When he got out, he tried to make an honest living to support his wife, Mary and his four children. He was hired at a factory in Sidney, Ohio that made butter churns. Life was finally going well or so it seemed. In May, 1902, Albert and Mary had a new son, who they named Floyd. Little Floyd only lived five months and died from pneumonia on October 17, 1902.
By 1903, he and his family had moved to Bellefontaine where he took a job as a machinist at the A. J. Miller Carriage Factory. Misfortune struck again and Albert’s life took a turn for the worse. His wife, Mary passed away on October 3, 1903. Sixteen year old daughter, Mattie was devastated by her mother’s death. Albert said that Mattie “lost her mind” over it.
Still trying to cope with the loss of his son and now having to deal with the loss of his wife and concern for his four living children, especially Mattie, Albert was distracted at work. Four days, after Mary’s death, he lost two fingers in an accident at the factory.
He could no longer work as a machinist and had to find a way to provide for his children so turned again to something he knew could earn income immediately. He resumed his former position as a mail order peddler investing what little savings he had to purchase “notions”. He was doing it honestly this time, or so he believed. This went well for a few years.
Having an income did not solve everything, though so he quickly remarried four months after Mary’s death. He jumped into this marriage too soon. His new wife, Minnie was not the person she had seemed to be. Albert had remarried to provide a home with two parental figures for his children.
Minnie apparently had other ideas. She broke up their home, took his possessions, and when he was arrested for running a mail order scam and defrauding people, she kicked his children out to the street without food or shelter.
Albert was helpless. He was in jail awaiting trial and could do nothing. Relatives must have taken in the children, because they all grew to adulthood and led good lives, including Mattie who was so distraught by her mother’s death.
Albert seemed to genuinely believe that he was legitimately selling his notions, however, in 1905, he was again arrested as a con artist. He requested his colleagues from the wholesale houses who supplied him to be witnesses for him at his trial to prove his innocence.
He claimed in an interview with a reporter from the Athens Messenger that he had a struggle with poverty and that, while he was not whining, his life had been one of thorns, not roses and that he was a man who used neither liquor or tobacco.
He asked that his story be published as a rebuttal to what other newspapers may say about him and that his indebtedness to others only mounted to $36.94.
Albert and another man were indicted and he spent a short time in the penitentiary. When he got out, he went through three more marriages and divorces before he eventually found the right woman. In 1918, he married the wife with whom he remained for the rest of his life.
Misfortune seemed to have left him. He and Lola, his last wife, moved to Florida where he started another poultry farm. He raised “fancy” chickens and sold them and their eggs.
Albert was a very intelligent man. He finally was able to use that intelligence and operated a successful poultry business. He also wrote numerous articles for several farm journals and magazines. Life finally come together for Albert.