Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 700
JOHN A. ORR

John A. ORR, (deceased), became a permanent resident of Harrison County, in 1876, and in his life time, was a representative farmer in this section of Iowa, hence very naturally, find his place on the pages of the history of his county.

Mr. ORR was born in Carroll County Ohio, July 25, 1851, and in 1856, he accompanied his parents to Des Moines County, Iowa, remained there one year, and they then moved to Nebraska, and remained in Douglas County until the spring of 1861, when they moved to Harrison County, Iowa, and in 1872, moved Pottawattamie County. Our subject remained with his parents in the last named county, until 1876, and then purchased two hundred acres of land on sections 5, 6 and 8, of LaGrange Township, where he built a house, and made general farm improvements. Before his death, he had added to his landed estate, until he owned ten hundred and forty acres, lying in the Boyer Valley, so famous for its fertility. He kept it well stocked and handsomely improved. He was a busy, energetic and thoroughly upright man, who was usually at home, and made others feel at home with him.

An important event of his life was his marriage, January 4, 1876, to Miss Ellen J. CROSSLEY, who was born in Nottinghamshire, England, June 26, 1849, and in 1852 emigrated with her parents, to America, settling in Pottawattamie County where they became early pioneers. When they started from England, they intended to go to Salt Lake City having united with the Latter Day Saints Church in England, but after being in Pottawattamie County, a short time, and seeing how matters were progressing among the Utah Mormons they severed themselves from the church.

Of Mr. ORR's father, Col. William ORR, it may be said he was born in Belfast, Ireland, March 13, 1826. He emigrated to America, lived in Western Pennsylvania for a few years, then came to Carroll County, Ohio, from there to Iowa, in 1856, went to Nebraska as above related, and finally purchased a farm in LaGrange Township, where he remained until 1872, and then removed to Pottawattamie County, where he now resides. In 1848, he returned to Ireland, and married, March 24, 1849, Miss Margaret ORR and the following day embarked for this country. They were the parents of twelve children--John A., being the second child. Col. ORR was a candidate for State Senator in 1880 but was defeated.

This notice partaking as it does of genealogy as well as of biography, should also treat of our subject's wife's people: William CROSSLEY, her father, was born in Nottinghmshire, England, December 2, 1807, and in the spring of 1853, he came to America, and purchased a claim of a man and subsequently entered on hundred and twenty acres of Government land in Pottawattamie County. At the time of his coming to this country, he was a very poor man, but at the time of his death possessed one of the finest homes in Western Iowa, which included six hundred and forty acres of well improved land. He had visited American, about 1840, and bought him a home in Trumbull County, Ohio, but after four years of hard work to improve this place he went back to England for the purpose of marrying, and as his wife did not like the idea of coming to America, he sold his farm in Ohio, and placed the money in the hands of the "Phalanx Society," for safe keeping. But it did not prove a very safe deposit, as the institution shortly afterwards collapsed, and he never realized but three hundred dollars.

His wife the mother of Mrs. ORR, Susan (HAND) CROSSLEY, was a native of England, and died in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, February 7, 1862, and the father died February 19, 1881.

Mrs. ORR remained at home with her father, in Pottawattamie County, until the date of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. ORR were the parents of three children--William L., born January 3, 1878; Fannie L., born November 10, 1879; Bruce L., born October 29, 1881. Fannie L. died February 15, 1889.

Our subject, while yet in the prime of young manhood, and surrounded with all that men call dear in life; the possessor of a beautiful home, a loving wife, and a family of interesting and intelligent children, and when all bid fair for a long and useful career, his barque was suddenly dashed against the breakers of an unseen shore, and he was called upon to leave his earthly surroundings, taking in exchange the spiritual real; passing from the scenes of earth October 15, 1882, just as Nature was putting on her robes of beauty, tinted with amber and gold, all that was mortal of John A. ORR, was laid away, in Linnwood Cemetery, LaGrange Township, and his life was a monument unto himself, being a loyal citizen, a loving husband and a kind father.

Let it be said in this connection, of the widow of our subject, the late Mr. ORR, that she possesses rare business ability; is refined and cultivated, yet unlike a majority of her sex, has a keen business sagacity, which enables her to superintend her farm of more than a thousand acres, in a successful manner. Her business methods are spoken of in the most praise-worthy manner, by all within her community. There are few ladies, even further advanced in life, who could control so large an estate, with the proficiency with which this good woman does that left her by Mr. ORR.

In her religious belief Mrs. ORR is a firm believer in spiritualism. No lady in the community, is more highly appreciated, for her many graces than is this one--the widow of Mr. John A. ORR.

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