I hope someone can shed some light on this. It has just been uncovered that an ancestor, in Union county, was appointed guardian for his own two daughters, both minors.

The two children were born in Missouri, his wife died, and then soon after he and the two girls moved back to Union County. He did remarry, and had another, fairly large, family. In 1875 he was qualified as guardians of the two original daughters, but none of the other second family.

From what I can glean or imagine from the records (his last will), I think this was a voluntary action.

I hope that someone can suggest why this was required, or desired, that a remarried widowed father would be guardians of his own daughters.