Evelyn Horne's Notes: Annie Ordway was married to David Ordway.

*1860 U.S. Census; State: Massachusetts; County: Suffolk; Town or Township: Boston; Ward: 6; Series: M653; Roll: 521; Page: 755; Enumeration date: 18 Jun 1860; Enumerator: Charles Chun; Line: 31; Page: 117; Dwelling: 620; Family No.: 656; Name: David E. Ordway; Age: 26; Sex: Male; Color: white; Occupation: Clerk; Birthplace: New Hampshire. (This is probably Annie Ordway's husband) (Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 25 Feb 2004)

*1870 U.S. Census: State: Illinois; County: Cook; Post Office: Chicago; Ward: 12; Page: 274; Enumeration date: 1 July 1870; Microfilm: M593; Roll No.: 206; Enumerator: Geo. W. (?) (Heritage Quest); Line: 12; Name: David Ordway; Age at last birthday: 38; Sex: male; Occupation: (?) Bakery; Place of birth: New Hampshire; Father foreign born: yes; Mother is foreign born: yes; Male citizen 21 years & up: yes. (Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff) *Although some accounts give the name George Ordway for Annie Ordway's husband, I believe David Ordway was her spouse. Besides his wife Annie Ordway and child William Ordway, Julia Ordway and Alice Price, a servant, are living with David Ordway too. Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 12 Feb 2004.

*1880 U. S. Census; State: Illinois; County: Cook; Town: Chicago; Page No.: 306D; (FamilySearch, Internet); Name: David E. Ordway; Color: white; Sex: male; Age prior to June 1st: 47; Relationship to head of house: self; Married: yes; Profession or Occupation: Bakery salesman; Place of birth: New Hampshire; Place of birth of father: New Hampshire; Place of birth of mother: New Hampshire. (This is probably Annie Ordway's husband) (Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, January 2004)

*1900 U.S. Census; State: Illinois; County: Cook; Town or township: Hyde Park; Incorporated place: Chicago; Ward: 32nd; SD: 1st Illinois; ED: 1026; Sheet: 13; Page: 69; Series: T623; Microfilm Roll No.: 286; Enumeration date: 12 Jun 1900; Heritage Quest, Internet; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 2 Feb 2004; Address: 47? Calumet Avenue; Line: 8; Name: David Ordway; Relation to head of family: Father; Color: white; Sex: male; Month of birth: October; Year of birth: 1833; Age: 66; Marital status: married; No. of years married: 36; Place of birth: New Hampshire; Place of birth of father: New Hampshire; Place of birth of mother: New Hampshire; Occupation: Traveling salesman, Biscuit; Can read and write: yes; Can speak English: yes.

*1910 U. S. Census; State: Illinois; County: Cook; Township or other division of county: Tract g 17; Name of incorporated place: Chicago; SD: 1; ED: 404; Sheet No.: 2; Ward: 7; Enumeration date: 16 Apr 1910; Enumerator: Jeanette Lippman; Address: 6019 Calumet Avenue; Name: David E. Ordway; Relation to head of family: head; Sex: male; Color: white; Age last birthday: 77; Marital status: Married 2 times; No. of years of present marriage: 3; Place of birth: New Hampshire; Place of birth of father: New Hampshire; Place of birth of mother: New Hampshire; Speaks English or other: English; Trade or profession: Commercial traveler; General nature of work: Wholesale fruit; Employer, employee or works on own: W.; Out of work April 15: no; Weeks out of work in 1909: 0; Can read and write: yes; Home owned or rented: Rented; Farm or house: House. (Probably Annie Ordway's X-husband) (David Ordway lives next door to his son, George T. Ordway)

David Ordway's Death Information:
David E Ordway
in the Cook County, Illinois, Deaths Index, 1878-1922 Record Image Index-only record
Name: David E Ordway
Birth Date: 24 Oct 1832
Birth Place: New Hampshire
Death Date: 3 Oct 1914
Death Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Burial Date: 6 Oct 1914
Burial Place: Rose Hill
Death Age: 81
Occupation: Retired
Race: White
Marital Status: Widowed
Gender: Male
Residence: Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Father Name: John Ordway
Father Birth Place: USA
Mother Name: Colby
Mother Birth Place: USA
FHL Film Number: 1239986
Source Information
Ancestry.com. Cook County, Illinois, Deaths Index, 1878-1922 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
Original data:
Illinois, Cook County Deaths 1878–1922.” Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2010. Illinois Department of Public Health. “Birth and Death Records, 1916–present." Division of Vital Records, Springfield, Illinois.

THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Annie G. Ordway; Known also as (Victoria Gratia); Born: 10 Apr 1844 in Boston, Mass. Died: 8 Jan 1923.

The American Eagle: April 1993; Vol. 79; Page 3; The Koreshan Story Continues--The Period of Decline by Sara Rea: "The first Unity president, Annie Ordway, served from 1903 until her resignation in 1909........"

