Husband of Laura Jane Brownell, married February 14, 1863, Lenawee County, MI.

Husband of Mary Sanford, married December 12, 1860, Lenawee County, MI.

Son of Benjamin and Sarah Bivins.

His wife, Mary Sanford, died a little over a year after they were married. Within seven months, David married Laura Jane Brownell.

David was a Private in Company C, 4th Regiment MI Cavalry during the Civil War. He deserted.

David murdered his wife, Laura Jane, and his parents on January 31, 1865. He fled to Ohio, where he was captured and returned to Michigan.

Michigan Obituaries, 1820-2006
Name: D F Bivens Or Bivins
Event Type: Obituary
Event Date: 1870
Event Place: Michigan, United States
Gender: Male
Relationship to Deceased: Deceased
Death Date: 02 Sep 1870 (It appears it is his obituary date)
Death Place: Jackson, ,
Newspaper: Hudson Paper

Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995
Name: David Bevins
Spouse's Name: Mary Sanford
Event Date: 12 Dec 1860
Event Place: Lenawee, Michigan

Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995
Name: David F. Bivins
Spouse's Name: Laura J. Brownell
Event Date: 14 Feb 1863
Event Place: Lenawee, Michigan

United States Civil War Soldiers Index
Name: David F. Bevins
Event Type: Military Service
Military Beginning Rank: Private
Military Final Rank: Private
Military Side: Union
State or Military Term: Michigan
Military Unit: 4th Regiment, Michigan Cavalry
Military: Company C
Affiliate Film Number: 3

In 1870 David was in the Jackson State Prison in Jackson.

United States Census, 1870
Name David F Bivins
Event Place Michigan, U.S. (JACKSON STATE PRISON, Jackson, MI:
Gender Male
Age 28
Race White
Birth Year (Estimated) 1841-1842
Birthplace Michigan
David F Bivins M 28 Michigan

Skeletons in Michigan's Closets - Source: Annual Report of Inspectors and Officers of the Michigan State Prison for the Year Closing September 30 1885:
ID 44
Surname: BIVINS
Given: David
Middle: R.
Year In: 1865
Age: 23
County: Lenawee
Remarks: Died 1870
Crime
Sentence: Solitary-Life*
Source 1
*Solitary-Life: These are the names, age, years, of commitment and county from which sent of all persons convicted of - murder in the first degree - since March 1 1847 or who have been sentenced to "solitary confinement at hard labor in the State Prison for life" or some portion of whose sentence is "solitary confinement."

He may be buried in WOODLAND CEMETERY in Jackson. From their website: "Woodland Cemetery was established in 1890 when a 25 acre plot of land was purchased from James C. Wood, a landowner and Jackson Michigan’s first mayor, for whom, presumably, the cemetery was named. Its first inhabitants were the re-interred remains of Jackson’s pioneers who had formerly resided at the town’s original cemetery located on Michigan Avenue."
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In 1850, Laura was living with her parents and siblings in Rollin.

United States Census, 1850
Name Laura J Brownell
Event Place Rollin, Lenawee, Michigan, United States
Gender Female
Age 5
Race White
Birth Year (Estimated) 1845
Birthplace Michigan
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Thomas Brownell M 45 Rhode Island
Amelia Brownell F 38 England
Sophia A Brownell F 14 Michigan
Thomas J Brownell M 13 Michigan
John Brownell M 11 Michigan
Adaline Brownell F 8 Michigan
Laura J Brownell F 5 Michigan
Arthur S Brownell M 3 Michigan
Roby A Brownell F 0 Michigan

Laura's siblings;
1. Thomas J. Brownell born 1837, died 1859, Rollin, MI. FAG #127425843 (Thomas W. Brownell)

2. John G. Brownell born 1839, died 10/29/1863 of starvation as a POW during the Civil War. FAG #32917517.

3. Adaline Brownell born 1842, died 1915, Rollin, Lenawee, MI. She married James N. Binns. FAG #158016762.

4. Roby Ann Brownell born 1850, died about 1851. FAG #127425769.