While doing Ordway research, I sent for a few obituaries that turned out not to be those I wanted. I think that these two individuals are related to the Amherst Ordway clan who settled in Huron County and then Wood County, Ohio. (I have never found the connection with my Ordway ancestors, although there probably is one.) So I am posting these in the hopes they may help someone else in researching.
Daily Sentinel Tribune, 29 September 1928 (Bowling Green, Ohio), p. 1, columns 7 and 8.
"HAUNTED BY FAILING VISION TOM ORDWAY TOOK HIS OWN LIFE
Reclining on the steps of the needle work building at the fair grounds, Thomas Ordway, 79, was found dead at five o'clock Friday night by John Maas, who was shortly joined by Milo D. Wilson. In his right temple was a bullet hole and by his side was his 32 calibre revolver which he had purchased about two weeks ago. He had chosen for his demise the scene of his great activity and pleasure in the days of his strength.
Chief of Police Carl Galliher was summoned and the body was taken to Deck's mortuary. There Coroner J. C. Weatherhill of Weston, summoned by the chief, held an inquest and pronounced him self slain.
Mr. Ordway had not been in good health for the past several years and in recent mnths had been quite miserable. His eye sight, too, had been failing and he had remarked to a friend upon the uselessness of his life without vision. A letter sent to his niece, Mrs. C. B. Eberly, but addressed to her in her maiden name of Jessie Whitaker, informed her that when she received the letter, he would be no more. He explained to her that he realized it would be but a brief time till he became blind. Against enduring such an affliction, his always self-reliant character rebelled. He had had his landlady address the envelope in order to make sure of its legibility, not trusting to his failing eyes.
Thomas Ordway was born near Milan, Huron county, February 5, 1849, the son of Amherst Ordway, a native of Vermont. With is parents he went to the present Scotch Ridge (then Householder's Corners) in 1854, and in 1859, they moved to Bowling Green. The father was a builder and contractor and built the first sawmill and gristmill in Bowling Green. Thomas and his brother James followed in his footsteps and prior to 1900, two-thirds of the stores in Bowling Green were erected by his father and his sons. The old Central high school, the Ridge street and the South Main street school buildings represented their handicraft. The "Ordway boys" as James and Thomas were spoken of, erected practically all the buildings which grace the fairgrounds. James was long a director of the fair; and Thomas, a lover of fast horses, was always interested in the racing at the fair. For a number of years, he contracted at Independence, Kan. and Tulsa, Okla.
He was himself too young to enter the Union service in the Civil War, but four of his older brothers did; and Andrew and Hiram lost their lives in it. James and Nehemiah, the other two veterans, and his sister, Mrs. Emma Whitker, and his brother, Sylvester, preceded him in death.
He is survived by his brother Fred of Paulding, and his sister, Mrs. Alice Fox, of Toledo besides numerous other relatives.
He was married to Eloria Mountz (?) of Sycamore and to them three children were born. The wife and mother and one son, Donald, died some years ago. Amherst, a _?_ shooter of Tulsa, Okla. and Esta (?), wife of Charles Kirkwood of ...wata, Okla., survive him.
Announcement of funeral services await further word from his children."
Daily Sentinel Tribune, 10 November 1914, p. 1, column 5
"FORMER RESIDENT DIED AT FINDLAY
Mrs. Thomas Ordway Died on Monday Afternoon Following an Illness of Two Months - Leaves Husband and Three Children.
Findlay, Nov. 10 - Mrs. Thomas Ordway, 55 years old, died at her home, 413 Cherry street, at 5:30 o'clock Monday afternoon, following an illness of two months from a cancerous tumor.
Mrs. Ordway was born June 23, 1859. Besides her husband, three children survive as follows: Amherst Ordway and Donald Ordway, Cushing, Okla. and Mrs. Catherine Kirkwood of Nowha, Okla. Mrs. Ordway returned from an extended stay in Oklahoma last June.
Funeral services will be held at the Arcadia M. E. church at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon. Rev. G. A. Whitlock will have charge. Burial will be made in the Arcadia cemetery.
The body of Mrs. Ordway was removed from her home to the home of Mrs. George Dillery, 435 Center st. last evening.
Mr. and Mrs. Ordway were former residents of Bowling Green and were well known in this vicinity. They moved away from this city a number of years ago."
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