MEMORIES, MEMORIES--DAYS OF LONG AGO chronicled by Marie McCready with participation by Lovelle McCready: "Victoria, Pre-eminent," or head woman of the organization, unlike Doctor, was rather "standoffish" and not a person to whom we children, as least, could feel near. Very "finished" according to the standards of the day, she devoted a great deal of time to the older girls, giving lessons in drawing and painting, embroidering, and singing to those whose voices showed promise. Catharine McCready, who had a beautiful voice
with an unusual range, was her favorite pupil in the voice classes and the only one she continued to teach long after we all went to Estero. She always ate in the front dining room with Doctor and certain others, but at noon she had only the older girls, that she might teach them table manners."--pages 43 and 44.

*1850 U.S. Federal Census; State: Massachusetts; County: Middlesex; Township: Cambridge; Roll: M432_325; Page: 100; Image: 201; Ancestry.Com; Line No.; 17; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 1 Mar 1850; Line: 19; Name: Anne Glassen; Age: 6; Sex: female; Place of birth: Massachusetts; Attended school within the year: yes. (*Probably Annie Ordway, who lived in the Koreshan Unity)

*1860 U.S. Census; State: Massachusetts; County: Middlesex; Town or Township: Cambridge; Ward: Third; P.O.: East Cambridge; Series: M653; Roll: 508; Page: 170; Enumeration date: 7 Jun 1860; Enumerator; Heritage-Quest Internet: A. (?) Green. Line: 10; Name: Anna Glasson; Age: 16; Sex: female; Color: white; Birthplace: Massachusetts. (*This person is probably the Annie Ordway, who lived in the Koreshan Unity)

*1870 U.S. Census: State: Illinois; County: Cook; Post Office: Chicago; Ward: 12; Page: 274; Enumeration date: 1 July 1870; Microfilm: M593; Roll No.: 206; Enumerator: Geo. W. (?) (Heritage Quest); Line 13; Name: Annie Ordway; Age at last birthday: 25; Sex: female; Occupation: Keeping house; Place of birth: Massachusetts. (*This person is probably the Annie Ordway, who lived in the Koreshan Unity)

*1880 U. S. Census; State: Illinois; County: Cook; Town: Chicago; Page No.: 306D; (FamilySearch, Internet); Name: Annie G. Ordway; Color: white; Sex: female; Age prior to June 1st: 36; Relationship to head of house: wife; Married: yes; Profession, Occupation, or Trade: Keeping house; Place of birth: Massachusetts; Place of birth of father: England; Place of birth of mother: England. (Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, January 2004) (*This person is probably the Annie Ordway, who lived in the Koreshan Unity)

1900 U. S. Federal Census; Calumet Township; Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Film Roll No. 285; Page No. 285; SD No. 1; ED No. 986; Sheet No. Enumeration Date: 13 Jun 1900; Enumerator: Ernest E. Ellington; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 24 May 1999: Annie G. Ordway; Residence: 99th Street, Dwelling 133; Relation to head of family: Boarder; Color, white; Sex, Female; Month of birth: April; Year of birth: 1844; Age at last birthday: 55; Married; No of years married: 1*; Mother of how many children: 2; Number of these children living: 2; Place of birth: Massachusetts; Place of birth of father: Massachusetts; Place of birth of mother: Massachusetts; Occupation; Nothing listed; Can read, yes; Can write, yes; Can speak English, yes. (*Except for 5 persons all married residents in this dwelling listed their number of years married as 1.)

1910 U. S. Federal Census; State: Florida; County: Hillsboro, Film Roll No.: 161, T624; Name of incorporated place: Brandon; Precinct: 16; SD: 1; ED: 98; Enumeration Date: 7 May 1910; Enumerator: Jno. P. Davis. Line 20; Name: Annie Graves; Sex: female; Color: white; Age: 66; Marital status: Married two times; Number of years of present marriage: 38; Mother of how many children: 2; Number of those children living: 2; Place of birth: Massachusetts; Place of birth of father: England; Place of birth of mother: England; Language spoken: English; Occupation: None; Can read and write: yes.

1920 U. S. Federal Census; State: Florida; County: Pinellas; Township: 11th Precinct, St. Petersburg: City or town: St. Petersburg; SD: 1; ED: 140; Sheet number: 15; Page: 176; Enumeration date: 20/22 Jan 1920; Enumerator: Mary Margaret (?); Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 20 Jan 2004; Address: Pack Road; Name: Annie G. Ordway; Relationship of this person to the head of the family: wife; Sex: female; Color: white; Age at last birthday: 76; Marital status: married; Whether able to read and write: yes; Place of birth: Massachusetts; Place of birth of father: England; Place of birth of mother: England; Able to speak English: yes; Trade or profession: None.

