I have encountered two Cincinnati records recently that show an adult male (usually related somehow) being named guardian of children soon after the father's death, where the mother is still young, alive and capable. In one, the father was killed in the Civil War in 1864. In the other, the father killed himself in 1882. Does anyone know the legal reason why a male had to be appointed guardian when the widow was fully capable? Was this just to settle the estate? Thanks, Phyllis