Do you ever use deeds to confirm a second wife? In John Minnick’s case, his sale of land in Henry County, Illinois does support his having two wives. His first wife, Elizabeth, is indentified when John and Elizabeth sell land in block 2 of lot 11 in Kewanee which John had previously purchased from James Hutchins and his wife, Elizabeth. (See post Deeds Block 11)

In 1876 and 1879, John again sells land. This time, his wife is identified as Phebe. This is consistent with the death of Elizabeth Minnick in 1869 and John’s remarriage to Phebe Tripp in 1870. The first deed, in 1876, was for lot 8 in block 23 of Kewanee.

This Indenture Witnesseth, that the grantor
John Minnick and Phebia Minnick his wife
of the town of Kewanee in the County of Henry and State of Illinois for
and in consideration of one thousand dollars
in hand paid, covey and warrant to Stephen M. Hurd
of the town of Kewanee County of Henry and State of Illinois
all interest in the following described real estate, to-wit

Lot number eight (8) in block
number twenty three (23) in the town of Kewanee

situated in the County of Henry in the State of Illinois, hereby releasing and waiving all rights under and by
virtue of the Homestead Exemption Laws of this state
Dated this Tenth day of February A.D. 1876
Witness
Wm Hamilton

John Minnick (seal)
Mrs Phebe M Minnick (Seal)

State of Illinois
County of Henry
I, William Hamilton, a Justice of the Peach
in and for the said County in the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that
John Minnick and Phebe M. Minnick his wife
personally known to me to be the same person whose names are subscribed to the foregoing instrument appeared before me this day in person and acknowledged that they signed, sealed and delivered the said instrument
as their free and voluntary act, for the uses and purposes therein set forth, including the release and
waiver of the right of Homestead.
given under my hand and seal, this tenth
day of February AD. 1876
William Hamilton (seal)
Justice of the Peace

Filed for Record this 18th day of February 1876, at 4 P.M.

Illinois, Henry. Deeds, 1818-1912; indexes, 1836-1903. Film #1255602 Item 2. John Minnick, 10 Feb 1876 Vol. 134: page 199; digital images, FamilySearch http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online 17 July 2022.

Then in 1879, John and Phebe sell land in block 22.

This Indenture Witnesseth, that the Grantors John Minnick and
Phebe M Minnick his wife
of the town (now village) of Kewanee County of Henry and State of Illinois for
in hand paid, convey and warrant to Louisa Winter
of the Town of Ne[fronset] County of Bureau and State of Illinois
all interest in the following described real estate, to with: the west twenty five (25) feet of the east
fifty (50) feet of lot number ten (10) in Block number twenty two (22)
original town of Kewanee, also the middle one third (1/3) of the East half
of the North half of lot number nine (9) in Block number twenty two
in the original town of Kewanee
situated in the County of Henry in the State of Illinois, hereby releasing and waiving all rights
under and by virtue of the Homestead Exemption Laws of this State
Dated this Ninth (9th) day of January A.D. 1879

John Minnick (seal)
Phebe M Minnick (seal)

State of Illinois
County of Henry
I, William Hamilton a Justice of the Peace
in and for the said County, in the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that
John Minnick and Phebe M Minnick his wife who are each
personally known to me to be the same persons whose names are subscribed to the foregoing instrument, appeared before me this day in person, and acknowledged that they signed, sealed
and delivered the said instrument, as their free and voluntary act, for the uses and purposes therein set forth, including the release and waiver of the right of homestead.
Given under my hand and seal, this Ninth (9th) day of January A.D. 1879
William Hamilton
Justice of the Peace

Filed for record this 1st day of March 1880 at 1 P.M.

Illinois, Henry. Deeds, 1818-1912; indexes, 1836-1903. Film #1435921 DGS 8576157. John Minnice, 9 Jan 1979 Vol 147: page 295; digital images, FamilySearch http://www.familysearch.org : viewed online 17 July 2022.

While not definitive proof of a second marriage, these deeds support John Minnick being married to a Phebe.