ORR-James - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Judge James ORR, (deceased), Attica, was born June 2 1805, near the town of Franklin, Warren county Ohio. He was reared a son of toil and learning the wheelwright's trade engaged himself for many years in the business of making wagons. It should be observed that he was born and reared on the frontiers of civilization which were pressed well up to the possessions of the Indians, and which were kept in nearly constant perturbation, either by their open hostility or threatening attitude. While he was but a lad the second war with England occurred, and it is well known with what savage ferocity and sickening barbarity hostilities were carried out by the British commanders and their hardly more inhuman Indian allies. These conditions were not such as to promote the arts of peace and the diffusion of knowledge where the paramount objects were to make homes in a desolate wilderness, secure a simple existence and maintain the public defense. Truly life was earnest. Men grew strong in body and in sense. It was in such a school as this, stripped as well of the superficial ornaments of our modern education as the more substantial and essential principles, that Mr. Orr received that training whose wholesome effects marked with singular distinctness the whole course of his life. In the mold of industry and integrity was his character formed, and when brought conspicuously forth in the discharge of the duties of public station he was not found wanting in any of the qualifications for a comprehensive usefulness. Little of the early history of the Orr family can be rescued from the gathering shades of the past. It is known that they immigrated from the north of Ireland, and were of Scotch-Irish birth. The first records of the family in this country are contained in a deed of property executed in the township of Yorke Pennsylvania in 1770. Mr. Orr himself was a pioneer settler of Fountain county. He came to Indiana on a tour of observation in 1827, and in 1829 returned permanently to resided here, fixing his home three miles south of Attica, where he lived till the date of his death. His popularity with the people made him in 1837, a commissioner of the county which position he filled with so much satisfaction for one year that on the recommendations of his numerous and prominent admirers he was appointed to the responsible dignity of associate Judge of the circuit court, and discharged the duties of that office fourteen years and until displaced by the new constitution of the state. He was the choice of the people of his township for trustee several terms, and at intervals filled various minor offices/. Mr. Orr celebrated his first marriage in 1847 with Miss Jane Miller, a daughter of one of the very early settlers of the county. She made him the father of five children, one of whom is dead. He enjoyed her companionship little more than a decade, when she was taken from him by death and in 1862 he married for his second wife, Miss Susan Schermerhorn, sister to Maj. Schermerhorn of Delphi, this State. By this union three children were born to bless and inspirit their home. Mr. Orr was not a negative man, and in the changing scenes and issues of passing time he could not have been in harmony with the opinions of all others, but his social demeanor and public conduct were regulated bt candor, honesty, and dignified respect. He was not biased by sectarian views, but heeding at all times a well-disiplined conscience, acted toward others as he hoped they would act toward him. His days were crowned with the golden sunset of a mature, cheerful, and happy age. Withal declining years beget infirmities of whose increasing weight he was forever relieved January 12 1876. He left to his family both a goodly record and inheritance.