HARVEY E. ORR.
Pg 128
Starting in life under highly favorable circumstances as to parentage and surroundings Harvey E. Orr, of Columbus City, has ably discharged his responsibilities and today ranks among the leading men of Louisa county. He and his family occupy a beautiful residence which is provided with all desirable conveniences and he is also the owner of a fine farm in this part of the county . . .
Pg 129
. . . which yields generous annual returns. He is a native of Washington county, Iowa, born June 27, 1853, a son of Francis G. and Elizabeth (Johnston) Orr.
The family has been traced back in America for a number of generations, the great-grandfather on the paternal side, Thomas Orr, having been one of the pioneers of Washington county, Tennessee. There his son William, the grandfather of our subject, was born. William Orr was reared in Washington county and when a young man went to Blount county, Tennessee, where he married Miss Mary Walker whose father, John Walker, served as a recruiting officer in the Revolutionary war. After the colonies gained their independence he settled in the valley of the Susquehanna, in Pennsylvania, but about the year 1800 emigrated to Tennessee. He was a farmer by occupation and a member of the Seceder Presbyterian church. He died at the age of eighty years.
To William and Mary Orr where born the following children, namely: Jane F., now deceased; John W., who died at Conesville, Iowa, in 1886, at the age of seventy-six years; Josiah J., a farmer of Union township, Louisa county; Francis G., the father of our subject; Robert H., who also engaged in farming in Union township; Mary, who died in infancy; Lucinda Adeline, who married Joseph Johnston, of Columbus City; William W., a farmer of Union township; Esther Ann, the wife of James H. Johnston, of Columbus township; and Nancy Jane, who became the wife of David C. Hammel, of Washington, Iowa. Jane F., the eldest of these children, was twice married. Her first husband was Thomas J. Johnson, of Madison county, Alabama, and her second husband was John F. McConnell. She died in Louisa county at the age of eighty years.
At the age of four years Francis G. Orr removed with his parents to Monroe county, Tennessee, where the family lived for about two years, then taking up their residence in McMinn county, Tennessee. He continued with his parents until he arrived at the age of twenty-one years. In 1846 he came to Columbus City township, Louisa county, but remained only a short time. He purchased eighty acres of land near Crawfordsville, Washington county, Iowa, upon which he took up his residence in the fall of 1848.
In 1852 he was united in marriage to Elizabeth J. Johnson and two years later was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife and infant son. This was the greatest sorrow of his life and one from which he never fully recovered. A short time after the death of his wife he disposed of his property in Washington county and returned to Louisa county, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres on section 4, Union township. He made his home with his brother, W. W. Orr, until after the marriage of his son and then took up his residence with the latter. He died in 1896. He was a highly successful farmer and became the owner of two hundred and forty acres of rich land in Union township upon which he built a handsome farm residence and other substantial buildings in keeping with the home. He was a member of the Associated Presbyterian church of Columbus City, in which he served as ruling elder for many years. In politics he was a republican.
Harvey E. Orr was reared on the home farm and attended school in the winter, assisting in the work of the fields in the spring and summer. At the . . .
Pg 130
. . . age of twenty-five years he took his father’s place in the management of the homestead and upon the death of the father inherited the estate. He continued to live at the old home until 1904 when he removed with his family to Columbus City. He rented the home farm for four years and then disposed of it, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres in Columbus City township, which he still owns. His property in Columbus City covers an entire block of eight lots and the residence is one of the most attractive in the city.
On October 2, 1878, Mr. Orr was married to Miss Mahala Duncan and to this union three children were born, two of whom are now living: Gary, who makes his home in Texas; and Ira, a resident of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The mother of these children died February 23, 1885, at the age of twenty-seven years, and Mr. Orr was married April 21, 1887, to Miss Mary E. Duncan, his second wife being a daughter of James A. and Melinda J. Duncan. Mr. and Mrs. Orr have become the parents of five children, namely: Lulu, who resides at home; Eva, deceased; and Helen, Harold and Edith, all of whom are at home. Mrs. Orr was the sixth in order of birth in a family of nine children, the others being: Joseph, deceased; Margaret A., the widow of W. J. Grimes, of Allerton, Iowa; Nancy J., the widow of Robert O. Johnson, of Garnett, Kansas; William, who died in infancy; Emma F., the wife of Isaac A. Endsby, of Columbus Junction; Flora, the widow of W. D. Pyles, of Columbus Junction; Lou, who married W. E. Murdock of Columbus Junction; and Charles R., also of Columbus Junction.
Mr. Orr votes in support of the republican party, and while he has never desired to hold public office he takes an active interest in the success of the party and lends his assistance in promoting the claims of its candidates. A native son of Iowa, his interest has largely centered in this state and few men can claim a more intimate knowledge of its resources and possibilities. By loyalty to principle and a spirit of progressiveness which have ever been his salient characteristics he has inspired many others to the attainment of higher ideals and has been a potent influence in the upbuilding of the community. His religious views are indicated by membership in the United Presbyterian church to which, as to all worthy objects, he is a liberal contributor.
