Abner G. Orr

As printed in 1910

ABNER G. ORR.

The people who constitute the bone and sine of this country are not those who are unstable and unsettled, who Hy from this occupation to that, who do not know how to vote until they are told, and who take no active and intelligent interest in affairs affecting their schools, churches and property. The backbone of this country is made up of the families which have made their homes, who are alive to the best interests of the community in which they reside, and who attend to their own business and are too busy to attend to that of others, who work on steadily from day to day taking the sunshine with the storm, and who rear a fine family to a comfortable home and an honest life. Such people are always welcome in any country and any community. They are wealth producers and Wayne county is blessed with many of them, among the number being the subject of this sketch.

Abner G. Orr is descended from sturdy Irish ancestry, his grandfather, Samuel Orr, having emigrated to this country from Ireland in young man-

:aviR. AND hood. He came at once to Wayne county, Ohio, and located in East Union township. At that time he had no means, but he possessed strong arms and a willing heart, and by dint of tireless energy and a wise economy he was enabled to buy a small tract of land, to which he added from time to time as he was able until at the time of his death he was the owner of a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres. He married Mary Burnett, and they became the parents of eight sons and one daughter. Of these sons, Thomas was the father of the subject of this sketch. He was born in East Union township on October 31, 1820, and was reared on his father's farm, which he continued to till during his active years. He married Nancy Gaddis and they became the parents of six children, two boys and four girls, namely: Martha, the wife of Albert Hughes, of Defiance county, Ohio; Mary, the wife of Abram Eshelman, of Alilton township; Abner G., the subject of this sketch; Emma, the wife of Charles Swaingart, of East Union township; William J. married Emma J.- Brenneman and resides on the old homestead in East Union township; Sarah A., who was the wife of C. M. Badger, is now deceased.

One sad accident happened in the Bechtel family. In 1837 there was a fire and the house burned, and four girls were burned to death. This affected the health of the father so that he passed away and one year later on Christmas day they l)tried him.

Abner G. Orr was born in East Union township, Wayne county, February 3, 1856, and was reared under the parental roof. He attended the common schools of his locality, supplementing this by attendance at Professor Eberly's school at Smithville. On the completion of his education he began teaching school and followed this vocation seven years. He then resumed labor on the farm and subsequently came into possession of a fine farm of his own, on which he is successfully prosecuting his chosen vocation. He has a splendid farm of three hundred and eight acres, on which he raises all the crops common to this locality, and in connection therewith he also gives considerable attention to the breeding and raising of live stock, in which also he has been successful. He is a careful and painstaking man, and the appearance of his property indicates him to be a man of good taste and sound judgment. He has a comfortable and commodious residence, substantial and convenient outbuildings and barns, and in all departments of his work he is up to date.

On h'february 27, 1890, Mr. Orr was united in marriage to Sarah M. Bechtel. She is a daughter of Jacob Bechtel, who was born on February 29,

1836, in Greene township, where he spent his entire life. Mrs. Orr was born Jnly 26, 1861, on the farm on which she now lives. To Mr. and Mrs. Orr have been born four children, as follows: Walter B., born April 16,

1894; Mary E., born Jnly 10, 1896: Emily A., born January 23, 1899; Charlotte K., born September 27, 1901; [name withheld], born March 17, 1906, died August 24, 1907.

In politics Mr. Orr is an enthusiastic Republican and is now serving as one of the trustees of Greene township, having also served as a member of the school board. In religion, he and his wife are active members of the Presbyterian church at Orrville, to which they give an earnest and generous support. Mr. Orr is an excellent citizen, quiet and unostentatious, and enjoys the respect and confidence of his neighbors and friends, who have known him from early boyhood.

As printed in History of Wayne County, Ohio (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.