Baldwin County GaArchives History .....History of Baldwin County - Orme Biography 1925
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 7, 2004, 5:48 pm

p. 424-426

RICHARD McALISTER ORME

    Richard McAlister Orme (1797-1869) lived during that period of our history
when democratic government was yet considered an experiment. Like other
intellectual men, he was keenly interested in the solution of the problems that
were constantly arising in the political affairs of the nation.

    Born in Montgomery county, Maryland, August 6, 1797, Richard McAlister Orme
was the sixth child of John and Sarah McAlister Orme, who moved with their
family to Georgia, in 1813.

    In 1815, Richard McAlister Orme came to Milledgeville and entered at once
the Journalistic work that was to honor and be honored by his efforts.

    Starting at the bottom in the printing office of Seaton and Fleming
Grantland, publishers of the Georgia Journal, he applied himself with such good
effect that by 1819, he felt ready to establish his own business. Selecting Mr.
Henry Denison, a gifted young northern man, then teaching school in
Milledgeville, as his associate, he established the Southern Recorder. The
untimely death of Mr. Denison occurred before the first issue of the new paper
came out, and in consequence, Mr. Seaton Grantland became his partner in the
venture.

    Located in the most southern of the original states of the Union, the
Southern Recorder, under Mr. Orme's editorial guidance, became one of the most
justly celebrated and influential papers of the South.

    A man of the highest integrity and strong convictions, he followed
principles even though they led to new party banners; hence, he was found with
the Troup party in 1827, with the States Rights party in 1833, with the Whigs in
1840-44, the Union party of 1850-51, and to the Union or co-operative party of
1860.

    The character of his work may well be described by quoting from the
editorial comment of some of his contemporaries, who say of his paper, the
Southern Recorder,—"One of the most popular and influential journals published
in our state ***** A journal as free from reproach, as elevated in character, as
patriotic in sentiment ***** as any that has ever been published in the South,"
and from another, —-"He was a gentleman of dignified address, cordial and
abundant in his hospitalities, and pleasant in all the relations of life; a fine
specimen of that class of men, now almost extinct, who combined self-respect,
truth, and integrity, and honor in every transaction."

    On February 21, 1825, Mr. Orme was married, first, to Miss Jean Moncure
Paine, of Richmond, Virginia. From this marriage, the children who lived to
maturity, were: Richard McAlister Orme, Jr., who became his father's partner,
and later went to Savannah, where, continuing his newspaper work, he also became
a contributor to magazines; Georgia Jean Orme (Mrs. J. F. Alexander, of Atlanta)
; Margaret Virginia Orme (Mrs. J. Bulow Campbell, of Atlanta) ; and Dr. Henry
Sayre Orme.

    Mr. Orme's second marriage was to Mrs. Abby Adams Edgarton, on June 9, 1842.
Of this marriage there were five children: Mary Elizabeth Orme (wife of Dr. Wm.
Flinn) ; John Adams Orme; William Archibald Orme; Anne Ripley Orme; (wife of
Capt. Chas. P. Crawford, of Milledgeville, Ga); and Edward Dunning Orme.
    It is given to few men to found, and successfully carry on, a business for
fifty years. That a newspaper could be founded and so carried on, enjoying the
increasing respect of its readers, speaks more highly for the character of
Richard McAlister Orme than could any tribute of words.

    With an enviable reputation for business sagacity and unremitting energy,
Mr. Orme had accumulated a fortune that was swept away by the war, but such was
his indomitable courage that, had be been spared, he would have built another on
the ruins of the first.

    It is said that Mr. Orme's strongest characteristic was that of
"hospitality. His home life was ideal and a heritage not only to his own
children, but to all who came within its circle of influence.

    Called to his eternal rest on the 8th March, 1869, he left behind a record
of service and high example, in his dual capacity as a citizen and father, that
will be felt as long as people seek to cast their lives upon.



Additional Comments:
From: 

Part V

HISTORY of BALDWIN COUNTY GEORGIA

BY MRS. ANNA MARIA GREEN COOK

ILLUSTRATED

ANDERSON. S. C.
Keys-Hearn Printing Co.
-1925—


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/baldwin/history/other/gms314historyo.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/

File size: 4.9 Kb