On 14 June 1874, Hearn, aged 23, married Alethea ("Mattie") Foley, a 20-year-old African American woman, and former slave, an action in violation of Ohio's anti-miscegenation law at that time. In August 1875, in response to complaints from a local clergyman about his anti-religious views and pressure from local politicians embarrassed by some of his satirical writing in Ye Giglampz, the Enquirer fired him, citing as its reason his illegal marriage. They were married by Rev. John King, an African American Episcopal minister. The marriage was witnessed by Mrs. Lottie Cleneay and Mrs. Mary Field, both African Americans. The Cincinnati Enquirer fired Hearn after he married Foley, and he was hired by The Cincinnati Commercial. Foley and Hearn lived together for three years before Foley left Hearn in 1877 and moved to Indianapolis, IN. Hearn and Foley separated, but attempted reconciliation several times before divorcing in 1877. Foley remarried in 1880.