Lemuel Ordway's Brother, Bert

Lemuel’s brother, Albert Orvinn Ordway , known as Bert, was born May 23, 1874 in Monroe Township, Henry County, Ohio.  Bert was a farmer who married Vern Nettie Babcock 19/20 December 1896. 

In 1900, Bert and Nettie were renting a farm in Monroe Township with their two young sons, Johny, 3, born March 1897, and Perry, 1, born March 1899. 

Young Perry died on November 24, 1909 and is buried in Hoy Cemetery.

"Our darling one hath gone before, To greet us on the blissful shore"

By 1910, Bert, 33, and Nettie, 32, had six children, five living, and they were still renting a farm in Monroe Township.  John, 13, was a laborer on the home farm.  Chester, 9, Anna, 4. and twins Edward and Beatrice, 4 months, finished the family. 

The family moved to Turkeyfoot Street in Malinta by 1920, although Bert was still farming.  John, 22, was a laborer in the beet fields, while Chester, 18, also labored on the home farm.  Anna was 14, while the twins were 10.

Beatrice Ordway died on August 31, 1927, at about 17 years old.  I do not know the cause at present.

The family moved to Summit Street in Malinta before 1930.  John was still single at 33 and living at home, working as a machinist in a garage.  Edward, 20, was also at home and single, working as a laborer on bridge construction.  The other children were gone, but living with them was Clarence, 9, a grandson.  A birth record found on http://www.familysearch.org/ shows that Anna Ordway gave birth to a son, Clarence, on March 7, 1921. No father is listed on the record.  Anna would have been about 16.

Albert Ordway died a rather violent death.  From the January 23, 1942,  Deshler Flag newspaper, we find:

“MALINTA MAN SUCCUMBS TO FATAL POISON

Albert Ordway Mistakes Black Leaf 40 for Peruna

A tablespoon of Black Leaf 40, taken by mistake, was fatal to Albert O. Ordway, 66, Malinta, retired farmer,who died Friday.

Mr. Ordway had been in the habit of taking Peruna, and went to his medicine cabinet Friday morning to get a dose of it.  Previously, however, he had gone to a hatchery to get some Black Leaf 40 for use in his poultry house, and this had been given to him in a Peruna bottle with no other label on it.

The contents of the two bottles appeared identical when held to the light, Dr. B. D. Johnson, county coroner, said after investigating the death, which he certified as accidental.  When he had taken it, Mr. Ordway turned to his wife and asked, “what was in that bottle?”  When he discovered what he had taken, he attempted to disgorge it, but was unable to do so.  He died before a physician could aid him.

The Malinta man is survived by his wife, Nettie, two sons, John and Edward, both of Malinta; a daughter, Mrs. Anna Hill, of Napoleon; and five grandchildren.

Rev. Metzker of Custar officiated at funeral services, held Monday afternoon in the United Brethern church in Malinta.  Burial was in the church cemetery.”

Bert and Nettie Babcock Ordway had six children.  John (1897 – 1970, WW I veteran, did not marry), Perry (1899 – 1909), Chester (1901 – 1937, died in an automobile accident), Anna (1905 – 1997, married Harvey Hill in 1926), Edward (1909 – 1959, one of the twins, did not marry) and Beatrice (1909 – 1927, the other twin) who married Martin Bockelman in February 1927 and then died by September 1927.