William Asa ORR

ORR, HARDIN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/27/2014 at 14:44:12

February 17, 1832 ---- January 6, 1907

THE LAST ROLL CALL

Account of the Life of Comrade Wm Orr

William Orr was born in Salem, Indiana, on February 17, 1832 and died at his home in Eagle Grove, Sunday, January 6, 1907. He was married to Miss Evelyn Hardin on August 25, 1851. After living in Indiana for eight years in 1859 they moved to Illinois. While living in that state the Civil War broke out and Mr. Orr loyal to the Union enlisted in the 44th Ill. Vol. Inf., and saw three years of hard service with the regiment. At the battle of Franklin, Tennessee, he was wounded, a bullet passing thru one of his lungs, and after gaining sufficient strength and partially recovered from his injuries he was sent home and was mustered out at the close of the War. A little incident occurred at the time of his injury that probably saved him his life. Mr. Orr had been home on a furlough and upon returning to his regiment he took with him one of his sons, intending that the boy should be returned home by some of his comrades who would be home on their vacation. However before the lad had left camp his father was seriously wounded in the engagement at Franklin, and it was by his care and nursing that Mr. Orr was brought thru.

In 1873 the Orrs moved to Iowa, settling at Dubuque, and in 1875 they moved into Cherokee County, and again in 1880 they moved to O'Brien County. In 1883 they moved onto a farm near Alpena, So. Dak., where they lived for twenty years. During their residence here Mr. Orr had an attack of pneumonia from which he never fully recovered. Fast failing in health he and his wife moved to Eagle Grove in order to be near their son, A. L. Orr. The deceased when nineteen years of age was converted and joined the Methodist, and remained a steadfast and loyal member of that church up to the very time of his death.

The funeral services were conducted by Rev. C. E. Chapler at the Methodist Church Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock, and a large number of friends of the family were present at the last rites over the departed. The G.A.R's attended the services in a body. Interment was made in the Rose Hill cemetery and at the grave the G.A.R. had charge of the service and the body was laid to rest by their simple and impressive ceremony, and the last roll call for Comrade William Orr was answered.