Ervin Leonidas Getty was born May 10, 1871 in Lenawee County near Britton, Michigan as the fourth child of George Kilpatrick and Naomi (Russell) Getty.

He was married to Lenah Belle Oliver on January 28, 1891 in Britton, Michigan. Lena was born on April 23, 1874 in Ridgeway Township, Lenawee County, Michigan.

They had six children, five of whom lived to adulthood. Their eldest daughter, Addie (Getty) Roggerman, the mother of Mildred (Roggerman) Heiden, died in a car accident on Novermber 26, 1929 at the age of 38.

  1. Adeline Estella "Addie" Roggerman

  2. Floss May "Flossie" Roggeman

  3. Blanche Irene Rolph

  4. Veyirl Lena Wittkop

  5. Alice Naomi (Koster) Gretsinger

  6. Doras Helen Getty

Ervin was described as a small man and his sister nicknamed him Nub. He was known by this moniker throughout his life.

At one point, his uncle, Peter McGinley Getty, encouraged Erv to "go out west" with him. Peter and his family eventually settled in Minnesota.

In 1904, Ervin and his family moved to Lena's father's farm on Downing Highway just northeast of the town of Britton. Around 1910 they moved to a large house on the former site of the Dundee Fair at the end of Rawson Street. In 1918, they sold that house and rented one on Pearl Street for a year or two before moving to their final home at 112 South Street.

According to the 1910 U.S. Census, their oldest child, Adeline "Addie", her husband, Ralph Raymond Roggerman, and their first child, Ervin, were also living at the Downing Highway farm. They had constructed a small house near the main home for their daughter's family at that time.

During his adult life, Ervin made a living as a farmer, sawyer and thrasher. He owned a large steam powered machine which he used for sawing logs and harvesting farmers' crops for about 30 years. Starting in 1922, he owned and operated the Square Deal Garage in Dundee for seven years prior to his death.

Ervin was a member of the Grange and Odd Fellows. Lena belonged to the Daughters of Rebekah auxiliary of the Odd Fellows.

He died May 24, 1929 of a stroke at the age of 58. Ervin is buried in the Ridgeway Cemetery in Lenawee County, Michigan.

When she was 60, Lena married John E. Monk on March 15, 1939. He preceded her in death in 1953.

Lena died on April 19, 1966 in Ridgeway Township, Lenawee County at the age of 91. She is also buried in the Ridgeway Cemetery .


 
Leonidas I was king of the Ancient Greek city-state of Sparta.


Ervin Roggerman was named after his paternal grandfather, Ervin Getty (right). For both of them, we have found their first names spelled several different ways including Irvin, Irving, Irwin and Erwin.

Lena or Lenah? In various documents we have seen this name spelled two different ways. We have always known her as Lena Belle so that is what we will use. However, on her marriage license to her second husband, John Monk, it shows her name spelled Lenah which can probably be traced back to Ireland.  If you have other information, please send an EMAIL.

 

Ervin (9) was living with his parents, George (40) and Navinia (34) Getty near Ridgeway in Lenawee County, Michigan. Their other children were Betty (16), Adeline (13) and George (12). Listed as "Irving".
In this year, Ervin (29) was living with his wife, Lena (26) and their children, Adeline (9), Floss (7) and Blanche (2) in Dundee Township. Listed as "Irving".
Ervin (39) and Lena (36) were living near Ridgeway in Lenawee County with their children Floss (17), Blanche (12), Veyirl (8) and Alice (5). Their eldest daughter, Adeline (21) and her husband, Ralph Raymond Roggerman (24) were living with them along with their newborn first child, Ervin (<1). Ervin's aunts, Nancy (Getty) Downing and Eliza (Getty) Underwood were listed as living nearby.
By this time, Ervin (49) and Lena (46) were living on South Street in Dundee, Michigan. Their last two children, Veyirl (18) and Alice (15) were still at home with them.
Lena (55) was living with her daughter, Veyirl Wittkop on Rawson Street in Dundee.
Lena Monk (65) was living with her second husband, John E. Monk (58)at 14131 Minock Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. Living with them was Lena's granddaughter, "Ardev" i.e. Ann Rolph, who was a senior in high school at the time.
Lena Monk (75) was living with her second husband, John E. Monk, at 507 Mechanic Street in Dundee.

In several documents including her 1942 marriage license to William Hugill, this person was listed as Ardv Rolph and that his how it is signed. Some items show her as Ardev, Ardr or Adiv. However, in her 2012 obituary, she is shown as Ann Elizabeth Hugill. If you have any insights into this name, please EMAIL.