DEATH--State of Florida; Office of Vital Statistics; BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS, State Board of Health; Place of Death: Pinellas County; File No.: 984; Registration District No.: 3901; Registered No.: 13; Primary Registration Dist. No.: 39511; City: St. Petersburg, Monte Vista (jungle); Full Name: Annie Grace Graves; Residence: Monte Vista (jungle); Length of residence in city or town where death occurred: 4 years; Sex: Female; Color or race: white; Single, married, widowed, or divorced: Married; Date of birth: April 10, 1844; Age: 78 years, 8 months, 28 days; Occupation of deceased: House wife; General nature of Industry, business, etc.: House wife; Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts; Name of father: Henry Glosson; Birthplace of father: Don't know; Maiden Name of mother: Don't know; Birthplace of mother: Don't know; Informant: Dr. Thomas Morgan, Address: Monte Vista (Jungle); Filled: Jan. 11, 1923; Registrar: Wm. Davis; Date of death: Jan. 8, 1923; I hereby certify that I attended deceased from Jan 8, 1923 to Jan. 9, 1923, that I last saw her alone on Jan 9, 1923 and that death occurred, on the date stated above at 4:30 p.m.; Place of Burial, Cremation or removal: Royal Palms Cemetery; Date of Burial or removal: Jan. 11, 1923; Undertaker: Wilhelm (?) Undertaking Co., Address: 25 6th St. S?; St. Petersburg, Florida.

Evelyn Horn's notes: "Victoria Gratia" (Pre-Eminent) Victoria's Birthday Victoria's Birthday April 10, 1844--The first celebration of the Lunar Festival at Estero, 1902, where Dr. Cyrus R. Teed and Victoria both attended. There were also celebrations at the Koreshan Home in Chicago. The Estero celebration was an all-day affair, starting at breakfast in the Dining Hall--a musical program at 10:30 a.m.--at 2 p.m. a boat trip on the steamer "Victoria", down the Estero River, along with Dr. Teed and 32 members. The steamer was decorated with gala-day decorations with flags and streamers.

Victoria was married to Dr. George Ordway and had one son. She loved music and the fine arts. She often sang in the Art Hall. Victoria was of medium build, dark brown hair and eyes. She dressed in Victorian-style clothing, beautiful materials of brocade, taffeta and satin trimmed with pearls and lace. She always wore dark colors. A warm personality and pleasing disposition. She lectured on the religion and science of Koreshanity. She worked strongly with the group in California and Chicago. In Estero she lived at the founder's home with Sister Emma Norton. Miss Vesta Newcomb was her personal maid.

Victoria loved cats and always had at least two, beautiful Siamese. After Dr. Teed's death in 1908, Victoria moved to St. Petersburg in June 1909 to start a new group of Koreshans. She married Dr. Graves in September 1909. Victoria died January 8, 1923, and was buried near St. Petersburg, Florida.

THE AMERICAN EAGLE; Vol. 74; April 1990; Page 1: (Excerpts from news article) Victoria Gratia's Birthday Fete Honors Koreshan Women President: Annie G. Ordway, one of the first Koreshans to migrate to Estero, was named "Victoria Gratia" by Dr. Cyrus Teed, founder of the Koreshan Unity. Dr. Teed appointed her the Pre-eminent--to stand in his stead in the day-to-day affairs of the Estero home place during his frequent absences from Florida when he was on speaking tours to attract new converts to the Koreshan philosophy and the Estero colony.
From her photographs and writings in records at the Koreshan Library/Museum, "Victoria Gratia" was a strong, attractive woman born in 1844 who relished the position Dr. Teed bestowed on her. According to Koreshan letters and writings, she was of medium build with dark brown eyes and hair. Like most Koreshan women, her clothes were stylish for that period. Victoria usually wore dark brocade and taffeta trimmed (sic) with pearls and lace.
Her April 10th birthday has been celebrated in Florida since 1902 when the first Lunar Festival was held in Estero. Previously they had been held in Chicago at the Koreshans' first major colony.
The Lunar Festival is currently held on the Saturday nearest her birthday--this year, on April 7 at the Koreshan State Historic Site.
.......Victoria and her husband, Dr. George Ordway, accepted the Koreshan faith in Chicago in the early years of its inception. The father of her only son, Dr. Ordway became one of Dr. Teed's lecturers and a student of Cellular Cosmogony.........
In 1893 Dr. Teed first came to Pine Island in Lee County to find land which he had heard was available. Victoria was chosen to accompany him on this exploratory trip along with Mary Mills, her secretary and Berthaldine Boomer--another instance of Dr. Teed's belief in the capabilities of women......
At New Jerusalem, Victoria ably assisted Dr. Teed and her lovely voice was often heard in programs and concerts in the Art Hall. Like many of her compatriots, Victoria loved the fine arts......
Victoria wrote that by 1903 the Koreshans at Estero were 200 strong and considered themselves a family, living the way of early Christians. They pioneered the trails, built public, trade, agriculture facilities and buildings to live in.......
.....Victoria lived in one part of the Founder's House which was also Dr. Teed's headquarters when he was in residence at Estero. Also living in the large building were Emma Norton, Dr. Teed's sister, and Vesta Newcomb, who assisted Victoria with her work and daily chores. It also contained, in early years, classrooms for the youngsters....
There are few records of Victoria after Dr. Teed's death, but it is certain she left the Estero settlement with a small group of Koreshans to begin a new colony in what we know today as Pinellas County. She married Dr. A. C. Graves, who had been the Estero colony dentist. The effort of the small group with her failed. She died in 1923.