Col. Thomas G. Orr Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1211-1212 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				COLONEL THOMAS G. ORR. 

	Colonel Thomas G. Orr, the efficient superintendent of the South 
Dakota State Soldiers, Home at Hot Springs, was born in Martinsburg, 
Knox county, Ohio, June 22, 1848, a son of Dr. Thomas and Lavinia 
(Thompson) Orr. The father was born in Pennsylvania and the mother was 
a native of Newell county, Ohio. Both have gone to their final rest, 
the father,s death occurring in 1855 at New Cumberland, West Virginia, 
and the mother passing away in 1853 at Martinsburg, Ohio For forty-five 
years Dr. Orr was actively engaged in the practice of medicine. To him 
and his wife were born five sons and two daughters, Colonel Thomas Orr 
being the youngest. 

	The last named had but meager opportunities for schooling in his 
boyhood days and acquired the greater part of his education after the 
Civil war. He was left an orphan when about seven years of age and went 
to Volney, Allamakee county, Iowa, where he made his home with a 
brother. While still a child he found employment with a dry-goods firm 
and continued with that house for three years, after which he went to 
Lansing, where he entered the employ of the Lansing Mirror as printer's 
devil. His connection with that paper was maintained until July, 1861, 
when he put aside all private considerations and enlisted in the Union 
army, becoming a member of Company C, Fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He 
was but thirteen years and fifteen days old when he stood on the box to 
be sworn in and because of the United States rules he was not accepted 
at first. Later his captain interceded for him and explained to the 
mustering officer that he had no parents and no home and the officer in 
charge sent an account of the case to headquarters in Washington. In 
the meantime Colonel Orr was made captain's clerk and served in that 
capacity for three months, at the end of which time authority came from 
Washington to muster him into the army as a drummer boy. In 1864, after 
three years of service, he was transferred to Company G, Fifth Iowa 
Cavalry, at Atlanta, Georgia, as a veteran volunteer. Until the 8th of 
November, 1865, he held the rank of orderly to the colonel of the 
regiment and on that date was mustered out at Nashville, Tennessee, 
after which he returned to Clinton, Iowa, where he received his pay and 
then went to Lansing, where he spent a few weeks in visiting. He felt 
the need of a more thorough education and attended a select private 
school at Waukon, Iowa, for three months and in 1864 went to Chicago 
and accepted a position as express messenger for the Merchants, Union 
Express Company, which operated between Chicago and Burlington, Iowa. 
During that time he took a night course in a commercial school in 
Chicago, from which he was graduated in the course of time. In the fall 
of 1866 the company with which he was connected failed and he returned 
to Lansing, Iowa, where for a time he acted as clerk in a clothing and 
hardware store. He then became bookkeeper for a large grain firm, 
holding that position for five years. Upon the dissolution of the firm 
in 1873 he entered into a copartnership for the conduct of a grain 
business at De Soto, Victory and Badax City, Wisconsin, and he was a 
resident of Victory until 1877, v hen he became a partner in and 
general manager of a large company buying grain at twenty-six different 
stations. He devoted his time and energies to his duties in that 
connection until 1883, when he resigned and came to Dakota territory, 
filing a claim near Aberdeen on the 9th of November, 1883. He then went 
to Viroqua, Wisconsin, which remained his home until April 2, 1884, at 
which date he located on his claim in Dakota territory, his family 
arriving a few days before Christmas, which anniversary was spent at 
Bayles' ranch. 

	In the fall of 1884 Colonel Orr was asked by a committee of 
citizens to become a candidate for register of deeds of Walworth 
county, which he did, being elected and serving for four years. It is 
interesting to note that his campaign cost him only five dollars. While 
he served as register of deeds his wife and family continued to reside 
upon the claim. At the end of his term he was made chief of the 
enrolling and engineering force appointed by the territorial 
legislature of 1888 and 1889. He served in that capacity for sixty days 
and then opened a real-estate office at Bangor, Walworth county. In 
1892 the family removed to Brookings in order that the children might 
have the educational advantages afforded there but the Colonel did not 
join them until some time afterward. In 1893 he accepted a position as 
collector for the Walter Atwood Company of Hoosick, New York, his 
territory being Dakota and the southern half of the state of Minnesota. 
He continued with that company until 1895, his residence remaining in 
Brookings, and then became field manager for a fire insurance company, 
whose headquarters were in Madison, Wisconsin. After a year spent in 
the employ of that concern he resigned to accept a position with the 
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad and was made townsite agent at 
Evarts and he was engaged in selling town lots there until the town of 
Mobridge was platted and he was made townsite agent for a year under 
the municipality. He sold the first lots recorded there for one hundred 
and ninety-five dollars apiece. A few weeks later he was taken sick and 
returned to his family at Brookings. It was necessary for him to 
undergo an operation for cancer of the bowels and he went to a hospital 
at Rochester, Minnesota, conducted by the celebrated Mayo Brothers. The 
operation proved successful and he is now one of the two patients who 
have recovered from that disease. 

	In 1897 Colonel Orr returned to Brookings and was made deputy 
food and dairy commissioner under Professor A. H. Wheaton. When Mr. 
Cook became head of the service the Colonel was reappointed and 
continued to act as commissioner until he resigned in 1900 because of 
impaired health. Seven years later he was appointed a member of the 
board of the State Soldiers, Home under Governor Herried and a year and 
a half later was reappointed, serving for two years under Governor 
Vessey. In January, 1911, he was elected by the board as superintendent 
of the State Soldiers, Home and assumed office on the 1st of April of 
that year. He has since had charge of the affairs of the institution 
and has been ably assisted by his wife, who serves as matron. She has 
had much experience in that line of work, having been for about five 
years matron in the State Agricultural College at Brookings. 

	Colonel Orr is a republican but his interest in public affairs 
has never taken the form of a desire to hold office. He is a member of 
the blue lodge, chapter and council in Masonry and has held a number of 
offices in that order. He is president of the Home-Coming Association 
and believes firmly in the value of gatherings that bring together all 
those interested in any way in this section of the state. Colonel Orr 
has invariably manifested the same spirit of devotion to the public 
good that led him as a boy of little more than thirteen to offer his 
services to his country as a soldier, being the youngest enrolled 
soldier from Iowa. His record was one of hard service as he took part 
in from sixty-one to sixty-five engagements, was twice wounded and yet 
was with his regiment every day of the time that elapsed from his 
enlistment until his discharge at the close of the war. His experience 
as a soldier and his understanding of the veterans of the war, coupled 
with his wide business knowledge, make him an excellent man for the 
post of superintendent of the South Dakota State Soldiers, Home and his 
administration is proving not only satisfactory to the board of 
directors but also meets the approval of the soldiers who live therein.