BIO: Edward B. Orcutt, Jefferson County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Jean Wall

Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.
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http://usgwarchives.net/pa/jefferson/
http://usgwarchives.net/pa/jefferson/beers/beers-bios.htm
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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens. 
Chicago, Ill.: J. H. Beers, 1898, pages 1094-1095.
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E. B. ORCUTT, of Corsica, was for many years prominently identified 
with the business interests and development of Union township, 
Jefferson county, but has now retired from active labor, enjoying a 
rest which he so richly deserves.
  A native of Maine, he was born in Charleston, Penobscot county, 
October 3, 1827, a son of David and Asenath (Engles) Orcutt, the former 
also a native of Charleston, and the latter of Blue Hill, Me.  the 
paternal grandfather was an Englishman by birth, and immigrated to 
America during the Colonial days, locating in Maine, where throughout 
the remainder of his life he engaged in farming.  Religiously he was a 
member of the Free Will Baptist Church.  In his family were the 
following children: David, John, Samuel, Otis, Ezra, Sally A., Eliza, 
Rosilla and Cordelia.  Of these, David Orcutt was reared to 
agricultural pursuits, but later engaged in lumbering.  In his native 
State he married Asenath Engles, who died about 1830, leaving two sons: 
E. B., and James, now a farmer of Iowa.  The mother was a most 
estimable lady and exemplary Christiana faithful member of the Baptist 
Church.  During the '30s David Orcutt came to Jefferson county, Penn., 
and located at Brockwayville, where with a partner he erected the first 
sawmill on Toby creek.  After operating it for about ten years, he sold 
out and moved to Roseville, Union township, where he followed farming 
and lumbering until 1842, and later engaged in the same pursuits on 
Clarion river, in Limestone township, Clarion Co., Penn., where his 
death occurred in 1863.  He was also and active and prominent member of 
the Baptist Church, and contributed liberally to the erection of Mount 
Pleasant church edifice. Some years after coming to Pennsylvania, he 
was married at Roseville to a Mrs. Mills, by whom he had three 
children: David, Isaac and Nannie.  Mrs. Orcutt, who was a 
Presbyterian, died after their removal to Clarion county, and he later 
wedded a Miss Means.
  After the death of his mother, E. B. Orcutt and his brother were left 
with his grandfather in Maine, while his father came to this State.  
Although his early education was greatly neglected by his own energy 
and perseverance since attaining manhood he has acquired a good 
practical knowledge of affairs, learning the multiplication table after 
embarking in merchandising at Corsica.  He is not only a self-educated 
but also a self-made man, starting out in live for himself at the early 
age of fourteen as a farm hand, at the meager salary of $30 per year.  
The following year, in the employ of another farmer, he received $50, 
and then began working in the lumber woods on Penobscot river at $15 
per month.  Six months later he obtained employment in a hotel, where 
he also remained six month.  His father, returning to Maine in the fall 
of 1844, brought his sons to Pennsylvania, and our subject remained 
with him until twenty years of age, when he began merchandising in 
Corsica, as a partner of John J. Y. Thompson and Samuel Barr.  Two 
years later Mr. Thompson sold his interest to the others, the firm 
becoming Barr & Orcutt, but at the end of three years Mr. Orcutt 
purchased his partner's interest.  Subsequently for two years John Reed 
was a member of the firm, but with that exception was alone in 
merchandising.
  Mr. Orcutt did not confine his attention solely to mercantile 
pursuits, but has been interested in real-estate dealings, lumbering 
and stock-raising.  With his brother James he purchased a 200-acre 
tract of timber land and a sawmill, and until 1875, when the property 
was destroyed by fire, they successfully engaged in the manufacture of 
lumber, which they marketed at Pittsburg.  As the mill was only insured 
for a small amount the loss was very heavy.  Rebuilding, they continued 
operations for three years when the firm was changed to Orcutt & 
Jackson, but four years later, they discontinued business.  Selling his 
store, Mr. Orcutt purchased the "Corsica Hotel" and other property in 
the city, which was mostly destroyed in the big fire in 1873, but he 
built a more commodious hotel, which is still the leading hostelry of 
the place.  For nearly forty years he was interested in the hotel 
business in Corsica, but in 1892 retired to his private residence, and 
is now enjoying the fruits of his form toil.  For some time he was an 
extensive dealer in horses, which he marketed in the East, and in 
promoting his own interests has materially advanced the welfare of the 
community by furnishing employment to many, building up important 
industries, and in developing and improving the land.  He was ever a 
progressive, enterprising business man of the strictest integrity, and 
his straightforward course won for him the esteem and friendship of a 
host of acquaintances for and near.  In politics, formerly he was a 
Republican, but now supports the Prohibition party, while in religious 
belief both he and his estimable wife are Presbyterians.
  In 1854 Mr. Orcutt was married to Miss Rachel McCulloch, a lady of 
intelligence and worth, and they have become the parents of seven 
children: Laura, Rose Albo (Mrs. Dr. Holden), Cad, John, Pearl, Winnie 
and Read.  Sheridan McCulloch, the father of Mrs. Orcutt, was a native 
of Baltimore, and of Irish descent.  At an early day he come to 
Jefferson county, Penn., where in the midst of the wilderness he 
improved a farm and spent his remaining days, dying in the faith of the 
Presbyterian Church.  His children were: Jane, the eldest, died at the 
age of sixteen; William, Linn; Rachel; Elizabeth; David died August 10, 
1897, at Yorktown; Rebecca; Anna and John.

1860 Corsica Township, Jefferson County census -
Edward B. Orcut, 32  
Rachel Orcut, 25  
Laura Orcut, 5  
Rosealveo Orcut, 3