 on October 9, 1837. William had one year to redeem the land. The following was found in Volume 47 pp 74-75 of Somerset County Maine Deed Books. FHL US/CAN film #12171.






Know all men by these Presents That I Harris Gracelon of
St. Albans in the County of Somerset and State of Maine a Deputy Sheriff
Under Nathan Fowler Esq Sheriff of the same County at a Public ???
Due held at the Tavern of Jonathan Wilson of Hartland in the County of
Somerset of aforesaid on this month day of October in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven having given notice in writing
of the time and place of sale to the Judgment Debtor in the Execution herein
after mentioned by letter in the mail and having received a Certificate of
the Post Master that he gave him a Copy true in hand and having given
Public Notice of the time and place of sale by posting up notifications there of
in two Public places in the town of Ste Albans and also by posting up notifica-
tions thereof in on Public place in each of the adjoining towns of Hartland
and Palmyra thirty days before the time of the sale and having caused ad
vertisement of the time and place of sale to be published three weeks re
spectively before the day of sale in the Skowhegan Sentinel a Public News
paper printed in Skowhegan in said County and having adjourned from
the seventh to the ninth this day have by virtue of an Execution in my hands
in favor of Samuel Shaw and Elijah Wood Jr. of Palmyra in the County
of Somerset against William R. Leach of St. Albans in said County of
Somerset. In consideration of the sum of Two hundred Dollars of the law
Ful money of the said State paid to my this day by Jeremiah Leach of
St. Albans in said County of Somerset sold to the said Jeremiah Leach
He being the highest bidder therefor all the right title and interest which the
Said William R. Leach has in and to the following describe real estate
lying in St. Albans aforesaid in Said County of Somerset to wit. Being
part of lot No. seven in the second range of lots in said town and bounded
on the north by Mark Haleys land. On the east by the road leading from
Levi J. Merricks to Palmyra southerly. South by land occupied by
Isaac O. & Osgood Robertson. On the west by land occupied by same
Robertsons. Being the lot now-occupied by Alexander Gordon Jr Contain
ing fifty acres more or less. Reserving liberty to the said William R. Leach
to redeem the said right, title and interest by paying with one year after
the date of these Presents all such sums of money as by the statues of
State he ought to pay in order to redeem the said right, title and interest.
In witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal this ninth
Day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven.
Signed sealed and delivered in ) Harris Garcelon Seal
Presence of Levi I Merrick )
Somerset SS. October 9, 1837 Personally appeared Harris Garcelon
And acknowledged the above instrument to be his free act and Deed
Before me Levi J. Merrick Justice of the Peace
Somerset SS Recd March 16, 1838 Entered & Compared by Asa Clark Regr