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Burch Family Cemetery ~ Samuel Orr ~ part of the Polk County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
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Orr, Samuel
LAST NAME: Orr FIRST NAME: Samuel MIDDLE NAME:  NICKNAME: 
MAIDEN NAME:  AKA 1:  AKA 2:  AKA 3: 
GENDER: M TITLE: 
BORN: 12 May 1845 DIED: 19 Mar 1919 BURIED: 22 Mar 1919 ~ Burch Family Cemetery
OCCUPATION:  Farmer
BIRTH PLACE:  Co Tyrone, Ireland
DEATH PLACE: Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon
NOTES: 
NOTE - Samuel Orr was originally buried at Burch cemetery. His grave was later moved to City View cemetery in Salem. His wife Charlotte died 29 April 1937 and was buried at City View. 

OSBH DC (Multnomah Couny 1919) #1123 - Samuel Orr, male, married, b. 12 May 1845 in Ireland; d. 10 Mar 1919 in Portland, Oregon (658 Broadway) at the age of 73 yrs 10 ms 17 dys, name of father Samuel Orr (b. Ireland), maiden name of mother Jane Shankleton (b. Ireland); lived in town 44y; bur Rickreall, Oregon; informant Mrs. Samuel Orr of 658 E Broadway, Portland. 

BIOGRAPHICAL (Source - Portrait and Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley, Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago, 1903, pg 778):
"One of the most progressive and enterprising men in Polk county is Samuel Orr, who is extensively engaged in farming and hop-growing on his well cultivated farm adjoining Rickreall. His birth occurred in Tyrone county, Ireland, May 12, 1845. He is a son of Samuel Orr, who was also born in Tyrone county and died in Ireland at the age of eighty years. His mother was Jane (Shankleton) Orr, also a native of Erin. Samuel Orr, Sr, followed the occupation of farming throughout his entire life. Unto him and his wife were born eight children, of whom Samuel Orr is next to the youngest child and the only one in America.
Samuel Orr of this review received his early education in the common schools of his native land. At the age of twenty years he started out in life for himself, removing to New Zealand. There he engaged in farming and in contracting for farm work. He resided in New Zealand for ten years and then returned to his home on a visit. He determined to seek home and fortune in the land of the free, and accordingly, on November 9, 1865, he landed in Portland, Ore. He possessed no means except what he had acquired from his own labors. He came direct to Rickreall and purchased his present farm, which consists of three hundred and forty acres, the most of which is now under a high state of cultivation. When he took this place it was in poor condition, containing a great deal of wet land. He has made many improvements upon it, has drained it thoroughly, having put in nearly four miles of tiling. The present condition of the land is such that it is a source of pride to the owner as it denotes his careful supervision and progressive spirit. He has sixty-five acres in hops. The capacity of three kilns of hops is three hundred and twenty-five boxes per day, and next season his plant will have a capacity of five hundred kilns. In the hop season Mr. Orr employs nearly one hundred people. The capacity of the store-room is at present one hundred thousand pounds of hops. Next season the capacity of the store-room will be two hundred thousand pounds. Mr. Orr has thirty-five thousand pounds of last season’s hops awaiting sale. His hop fields are laid out in an artistic way, evenly and beautifully, very pleasing to the eye of the beholder.
In 1874 Mr. Orr was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte Gardner. They have six children: Charlotte, wife of J.B. Nesmith; Robert; Lizzie, wife of Otis Weight; John W.; Fannie, wife of F. Stimson, and Glenn E. Mr Orr built an elegant residence on his property for his son-in-law, Mr Weight.
In the new world Mr. Orr found the opportunities for advancement which he desired, and in the great northwest his brightest expectations have been realized. Through his sound sagacity and keen discernment he has achieved success. He has grasped that “There is a tide in the affairs of man, which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune,” and by those who have watched with interest his business career, he is regarded as a self-made man."




DEATH CERTIFICATE: 
OBITUARY: 
Samuel Orr, former well known and highly respected citizen of Polk county, died Wednesday morning, March 19, at his home in Portland, after an illness of about a week with pneumonia. Short funeral services will be held in Portland at 3 o’clock Friday afternoon, after which the body will be brought to Rickreall, where services will be held Saturday morning at 10:30 at the church in that village. Interment will be in the Thielson cemetery. 
Mr. Orr was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, May 12, 1845. While yet a boy he went alone to the British colonies (Australia and New Zealand), where he later became a farm contractor, making a modest fortune for those early days. 
About 1875 he made a trip back to Scotland and then came to America. For a short time he was employed in Portland, then through the influence of Colonel Nesmith purchased a farm near Dixie (now Rickreall), paying cash for the same. Part of this farm Mr. Orr still owned at the time of his death. 
In 1905 Mr. Orr retired from farming and with Mrs. Orr moved to Portland. He is survived by his widow and the following children: Mrs. James B. Nesmith of Portland; Mrs. E.A. Stinson and Mrs. Otis Wait of Rickreall, and Sheriff John W. Orr of Dallas.
[unidentified clipping from Orr folder, Biographical Files, Polk County Museum]
INSCRIPTION: 
No marker at Burch
SOURCES: 
OSBH DC (Multnomah Couny 1919) #1123
Biography file, Polk County Museum
PBRWV, p 778
CONTACTS: 
ROW:   

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