December 12, same year, he appeared with Anderson’s Minstrels for a few nights only; this was his last professional appearance.
Dr. Ordway was a skilled musician, and the composer of many popular ballads. While with his company he usually played the piano in the first part and invariably in white-face.
After retiring from the stage, he practiced medicine for several years, and in 1868 was a member of the Massachusetts Legislature.
He was the founder of the Massachusetts Anglers (now Fish and Game) Association.
Dr. John P. Ordway was born in Salem, Mass., in 1824; he died in Boston, Mass., April 27, 1880.
William H. Smith, the well-known manager, went to California in 1850, and in 1856 opened the Varieties Theatre in San Francisco. In 1860 he organized the California Minstrels and took them to South America, Australia and Europe.
In 1865 he was associated in the management of Cotton and Murphy’s Minstrels, frequently acting as interlocutor.
In 1880 he went to St. Louis, Mo., and at various times was manager of the Comique, Peoples and Standard Theatres there.
On September 24, 1866, Mr. Smith married Clara Sages in San Francisco.
William H. Smith was born in Norwich, Conn., August 10, 1824; he died in St. Louis, Mo., December 1, 1901.