Thomas Frederic Orr

ORR, JOHNSTON, GIBSON, STEWART, MITCHELL, SCHULTZ, REVERTS

Posted By: Barbara Gehlsen Nugent (email)
Date: 8/24/2011 at 16:24:39

History of Jackson County, Iowa, Volume 2, by James Whitcomb Ellis. 1910.
Biographical Sketches

THOMAS F. ORR.

Thomas F. Orr, a successful farmer and stockman of Jackson county, is the owner of two hundred and ten acres of valuable land on sections 3 and 4, Maquoketa township. He was born on this farm on the 10th of February, 1869, his parents being Thomas and Sarah C. (Johnston) Orr, who were natives of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and New York respectively. The year 1860 witnessed their arrival in Jackson county, Iowa, and here they continued to reside until the spring of 1899, when they took up their abode in the Keystone state, the father there passing away on the 25th of December, 1905. A year later the mother returned to this county and now makes her home in Maquoketa. In his political views Thomas Orr was a stanch republican and an active worker in the local ranks of the party. Unto him and his wife were born eight children, as follows: Mary J., who is deceased; Thomas F., of this review; Olive C, the wife of John W. Gibson, of Maquoketa; Margaret B., who is the wife of James Stewart and likewise resides in Jackson county; Jane A., who is engaged in teaching at Algona, Iowa; Gertrude, the wife of E. R. Mitchell, of Marion, Iowa; J. W., living in Mercer county, Pennsylvania; and Minnie M.

In early life Thomas F. Orr enjoyed the educational advantages afforded by the common schools and when not busy with his text-books he assisted his father in the work of the home farm, thus gaining practical knowledge of the best methods of tilling the soil and planting crops. On attaining his majority he rented the old homestead place and in 1899 purchased the property, comprising two hundred and ten acres on sections 3 and 4, Maquoketa township. He has since devoted his time and energies to its further cultivation and the fields indicate his careful supervision and practical methods, bringing forth rich crops which are a merited reward for his labor. In addition to his agricultural interests he makes a specialty of handling stock of all kinds and his businessaffairs are so carefully managed that annually his sales of grain and stock return to him a gratifying income. He is likewise the owner of six hundred and forty acres of land in Texas and has long been numbered among the prosperous, enterprising, and progressive citizens of his community.

On March 15, 1899, Mr. Orr was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Schultz, whose birth occurred at Green Island, Iowa, on the 21st of March, 1877, her parents being Henry and Tena (Reverts) Schultz, both natives of Germany. The father crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1864 and celebrated his marriage six years later at Green Island, Iowa. Both he and his wife still survive and are now residents of Sabula, Iowa. They reared a family of seven children. Mr. and Mrs. Orr are the parents of three children, namely: Gladys C, Thomas L. and Geraldine.

Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Orr has given his political allegiance to the men and measures of the republican party. The cause of education has ever found in him a stalwart champion and he has capably served in the office of school director. Both he and his wife belong to the Congregational church, in the work of which they are deeply and helpfully interested. They have a wide and favorable acquaintance throughout the county where they have spent their entire lives, having ever displayed those sterling traits of character which in every land and clime awaken respect and regard.