Sketch of Capt. John Orrick, St. Charles County, Missouri

>From "A History of the Pioneer Families of Missouri, with numerous
sketches, anecdotes, adventures, etc., relating to Early Days in 
Missouri" by William S. Bryan and Robert Rose, Published by Bryan,
Brand & Co., St. Louis Missouri, 1876.
**********************************************************************

The parents of Capt. John Orrick were natives of Virginia, but of 
English ancestry.  The Captain was born at Bath, or Warm Springs,
Berkeley County, VA., January 5, 1805.  His father was a planter, and
he followed the same occupation until he was thirteen years of age,
when he was apprenticed to learn merchandising, at Reading, PA.,
where he remained nine years.  He then went to Lancaster, PA., where
he resided three years.  In the meantime he had saved a portion of 
his earnings, and during the excitement in the Pittsfield coal reg-
ions he purchased, with the assistance of his former employer, some
property, from the sale of which he realized a profit of $1,000 in
the short space of six weeks.  He then removed to Boonesboro, MD.,
and, in partnership with his brother, went into the mercantile busi-
ness.  But their success did not meet their expectations, and in
1833 they sold out, emigrated to Missouri, and located in St. Charles,
where they resumed their mercantile business, and met with great succ-
ess.  But unfortunately they made heavy advances to parties engaged in
the fur trade in the mountains, and in 1836, owing to the low stage of
water, which obstructed navigation, and the hostility of the Indians 
on the upper rivers, they met with heavy losses, and were compelled to
suspend.  Previous to this misfortune Captain Orrick had been elected
Justice of the Peace, and in 1840 he was elected Sheriff of the county,
on the Whig ticket.  At the expiration of his term he was re-elected,
and served four years in all.  In 1844 the Whigs elected him to repre-
sent the county in the Lower House of the State Legislature.  At the 
close of his term he engaged in farming, which occupation he followed
for about two years, and then went into the boating business.  In 1851
he took the United States census for St. Charles County, and when the
North Missouri railroad was built he became one of the directors, in
which capacity he served about four years.  Capt. Orrick was married 
in 1833, to Urila Stanebru, of Washington County, MD.  One of his sons,
Hon. John C. Orrick, represented St. Charles County in the State Leg-
islature two terms, and was chosen Speaker of the House the last term.
He is a graduate of St. Charles College, having received his diploma
from Dr. Anderson.  He is at present a prominent attorney of St. Louis,
and a leader of the Republican party of the State.	

====================================================================
     USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing
         free information on the Internet, data may be used by
         non-commercial entities, as long as this message
         remains on all copied material. These electronic
         pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit
         or for presentation by other persons or organizations.

         Persons or organizations desiring to use this material
         for purposes other than stated above must obtain the
         written consent of the file contributor.

         This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
         Archives by: Penny Harrell <Incog3678@aol.com>

====================================================================