Joseph Orr 1845-1880

LAYNG

Posted By: Marilyn Norris Holmes (email)
Date: 5/2/2008 at 08:54:37

Montezuma Republican; Wednesday March 10, 1880
OBITUARY
Joseph Orr was born in the county of Fermanagh, Ireland, in the year 1845, and died at home in Scott township, Poweshiek county, on Friday, March 5th, 1880. Mr. Orr left the shores of the Green Isle his native land in the year 1863, to make his home in the grseat Republic of the West. A youth then of eighteen years, alone in a strange land, Joseph Orr launched out on the great ocean of life to battle with its stern realities and share its successes. He settled in the city of Pittsburgh, Pa., finding employment at Duff's Mercantile College, at which institution he became a student for one year. Afterward he engaged in building houses, and with rigid economy, he succeeded in saving a sum necessary to purchase him the beautiful home he occupied, before death summonsed him to that borne from whence no traveler returns.

Mr. Orr early became a professor of religion. At the age of seventeen, he was converted by the preaching of the great revivalist, Nallis, in a revival conducted at Brooksborough, Ireland. He remained an earnest Christian worker to the day of his death.

He leaves a wife and seven children to mourn his untimely loss. In his death, his companion loses a noble and loving husband, his children a kind and indulgent father and his neighbors a worthy and esteemed citizen. His sympathies were ever enlisted for the distressed. --He possessed a warm heart and generous nature, and was ever ready to assist in any benevolent enterprise. Whatever his hands found to do, he did with all his might. He was ever zealous in battling for what he thought to be right. --His mental powers seemed to overtop his physical ability, and his well-stored and active mind was still reaching out, grasping for more. His death was very sudden, being ill but four or five days. --His case was not thought dangerous until an hour or so before death. A large concourse of the best citizens of the county, followed the remains to the Brooklyn Cemetery. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Smith, assisted by Rev. Hardy. His bereaved wife, children and friends have the warmest sympathy of the entire community. J.M.M.