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         FRANCIS G. ORR, one of the early settlers of Louisa County, Iowa, now residing on section 3, Union Township, is a native Blount County, Tenn., born Feb. 3, 1815. His parents were William and Mary (Walker) Orr, the father a native of Washington County, Tenn., and the mother of Blount County. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Orr, was a farmer by occupation, and was one of the pioneers of Tennessee. The maternal grandfather, John Walker, was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, and served as a recruiting officer. After the Colonies had attained their independence, he settled in the valley of the Susquehanna, in Pennsylvania, where he resided until his emigration to Tennessee in about the year . . .

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. . . 1800. He was also a farmer by occupation, and a member of the Seceder Presbyterian Church. His death occurred at the age of eighty.

William Orr, the father of our subject, who was of Scotch-Irish descent, spent his boyhood days in his native county, and when a young man went to Blount County, where he formed the acquaintance of Mary Walker, who later became his wife. They reared a family of nine children: Jane F., who wedded Thomas J. Johnson, of Madison County, Ala., and after his death became the wife of John N. McConnell, died in this county at the age of eighty years; John W., who died at Conesville, Iowa, in 1886, when seventy-six years of age; Josiah J., who is now engaged in farming in Union Township, Louisa County; Francis G., of this sketch; Robert H., whose sketch appears on another page of this work; Mary, who died in infancy; Lucinda Adeline, widow of Joseph Johnston, of Columbus City; William W., a farmer of Union Township; Esther Ann, who wedded James H. Johnston, of Columbus City Township; Nancy Jane, deceased wife of David C. Hammel, of Washington, Iowa.

When our subject was four years of age his parents removed to Monroe County, Tenn., making that their home for two years, and in 1820 went to McMinn County of the same State, where Francis was reared upon a farm. Remaining under the parental roof until attaining his majority, he then left home, and in 1846 came to Iowa, remaining for a short time in Columbus City Township. He later purchased eighty acres of land near Crawfordsville, Washington County, to which farm he removed in the fall of 1848. His marriage with Elizabeth J. Johnston, a native of Tennessee, was celebrated in 1852, and by their union one son was born, Harvey E., who has charge of the home farm in Union Township. On the 9th of January, 1855, the death of Mrs. Orr occurred. She was a most estimable lady, and was highly esteemed for her many excellencies of character.

After the death of his wife Mr. Orr returned to Louisa County, and purchased a farm of eighty acres on section 4 of Union Township. He has never again married, and after coming to this county made his home with his brother, W. W. Orr, until 1878, since which time he has made his home with his son, Harvey E., on section 3 of Union Township, where he owns 160 acres of fine land. He also has a handsome farm residence, and all the other buildings upon the place are in keeping with the home. Religiously, Mr. Orr is a member of the Associated Presbyterian Church, of Columbus City, and has been a Ruling Elder for many years. He has been a liberal contributor to its support, has taken great interest in its advancement, and is one of the most earnest laborers in the Master’s vineyard. At the organization of the Republican party he joined its ranks, and has since continued to fight under its banner. An intelligent, social and genial man, he wins friends wherever he goes, and is well known and universally respected throughout Louisa County.

Harvey Orr was born in Washington County, June 27, 1853, though he was reared upon a farm in Union Township, and received his education in attendance at its district schools. On the 2d of October, 1878, he was united in marriage with Miss M. G. Duncan, who was born in this county, and was a daughter of A. J. Duncan, of Columbus City Township. To them were born two children, sons—Garry and Ira A. Mrs. Orr was a member of the United Presbyterian Church. In his political views Mr. Orr is a Republican. He owns eighty acres of land, and has the management of 250 acres, and besides his farming interests makes a specialty of breeding Short-horn cattle.

The death of Mrs. Orr occurred Feb. 23, 1885, when twenty-seven years of age, and he was again married on the 21st of April, 1887, to Mary E. Duncan, a daughter of James Duncan.