Armstrong County PA Archives Biographies.....Orr, Gen. Robert March 5, 1786 - May 22, 1876
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Source: History of Armstrong County, Chicago: Waterman, Watkins and Co. 1883.
Author: Robert Walter Smith, Esq.

  ...Robert Orr was born in Westmoreland county, 
Pennsylvania (probably in Hannahstown), upon March 5, 1786.  
His father, whose name descended to the subject of our 
sketch, had been one of the defenders of the Pennsylvania 
frontier; had enjoyed some official distinction in 
Westmoreland county, and was one of the earliest pioneers of 
Armstrong county west of the Allegheny.  His mother's maiden 
name was Fannie Culbertson.  Coming with his parents to what 
was then almost the verge of the inhabited portion of the 
country while still a minor, Robert Orr entered upon his 
manhood as a pioneer, and had considerable experience in 
that rugged condition of life for which the strong alone 
were fitted.  His boyhood had been passed in a region which 
afforded educational and other opportunities scarcely in 
advance of those he found in sparsely settled Armstrong 
county.  His instructin had been very meager, his 
schoolmasters few and, doubtless, of limited talent; but as 
boy he had been (and as man ever continued to be) an apt 
pupil in that great and thorough school wherein the teachers 
are observation and experience.  To this fact, in 
conjunction with strong native ability, strict honesty and 
more than average energy of character, may be attributed 
both his usefulness and his success in life.  The young man 
resided with his parents in Sugar Creek township for a few 
years, and in 1805, when the county was organized for 
judicial purposes, came to Kittanning to serve as deputy for 
his brother John, who was the first sheriff of the county.  
Subsequently he studied and followed surveying, and in still 
later years was appointed deputy district surveyor.

  Gen. Orr inherited from his father the strongest spirit of 
patriotism and a fondness for military pursuits.  When the 
war of 1812 broke out he was very naturally found among the 
defenders of our country, and rendered valuable services.  
History states that the second brigade of the army 
rendezvoused at Pittsburgh on October 2, 1812 - where the 
subject of this sketch was elected major, - and left that 
place the same fall under command of Gen. Crooks, to join 
the northwestern army under Gen. Harrison, on the Miami 
river, where Fort Meigs was afterward built.  At Upper 
Sandusky they were joined by a brigade of militia from 
Virginia.  From that place Maj. Orr, by the direction of the 
general, took charge of the artillery, munitions, stores, 
etc., and set off with about 300 men to headquarters of Gen. 
Harrison.  While on the march he was met by an express from 
Harrison, bringing information of the defeat of Gen. 
Winchester on the River Raisin, and requesting him to bring 
on his force as rapidly as possible.  After consolidation 
with the balance of the army from Upper Sandusky, they 
proceeded to the rapids of the Miami (Manmee), where they 
remained until the six-months term of duty of the 
Pennsylvania and Virginia militia had expired.  Gen. 
Harrison then appealed for volunteers to remain fifteen days 
longer, until he should receive reinforcements from 
Kentucky. Maj. Orr and about 200 other Pennsylvanians did 
volunteer and remained until they were discharged, after the 
battle at Fort Meigs, upon April 19, 1813. It was not long 
after Gen. Orr's return from Fort Meigs that he received his 
first honor in civil life.  He was elected to the 
legislature in 1817.  He served two terms in that body and 
was then (1821) sent to the state senate to represent the 
large, but comparatively thinly settled, district composed 
of the counties of Armstrong, Warren, Indiana, Jefferson, 
Cambria and Venango, the latter county including much of the 
territory now in Clarion.  After serving one term he was led 
to enter the contest for election to congress, and, doing 
so, defeated Gen. Abner Laycock.  He thus became the 
representative in the nineteenth and twentieth congresses of 
the district composed of Armstrong, Butler, Beaver and 
Allegheny counties.  In the legislature, in the state senate 
and in the congress of the United States he served 
satisfactorily to his people and with unwavering integrity 
of purpose.  Calm, judicious and experienced, his presence 
in the national counsels could not but exert a beneficial 
influence in the direction and control of the affairs of the 
country, which at that time witnessed the earlier symptoms 
of the disturbance that eventually culminated in the 
tragical events of 1861.

  Later in life Gen. Orr was appointed by the governor 
associate judge of Armstrong county and served very 
acceptably to the people.  He retained his interest in 
military affairs and was active in the militia organizations 
of Western Pennsylvania, thereby acquiring the rank and 
title of general. After all, it was not in official life 
that Gen. Orr was greatest or that he was most useful to his 
people.  He was one of those men who needed not the dignity 
of office to give him a name among his fellow citizens, or 
to command their love and respect.  His true loftiness and 
kindliness of character were daily attested by little acts, 
which in his long lifetime aggregated an immense good.

  Gen. Orr became possessed of a large number of land tracts 
in Armstrong and adjoining counties, which he leased or sold 
as he had opportunity.  During the years he was most 
extensively engaged in his land business, money was scarce 
and it was very frequently the case that purchasers were 
unable to meet their payments.  Debtor never had better 
creditor than Robert Orr.  When those to whom he sold were 
embarrassed and could not meet their obligations, he 
extended their time and gave them easier terms.  With many 
individuals this was done again and again, until at last 
they were able to pay.  Gen. Orr never dispossessed a man of 
property on which he was toiling to discharge his 
indebtedness.  Often, the sons of the men who contracted 
with him for lands completed the payment for them.  Through 
this leniency and lack of oppression in the subject of our 
sketch many families were enabled to gain homes.  He was in 
a very literal sense the steward of his riches, holding them 
for others' good as well as his own.  His kindness of heart 
and practical philanthropy found expression in many ways 
beside the one on which we have dwelt.  He was 
unostentatiously and judiciously charitable throughout his 
life.  He did much to advance the interests of the school 
and church, and for many years prior to his death was a 
member of the Presbyterian church.

  Gen. Orr's whole life was identified with Armstrong 
county.  For about three years (1848-52) he resided in 
Allegheny City, and for a short time, about 1845, he lived 
at Orrsville (mouth of Mahoning), but the greater number of 
his years were passed in Kittanning.   He was interested in 
and helped to advance almost every local public improvement 
inaugurated during his time.  Laboring zealously for the 
construction of the A. V. R. R., he lived to realize his 
hope in that direction and to see the wealth of his county 
practically increased by its mineral and agricultural 
resources bring made more easily available to the uses of 
the world.  

  In politics Gen. Orr was a Democrat, in 1861 a War 
Democrat.  He used his influence and contributed liberally 
of his means to assist the organization of the military, and 
the camp where the 78th and the 103rd regts. rendezvoused 
and appropriately named in his honor. His appearance upon 
the ground, when the soldiers were encamped there, was 
always the signal for an ovation, or at least hearty cheers, 
and all who knew him gathered round him to shake the hand of 
the old soldier of 1812.

  Gen. Orr lived to see the war ended and the country he 
loved so much still preserved in union.  He lived to witness 
the nation recover from the worst effects of that war and in 
the centennial year rejoice in peace and prosperity. Upon 
May 22, 1876, this grand, good old man passed away at his 
residence in Kittannng, after a lingering but not severe 
illness, "full of riches, full of honors and full of years."

  Gen. Orr was married in 1836 to Martha, sister of the 
later Judge Robert C. Grier, of the United States supreme 
court, who died December 7, 1881.  Two children were the 
offspring of this propitious union - Grier C. Orr, Esq., and 
Fannie E. Orr.  The last named, of most esteemed memory, 
died March 14, 1882, after a brief illness.


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