Benjamin Franklin Orris (1918)
KRELL, ORRIS, WALKER, WILSON
Posted By: Kent Transier
Date: 7/18/2004 at 02:13:58
The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, May 22, 1918Death of B. F. Orris
At the age of 88 years, B. F. Orris died on May 16th at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Coates Wilson. He came from Pennsylvania about 1851 and settled in Louisa County, marrying Miss Jenny Walker in 1856. Fifty years ago, he brought his family to Webster township, settling on the farm that remained his home until 1889, when he became a resident of Winterset.
Mrs. Orris died ten years ago and of the eight children that were born to them, five survive their father: Mrs. W. P. Krell of Norfolk, Va., Miss Nellie Orris of Denver, Mrs. Coates Wilson, Edward and Emory of Winterset.
Mr. Orris was highly respected in this city and county. He was a strong supporter of all church affairs, particularly of the Methodist church, being a licensed preacher for nearly sixty years.
________________________The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, May 22, 1918
Page 4, Column 4B. F. Orris Dead
Benjamin Franklin Orris was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, September 30, 1830. There he grew to young manhood. At the age of 21 years he came with his parents to Iowa, locating near the boundary line which separates Luisa county from Washington. Previous to coming to Iowa he taught one term of school and this became his employment for several years after settling in his new home. In the meantime he attended the Howe academy in Mount Pleasant.
In 1856 he was married to miss Jane Walbur, daughter of Rev. Robert Walbur. In 1856 while attending a revival meeting in his home school house, he was converted and joined the Methodist church. Without any solicitation on his part he was licensed to ex----- and in the fall of 1858 he was regularly licensed as a local preacher of the Methodist church, which license was regularly renewed each year for thirty-two years. During the year 1861 and 1862 and was assigned to regular pastoral work by the presiding elder.
In 1868 with his family, consisting of wife and three children, he moved to Webster township, Madison county, Iowa where he improved a farm and continued to live till the fall of 1889 when he moved to Winterset. The Orris family was quite a factor in the development of Webster township and Father Orris will be well and favorably remembered as long as any of the pioneer citizens of that community survive. He was one of the founders and supporters of the church erected many years ago in his neighborhood; was active in all political and social movements of the community and exercised a good and lasting influence throughout the southwest part of the county.
Eight children were born into the family, three of whom died in infancy. The five who reached maturity and still survive are Mrs. W. P. Krell, of Norfolk, Virginia; Mrs. Nellie Orris, of Denver, Colorado; Mrs. Coats Wilson, of Winterset; Edward and Emory Orris, of Winterset. Three brothers still survive, Levi Orris, of Winterset; Samuel Orris, of Columbus city, and Aaron Orris, of Des Moines. There are also two sisters living in Columbus city, Mrs. Taylor Smiley and Mrs. Sadie Dunlap. There are thirteen grand children and ten great grand children.
Mr. Orris suffered an irreparable loss in the death of his life in 1908, since which time he gradually declined and health and during the past two years has been a patient and constant sufferer, but his disease did not assume a serious form until during the past winter. He was with his son, Ed, for a time during his last illness, but most of the time he was lovingly cared for by his daughter, Mrs. Wilson, at whose home he answered the final summons which he had been expecting with faith and equanimity for many days. His death occurred Thursday, May 16.
The funeral services were held at the Methodist church in Winterset, Saturday morning, May 18, conducted by Rev. Jackson Giddens.
________________________Transcriber's note: Transcribed as published, surname "Walbur" should be "Walker" as confirmed in their 1856 Muscatine County Marriage Record.
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