Bio of Ordway, Elijah (b.1834) Wabasha Co., MN
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Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Timm and Carol Judge
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This bio comes from "HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY" 1884.
Check out Barbara's site for more great information on this book:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~mnwabbio/wab1.htm
There are also some pictures and information from descendents for some 
of the bios on her pages.

Ordway, Elijah, hardware merchant, Elgin, is a grandson of Benjamin
Ordway, of Vermont. The latter was one of a family of twenty-two children,
of whom all but two grew to maturity. Benjamin Ordway and Mary Dickerman,
parents of this subject, were, like himself, born in the town of
Tunbridge, Vermont, Elijah's birth dating February 27, 1834. He grew up on
a farm in Orange County, and has nearly always been a farmer. He came to
Elgin in January, 1867, and has owned and tilled two farms in the
township. In 1874 he removed to the village and opened a hardware store,
which he sold out soon, and it was afterwards closed up. After the advent
of the railroad, it became evident that such a store would pay, and in the
spring of 1881, in company with a son, he again opened trade in this line.
His store is located on Park street, east of the depot, and is doing a
good business. Mr. Ordway's religious faith if Universalism, and he has
always adhered to Democratic principles in public policy. He has been five
years supervisor of this town, serving two years as Chairman of the Board.
He has always been interested in the welfare of the public schools, and to
him is due much of the credit for the prosperity of the Elgin schools. The
present handsome school building in the village is a monument to his
public spirit and perseverance. In March, 1854, he was united in marriage
to a distant relative-Miss Rebecka Dickerman, born in Topsham, Vermont. Of
the four children given this couple, two are now living, both residents in
this village, viz: Benjamin S. and Alonza. Mary Jane died in Vermont at
the age of two years, and Stillman here, aged thirteen.