George & Maria Ortner

Land Patent for George C. Ortner. Notice the fingers of George's and Maria's great granddaughter. We found that copying all these documents was going to be very expensive, so decided that taking digital photos was a much cheaper option. It just meant that sometimes fingers were a necessary part of the process to hold the pages flat.

Today’s family research began in the Blaine County Courthouse in Watonga, Oklahoma looking for property and probate records. We were successful finding both for George C. Ortner. We were especially happy to find the Homestead patent for George C. for the NW4, Section 20, Township 18N, Range 11W. We were glad that we had the legal description for the properties as that is how all are indexed.

A month or so ago, a major storm (hurricane or tropical storm) came through this county and caused major damage, even taking a part of the roof off the courthouse so that many of their records got wet. These records have only been available for the public for a couple of weeks.

One of our highlights of the day was a visit to Evelyn Ortner Schnell, a daughter of George G. Ortner and granddaughter of George C. Ortner. She is Sharryn’s first cousin, once removed. She shared some of her memories of her grandparents. Grandfather was a hard worker and quite demanding, and her grandmother, Maria, was a good cook. Evelyn said she believed German cooking was the only good food.

I will close this blog with George C.’s and Maria’s obituaries. Note the number of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Okeene Record, Thursday, March 2, 1933. Hitchcock Pioneer Claimed by Death
George C. Ortner was born July 22, 1859, in Ditel, Russia, and died in his home at Hitchcock, Oklahoma, February 22, 1933. He lived to be seventy-three years and seven months old.

In 1877 he was united in marriage to Mary Samuel. To this union were born 14 children, seven sons and seven daughters. One daughter preceded her farther [sic] in death.

In 1879 he came with his family to America and they made their home near Hillsboro, Kansas. In 1892 they moved to Oklahoma and lived in the vicinity of Hitchcock, and the last twenty-seven years they lived in town.

In 1886 he heard the Advent Message which he accepted and joined the Seventh-day Adventist church. Five of his children devote their full time to the Lord’s work.

During the last year Mr. Ortner was in poor health. On December 17 he had a stroke of paralysis from which he never recovered.

He is survived by his wife, seven sons, six daughters, twenty-five grand children, six great grand children, two brothers, one sister and many relative [sic] and friends who mourn their loss.

The funeral service was conducted from the Hitchcock auditorium by Elder J. H. Meier, assisted by Elder J. A. Wasenmiller and the elder of the Hitchocock S.D.A. church. The body was laid to rest in the S.D. Adventist cemetery near the East Cooper church awaiting the call of the life giver.

R.F. Howley, of Okeene, had charge of the funeral arrangement.

The Watonga Replublican, Thursday, April 19, 1951 Funeral Services Held for Hitchcock Woman
Funeral services were held Wednesday for Mrs. George Ortner, 92, pioneer of Hitchcock who died at the home of her daughter at Hutchinson, Kansas.

Known to many as Grandma Ortner in that community, her son George cared for her in her last illness. She moved to the city to live with Leah who preceded her in death and then lived at the home of her son Jake, for several year [sic]. She lately went to Hutchinson to stay at the home of her daughter where she died.