Alpha F. Orr Biography


	This biography appears on page 581 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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				JUDGE ALPHA F. ORR. 

	Judge Alpha F. Orr, occupying the municipal court bench in Sioux 
Falls, in the performance of his judicial duties adds to his 
comprehensive knowledge of the law the excellent trait of executing the 
business of the courts with fairness and dispatch. He was born in 
Jersey City, New Jersey, April 28, 1860, and is a son of James and 
Susannah (Royle) Orr, the former a native of Belfast county, Ireland. 

	Judge Orr acquired his education in the Whitestown (N. Y.) 
Seminary and at Hamilton College, Clinton, New York. Following this he 
taught school for six or seven years in New York state and then, having 
determined upon a legal career, studied law. He was admitted to the bar 
on the 6th of October, 1882, and in 1889 he located in Sioux Falls, of 
which he has since been a resident. Gradually he has advanced in his 
profession to a foremost place in the ranks of the legal fraternity, 
possessing the ability which enables him to cope with intricate legal 
problems and bring them to a successful solution. With a mind naturally 
logical and analytical in its reasoning Judge Orr has never feared the 
labor so necessary in the preparation of eases for the courts, while in 
his presentation of his cause he has displayed the soundest reasoning 
and the utmost accuracy. He became well known at the South Dakota bar 
and at length was elected city attorney of Sioux Falls, serving one 
year. He was later elected states attorney for four years and in 1912 
was made judge of the municipal court for a term of four years. Since 
his elevation to the bench Judge Orr has allowed no personal feeling or 
opinion to sway him in the fair and faithful administration of justice 
and he dispatches the business of the court in the same prompt and able 
manner with which he eared for the interests of his clients as a 
practitioner. 

	In April, 1886, Judge Orr was united in marriage to Miss Eva E. 
Green and both are well and favorably known in social circles of Sioux 
Falls. Judge Orr belongs to the Elks, the Dacotah Club, the Masonic 
blue lodge and the Knights of Pythias and gives his political 
allegiance to the republican party. He has won prominence on the bench 
of the municipal court and has gained equal success as a practicing 
attorney, his analytical mind, untiring energy and strong purpose being 
important elements in his progress.