The Reno Cure

 

It helps to know a bit about history.

Last month when I was researching the birthplace of Jennie Evdokimoff Uroff, my wife’s grandmother. birthplace, I found something unexpected. In the 1940 census, she was living as a lodger at the home of Joe and Sally Keno in Carson City, Nevada, in April of 1940. No one today knew that she had been living in Nevada. Why was that?

I knew right away why Jenny Uroff was there and what I could potentially learn from it. She was there for one reason and one reason only, to get The Reno Cure, aka, a divorce. 

Mella Rothwell Harmon, personal collection

From what I had heard, she and her husband, Jack Uroff, had separated with him taking custody of their two boys. There were also stories about threats of violence, all the earmarks of an abusive relationship. A phone call, three emails and a mailed check for $9.50 and I soon had a complete copy of the divorce record “Jennie Uroff vs. Jack Uroff, defendant.”

As I said above, it helps to know a bit about history, or more specifically, what was happening in America during the times your ancestors lived. Back in 1940, obtaining a divorce was almost impossible for most Americans. In most states, a woman wanting a divorce would have to prove to the court that she had grounds to do so, and even then, there was no guarantee that the court would grant it. Furthermore, a large majority of states allowed that property obtained during a marriage belonged to the husband.

Fortunately, not all states were as puritanical as others, and emerged as migratory colonies, catering to the needs of those seeking to correct their previous mistakes. Nevada was foremost among these. When Nevada became a state, its law allowing residents to become citizens after only six months of residency, with the consequent right to file lawsuits (including divorce) in state courts, made it an attractive destination, drawing a steady flow of “divorce tourists”, who spent money and boosted the local economy.

As the practice grew in popularity, so did the protests from conservative and religious organizations and the state succumbed to their threats in 1913 and changed the residency period to one year. As always, though, money talks and the protests from lawyers and business owners were so intense that the six-month residency law was reinstated as soon as the state legislature reconvened in 1915. The residency requirement was reduced again during the Great Depression, mostly to maintain a competitive edge against other divorce colony states.

The divorce rate increased through much of the 20^th century and Reno soon gained the reputation of being the ‘Divorce Capital of the World’ until around 1970 when no-fault divorce came into fashion nationwide.

How it worked

In order for Jenny Uroff to get her divorce, she needed to travel to Nevada and not leave it for more than 24 hours at a stretch. To prove compliance, she needed to obtain a resident witness, someone who would testify at her divorce hearing that she had seen her every day during the residency period. This is where the Reno family comes in. They were not only her landlords, but also her witness, hence the following testimony.

• Q: What is your name? A: Mrs. Sally Keno.
• Q: Where do you reside, Mrs. Keno?  A: Carson City, Ormsby County. ·
• Q: How long have you resided here? For several months past? A: Oh I for several years.
• Q: Several years. Do you know the plaintiff of this action, Jennie Uroff?   A: I do.
• Q: Is she in Court at the present time?   A: She is.
• Q: How long have you known Mrs. Uroff? A: I have known her since March the 24^th, 1940.
• Q: Where has she resided since March 24^th, 1940? A: She has resided in my home.
• Q: Have you seen her practically every day since that date?  A: I have.
• Q: In Carson City and Ormsby County, Nevada? A: Yes, I have.
• Q: I believe that is all.
• Court: You may be excused.

Next, the Court called Jenny Uroff:

• Q: What is your name? A: Mrs. Uroff, Jenny Uroff
• Q: And you are the plaintiff in the action entitled “Jennie Uroff vs. Jack Uroff, defendant”? A: Yes.
• Q: Where do you reside, Mrs. Uroff? A: With Mrs. Keno.
• Q: In Carson City, Ormsby County, Nevada?  A: Yes, sir.
• Q: How long have you resided there? A: Since March the 24^th.
• Q: Nineteen forty?  A: Nineteen forty.
• Q: Up to the present date? A: Up to the present date.
• Q: With the exception of from May 21^st you have been with my mother, assisting her? A: Yes.
• Q: During her illness? A: Yes.
• Q: And you have remained within Ormsby County. during all that period of time? A: Yes.
• Q: Are you a bona fide resident of Ormsby County. Nevada? A: Yes, sir.
• Q: Have you any intention of abandoning that residence, giving it up? A: No, sir.
• Q: When and where were you and the defendant married? When and where? A: Where?
• Q. Where were you and the defendant married? On what date were You married to your husband? A:  July 3rd, 1927.
• Q:  At what place? A. Los Angeles.
• Q. And you are now husband and wife? A. Yes.
• Q: Are there any children the issue of this marriage, Mrs. Uroff?  A: I have.
• Q: Is there any community property belonging·. to you and the defendant? A: No.
• Q: You allege in your Complaint that you and the defendant have lived separate and apart: for more than three consecutive years without cohabitation; Is that true? A: That is true.
• Q: How long have you lived separate and apart? A: Over eight years.
• Q: The children are in the custody of your husband, are they not? A: Yes, sir.
• Q: How did that come about, that your children are in his custody? Tell what took place. A: What, sir?
• Q: Tell what took place, why you left the children with him. A: He threatened to kill me if I don’t get together in three weeks’ time.
• COURT: If you don't what? A: If I don't get together in three weeks' time he threatened to kill me, and that is why I left him.
• MR. CHARTZ: Q: You were forced to surrender the children at that time? A: I was forced, yes.
• Q: You are not asking for custody of the children? A: No, I haven’t.
• COURT: Have you ever seen the children since you left? A: Yes, I have.
• COURT: He permits you to see them?  A: Well, I don't know, but they come over to my mother’s place and I have seen them there.
• MR. CHARTZ: Q: As a matter of fact, you have given them clothes and tried to help support them? A: Yes, I have.
• COURT: What nationality is Russian? A: Russian.
• COURT: Are you Russian, also? A: Yes.
• MR. CHARTZ: Q: You were born where? A: Arizona.
• COURT: I see.  of Russian ·parents? A: Yes.
• COURT: You may be excused. Enter the decree of the Court Mrs. Clerk, dissolving the bonds of matrimony on the ground and for the reason set forth and proven, three years living separate and apart from each other. without cohabitation.

  And just like that, the marriage of Jennie and Jack Uroff was dissolved.

Epilogue 

As to Jennie’s promise not to abandon her Nevada state residency, 39 days later, on July 22^nd, she was in Key West, Florida, becoming Mrs. Elmer H. Ayers, a career Navy man who would treat her right for the rest of her life.

Sources:

How Reno Became 'the Divorce Capital of the World'—And Why That Reputation Faded

Illuminating Reno’s Divorce Industry