Mendocino County Biographies Samuel Orr Transcribed by: Pat Howard This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm This worthy pioneer, whose portrait will be found in the body of this work, was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, January 7, 1817. In 1837 he, with his parents, moved into Champaign county, Illinois. Here he resided until1840, when he moved to Van Buren county, now Cass county, Missouri. He was engaged in farming and trading with the Indians until 1850, when he crossed the plains to California, with ox-teams. On arriving here he engaged in mining, which he followed about one year. In October, 1851, he moved to Sonoma county, where he followed farming until 1858. He then came to Mendocino county, and located on a ranch about thirteen miles above Ukiah. Here he engaged in raising cattle, sheep, and hogs, until 1864, when he moved to Ukiah, where he has since resided. He still owns five thousand four hundred and thirty-seven acres of land, and conducts the stock business. Mr. Orr has served two terms as County Treasurer, being elected in 1865 and 1867. He has always been identified with the best interests of the county, and is a man of sterling worth to the community in which he resides, being honorable and upright. June 8, 1845, he was united in marriage with Miss Urith Murray, a native of Missouri, born in Cold county, April 30, 1829, and died April 4, 1867, leaving eight children, as follows: Catherine, born April 16, 1847; James H., born June 6, 1849; Barbara J., born January 27, 1852; Thomas D., born September 15, 1854; Samuel M., born October 26, 1856; Rachel B., born September 29, 1859; Rosie L., born February 5, 1862; John L., born November 14, 1864; Mary A., born November 14, 1864; Murray, born March 27, 1867. They have lost three, as follows: Catherine, born April 16, 1847, died April 2, 1848; Barbara J., born January 27, 1852, died July 23, 1854; Murray, born March 27, 1867, died September 9, 1867. He married Mrs. J. Nicholson, a native of Missouri born December 25, 1831. She had two children by her former marriage: James R., born May 11, 1850; Marshall, born October 24, 1865. By the last union there are two children: William J., born November 23, 1869; George W. born February 1, 1872. SOURCE: History of Mendocino County, California - San Francisco, Cal. Alley, Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1880 Pp. 658, 659 SAMUEL M, ORR. � The genealogy of the Orr family indicates a colonial participation in American affairs. As the frontier receded further toward the west with each passing decade, so was the family brought more closely in touch with western development. Of all of the name it was given to the late Samuel Orr most intimately to be identified with the westward march of progress. The vicissitudes of an interesting frontier experience took him into different states and kept him in the forefront of developing civilization. Born in Harrison county, Ky., January 7, 1817, his busy and useful existence was prolonged until near the close of the nineteenth century. It was his privilege to witness the building of railroads, the introduction of telegraph and telephone, the perfecting of electricity and gas, and the un- numbered smaller inventions that made the nineteenth century the most re- markable in the history of the world. As early as 1837 he became a pioneer of Illinois, where he settled with his parents in Champaign county. During 1840 he made another important move, this time crossing the Mississippi into Missouri and taking up land in Van Buren county. During the decade of his sojourn in that state he developed raw land, improved a farm with trees, buildings and the other necessities of progress, and made himself a valued citizen in the then frontier community. June 8, 1845, he married Miss Urith Murray, a native of ^Missouri, and a woman of noble character, who proved a faithful, affectionate and capable helpmate until death parted them. The discovery of gold in California caused the attention of Samuel Orr to turn toward the vast unknown west. Attracted by the possibilities of the country, he closed out his interests in Missouri and brought his family to the mining regions during the summer of 1850. After an unsuccessful year in the mines he moved to Sonoma county and took up land. During the resi- dence of the family at Old Sonoma in that county a son, Samuel M., was born October 26, 1856. In 1858 removal was made to Mendocino county, where land was taken up in an isolated location twelve miles north of Ukiah. For six years the family lived on that ranch and engaged in raising cattle, sheep and hogs. In 1864 a home was established in Ukiah, and in 1865 and 1867 Mr. Orr was elected treasurer of Mendocino county, where his two terms of service were characterized by efficiency and progressiveness. He was bereaved by the death of his wife April 4, 1867, and his own demise occurred April 6, 1894, in Ukiah, where he was widely known and honored for his fine qualities of mind and heart. In his family were the following named sons and daughters: James H. ; Barbara J., deceased; Thomas D. ; Samuel M.; Rachel B., Airs. F. A. Wegger ; John L. : Rose L., Mrs. A. P. Wegger; Mary A., Mrs. McClelland ; and Murray, the latter deceased. In inheriting the name of his father Samuel M. Orr inherited also the sterling characteristics of that honored pioneer. During early life he attended the public schools of Ukiah and aided in ranch work, but in the '80s he became interested in carpentering and later made a special study of architec- ture, in which he is regarded as an expert. He has drafted plans for many buildings of importance and value. In addition he has had the contract for the erection of many of these buildings. Some that he built in early days still stand in an excellent state of preservation, bearing silent testimony to the efficiency of his workmanship. The Episcopal Church of Ukiah was erected by him, also the primary department of the Ukiah grammar school, the J. A. Gibson, Rudee, Rodgers and Swanson buildings, and the residences of Dr. A. L. Gibson, Kirk Ford, Charles Bartlett, W. W. Cunningham, C. P. Smith, William Held and William A. Ford. The plans for the block of Mrs. W. D. White were furnished by him. Schoolhouses in different parts of the county have been erected under his management and from his plans, and he also had the contract for one of the connecting buildings of the state hospital. At this writing he serves the county as superintendent of bridge construction and draws plans for bridges of wood and concrete, also superin- tends construction work on both classes. Fraternally Mr. Orr was made a Mason in Abell Lodge No. 146, F. & A. M., is a member of the Woodmen of the World and is past grand of Ukiah Lodge No. 174, I. O. O. F. During 1875 he married Miss Mary M. Mankins, daughter of Peter and Emily (Lynch) Mankins and a sister of D. M. and P. E. Mankins, Mrs. J. R. Knowles and Mrs. R. E. Donohoe. Her father, a native of Missouri, crossed the plains to California during the pioneer period and settled first in Monterey county, but in 1863 came to ^Mendocino county and engaged in farming north of Ukiah, where he died in 1871. For many years he had been a leading local worker in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mrs. Mankins lived to the age of eighty-two years. Mrs. Orr was horn in San Juan, Monterey county, but was reared and educated in Ukiah. She is a member of Kingsley Chapter No. 58, O. E. S., and Cornelia Rebekah Lodge No. 205, of which she is past noble grand, and she has been a delegate on several occasions to the Rebekah grand assembly of California. She is also an active member of the Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Orr have one child, Grace, who is the wife of C. T. Lyman, of San Francisco. History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California With Biographical Sketches History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry Illustrated, Complete In One Volume Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914 Transcribed by Peggy Hooper