Armstrong County PA Archives Biographies.....BRODHEAD, Gen. Daniel

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    History of Armstrong County, Robert Walter Smith, Esq., 
         Chicago: Waterman, Watkins and Co. 1883.
 
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                               GEN. ROBERT ORR

  ...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.