BIO: William R. ORNER, Huntingdon County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO

Copyright 2008.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm 
**********************************************************
__________________________________________________________________  

Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 153-154.
__________________________________________________________________ 

  WILLIAM R. ORNER, McAlevys Fort, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born at 
Lewistown, Mifflin county, Pa., September 22, 1840. He is a son of 
William R. Orner, Sr., and Matilda (Brown) Orner. William R. Orner, 
Sr., was of German descent, and was a native of Lancaster, Pa. He was a 
blacksmith, and followed that vocation in Huntingdon and at Lewistown, 
where he made his home. Besides the smithy, he had a shop for the 
manufacture of stage coaches. He was an excellent workman, and 
successful in business; he invested in real estate, owning several 
houses in Lewistown. His wife, to whom he was married in Lewistown, was 
a daughter of Thomas Brown, of Mifflin county, and of Irish extraction. 
They had three children: Martha, deceased, wife of Charles McClenahan, 
of Milroy, Mifflin county; William R.; and Bella, wife of William 
Emerick, who is in railroad business at Altoona, Pa. William R. Orner, 
Sr., was a Democrat. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
He died in Lewistown in 1835. Mrs. Orner was married again, to Edward 
Hutchinson, shoemaker, of Huntingdon. Their only child is Calvin, who 
is employed in railroad business, and resides at Harrisburg, Pa., where 
Mrs. Hutchinson, now over eighty years of age, lives with him. Mr. 
Hutchinson died at Patterson, Mifflin county, in 1879.
  When Mr. W. R. Orner died his son and namesake was but five years 
old. The child was placed in the care of Henry Kipe, who sent him to 
school. Mr. Kipe was a farmer, and William R. lived with him two years, 
doing such small tasks as he could upon the farm. For the next five 
years he was with Daniel Ebbs, of Centre county; there he began to 
learn blacksmithing, though still so small that he could not use the 
hammer on the anvil without standing on a block. He was next for one 
year clerk in the store of his uncle, Z. Orner, in Lewistown; then for 
eighteen months learning in the smithy of Samuel Davis, at Stood's 
Cross Roads; then again for six months in the Lewistown store, and 
again for a short time with his former master. Mr. Orner next went to 
the State College, in Centre county, where he remained one summer as 
nurseryman. His next place was at Millhall, and the next at Washington 
Furnace, Clinton county, Pa., where he remained for six months. He was 
then for a year at Heckley Furnace, Centre county. He then engaged with 
McCoy & Linn, iron workers at Milesburg, Centre county; here he worked 
until the war of the Rebellion broke out.
  In March, 1861, Mr. Orner enlisted for the three months' service, at 
Bellefonte, Centre county, Pa., in Company H, Second Pennsylvania 
Volunteers, Colonel Walsh and Capt. John Mitchell. He was on guard duty 
during the three months, was discharged at Harrisburg, Pa., and 
returned to Bellefonte. He re-enlisted September 20, 1861, for three 
years, in Company D, Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Walsh 
and Capt. Austin Curtin. During this time of enlistment Mr. Orner took 
part in several skirmishes. He was wounded at Hilton Head, in his left 
arm, a ball passing through the shoulder blade, and was discharged at 
the hospital in Harrisburg, September 23, 1862; he still suffers from 
the effects of this wound. After this Mr. Orner resided for some time 
at Bellefonte, where he resumed blacksmith work. In 1874 he took up his 
residence in Jackson township, Huntingdon county, where he purchased a 
farm of 75 acres, which he improved, and cultivated it for fifteen 
years. He then sold this farm, and bought the "Flasher" farm, in 1890; 
this farm, too, he has improved, and here he is now engaged in farming 
and raising stock. Thrown on the world when scarcely more that an 
infant, an orphan and without resources, Mr. Orner has with diligence 
and courage worked his way to a prosperous condition, and holds a 
position of respectability and influence. The usefulness of such 
workers, their achievements and their example, in time of peace, are of 
scarcely less value to the State than the patriotic services they 
render with so much of sacrifice and suffering in time of war. Mr. 
Orner is commander of D. Cummins Post, G. A. R., at McAlevys Fort. He 
is also a member of Grange No. 951, P. of H. He was auditor of Jackson 
township for one term, and served two terms in the school board. He is 
a Republican.
  William R. Orner was married December 25, 1862, in Walker township, 
Centre county, Pa., to Elizabeth A., daughter of William and Mary 
(Gunsaulus) Cox; her father is of English descent; her mother bears an 
old and well-known Spanish name. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Orner 
are: Annie M., deceased, wife of William Dickson, of Jackson township; 
William R., collier, Jackson township; Harry L., in the railroad shops 
at Altoona, Pa.; Lillie E., died young; Martha M. (Mrs. David Bigelow); 
Clara B. (Mrs. Smith Mitchell), of Jackson township; Charles T., at 
present an attendant in Norristown hospital; May; Ellen E.; Hannah; and 
Margaret. Mr. Orner is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and 
has served in the Sunday-school as teacher and as superintendent.