Ellison Orr
Ellison Orr, prominently connected with business interests in
Waukon as superintendent of the Standard Telephone Company, has
been actuated throughout all of his business life by a spirit of
enterprise and initiative and has advanced step by step to be one
of the most substantial and representative men of the community
where he makes his home. He was born on the Orr farm near
McGregor, Iowa, June 15, 1857, and is a son of James and Margaret
Orr, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. The father emigrated from Ireland
at the age of twelve and settled with his parents in New York
state, coming to Iowa in 1856 and purchasing a farm one and
one-half miles northeast of Postville, whereon he resided for
many years.
Ellison Orr grew to manhood upon this farm and acquired his
education in the Postville public schools. After laying aside his
books he taught for a number of winter terms in the district
schools in the vicinity of his home and from January, 1891, to
June, 1893, was teacher of the seventh and eighth grades of the
school in Postville where he attended in his youth. After three
years devoted to educational work he accepted the position of
clerk in the Postville State Bank and retained it for a similar
period of time, later again turning his attention to farming, an
occupation which he followed until 1898. In that year he was
elected clerk of the court for Allamakee county and he did such
able and effective work that he won reelection to the office,
serving in all from January 1, 1899, to January 1, 1903, and
proving discriminating, far-sighted and conscientious in the
discharge of his duties. On the 1st of January, 1904, Mr. Orr was
appointed general manager and superintendent of the Standard
Telephone Company and in the fall of the same year he moved to
Waukon, where he has since resided. He possesses an initiative
spirit and an executive ability which he has since resided. He
posses an initiative spirit and an executive ability which have
been important factors in his success in his present position and
under his able management the affairs of the concern have
prospered exceedingly, the business has increased in volume and
the details of operation have been put upon a modern and
businesslike basis.
Mr. Orr married, November 2, 1881, Miss Belle Makepeace, whose
parents resided in Winneshiek county. To their union were born
four children: Fred a construction foreman for the Standard
Telephone Company; Harry a civil engineer in the employ of the
Missouri Iron Company; Florence, who is engaged in teaching; and
James, at school.
Always interested in anything pertaining to questions of public
education and anxious to do his part in promoting education
facilities, Mr. Orr has accomplished some beneficial work in
matters relating to the public schools and especially as a member
of the board of trustees of the State College of Agriculture
located at Ames, a position which he held from July 1,1904, to
July 1, 1910. He was for thirteen years a member of the State
Militia, resigning in 1897, at the time of its reorganization, as
first lieutenant and quartermaster of the Fourth Regiment. He
belongs to the Presbyterian church of Waukon and has been a Mason
since attaining his majority, being now a Knight Templar. He
cooperates in all movements for the material, intellectual and
moral progress of the community and is recognized as one of the
foremost business men of the city, his remarkable success in an
important capacity placing him in an enviable position in
business circles.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich
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