Mary (Johnston) Orr 1857-1927

JOHNSTON, JORDAN, ORR, HALL

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 5/17/2008 at 14:02:51

Brooklyn (IA) Chronicle; April 1927

MARY ORR

Mary Johnston, one of a family of 13 children, daughter of John R. and Jane Jordan Johnston was born in Rock Island Co., Ill., Dec. 9, 1857 and passed away Sunday evening Apr. 17, 1927. Miss Johnston was married to Mr. Thomas Orr December 25, 1889. No children were born to this home but Clarence Birchard became a member of the family and lived with them until about 2 years ago. Mrs. Orr's husband preceded her in death about seven years ago. Then Clarence and his wife made their home with her until they moved to Montezuma. At times she made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Henry Johnston at Coggon, Iowa. During the remainder of the time Miss Myrtle Hall lived with her and gave her a great deal of comfort.

Mrs. Orr united with the Fairmount Methodist Church during the pastorate of Rev. Kight. Later she moved her membership to Brooklyn. Mrs. Orr was a quiet, unassuming woman and was greatly beloved by all who knew her. In the last few years she had suffered much in the way of financial loss but she did not complain. Her hope was in God and she felt that in some way God could provide. The sympathy of many friends goes out to the bereaved brothers, Robert Johnston of Broadland, S.D., Thomas Johnston, Montezuma and Henry Johnston of Coggon, Iowa and to the hosts of nieces and nephews who she left to mourn their loss. Funeral services were held from the Methodist church Wednesday afternoon at 2:30.
BLINDED BY THE HEADLIGHT OF TRAIN, MRS. ORR APPROACHED TOO NEAR TRACKS AND IS STRUCK.
Mrs. Tom Orr met instant death Sunday night when she was struck by an east bound stock freight. The accident occurred at the west crossing in town at about 7:57 p.m. Mrs. Orr was 69 years of age and had spent practically all of her life in Brooklyn. She had been spending the day with Mrs. Robt. Orr and was returning to her home in south Brooklyn accompanied by Miss Myrtle Hall, who made her home with Mrs. Orr. As they neared the crossing they noticed the approaching train and Mrs. Orr made the remark that if they hurried they could get across before the train passed. Miss Hall tried to detain her but did not succeed and although Mrs. Orr did not step in the direct path of the train, she was struck by the pilot. The sudden impact threw her about 75 feet, her neck was broken, chest crushed and arms and legs badly mangled. She evidently had not judged the distance of the train from her as she wore glasses and the bright headlight confused her. She was struck from the same side from which she had attempted to cross. The engineer saw the accident and stopped the train at once delaying here about an hour so as to get all the details of the accident. Different people in town Monday, stated that they had sensed a calamity as the engineer blew the whistle longer than usual at the crossing and the sudden applying of brakes made them even more suspicious. It is reported that two young people coming from the south also saw the accident and thought Mrs. Orr became confused and lost her sense of reasoning. This is the first railroad fatality that has occurred in Brooklyn in a great many years. This crossing gives a good view of the tracks from the west, but has a rather blind crossing on the east for any one going south, and for that reason people have always been a little more careful in watching before crossing over to the south part of town. Mrs. Orr had been spending the winter with her brother in Coggon, Iowa and she had returned only a short time ago. She was the foster mother of Clarence Orr who was electrocuted last summer in Montezuma while doing some electrical repairing.