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- Excerpt from MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA published by the Southern Historical Association, 1895.
http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ga/coweta/bios/orrin.txt
I. N. ORR, a prominent business man of Newnan, Coweta Co., Ga., who was born in November, 1840, is the son of Robert and Almira (Simms) Orr. His father, who was born in 1813, was a native of Wilkes county, Ga., and came to Coweta county in 1829 with his parents, who, on their arrival, cut a road ten miles long from Newnan to the place in the woods where they cleared up for a plantation. The mother of I. N. Orr was a daughter of John Simms, who was born in Hancock county, Ga., and whose family was one of the pioneer families of that county. I. N. Orr was reared in Coweta county, where he received a good common school education. In April, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, First Georgia regiment, under Capt. Hunley, and, strange to say, he had one finger only on his right hand; he served two years, when he was made enrolling officer for Coweta county. He had four brothers in the war, only one of whom was killed. After the war he returned to Newnan, and in 1875 went into business in a small way, but, by close application and honest dealing, he has built up a large and lucrative business. He served as a member of the school board for five years, but on being elected to the city council in 1878, was obliged to give up his position on the school board. He was then elected mayor of Newnan and was reelected in 1893, the duties of which office he still fulfills. In 1868 he married Miss Dora Johnson, a daughter of Berry D. and Cynthia (Gibson) Johnson, whose father was a pioneer of Heard county, and who represented Heard county in the legislature two terms. He was a member of the first convention after the war. To Mr. and Mrs. Orr were born eight children, all boys, seven of whom are living: S. G., I. N., Benjamin, Robert, Cleveland, Frank and Paul. Mrs. Orr was born and reared in Heard county, Ga., and both she and her husband are members of the Baptist church, and Mr. Orr is an Odd Fellow. Mr. Orr and family are among the leading families of Newnan and are held in high esteem.
- Excerpt from BAPTIST BIOGRAPHY, Balus Joseph Winzer Graham, editor (Atlanta, Georgia: Index Printing Co., 1920), Vol. 2, 248-251.
One of the most substantial and influential pioneer citizens of the eastern part of Georgia in the beginning of the last century was Philip Orr. In 1829, he and his wife and their children moved to Coweta County, Georgia, and settled in a virgin forest ten miles from Newnan, the older boys cutting a road ten miles long through the woodland to the place they cleared for a plantation. Among the sons of Philip Orr was Robert, who was born in Wilkes county, Georgia, in 1813. The wife of Robert Orr was Almira E. Simms, who was born in Hancock County, Georgia, and belonged to one of the pioneering families of that county. On November 12, 1840, a son was born to Robert and Almira E. Orr, who was given the name of Isaac Newton Orr, the subject of this sketch.
Isaac Newton Orr received his primary education in the old ante-bellum country school, finishing his literary training in Newnan. His early life being spent on the farm, he was free from the subtle temptations so common in towns and cities. The influences of the home in which he was reared were the very best. A sense of honor was instilled in his mind and heart, and it gripped him and held him throughout his long and useful life.
In 1861 Isaac Newton Orr enlisted in Company A, first Georgia Regiment, under Captain Handvey. After serving with an honorable record for two years, he was made enrolling officer for Coweta county, a position which he held until the end of the war. He had four brothers in the war, one of whom, Frank, was killed.
At the close of the war Mr. Orr returned to Newnan, Georgia, and in 1875 went into business in a small way. By close application and honest dealing he built up and maintained a large and successful mercantile business. As a business man he interested himself in all that concerned the welfare of his town and country. His fellowcitizens recognized his superior ability, as a token of which they elected him to numerous local offices, all of which he filled most acceptably. As early as 1878 he was elected a member of the city council, and in 1893 he was chosen mayor. At the expiration of his term as mayor, he was re-elected. As an evidence of his progressiveness, a system of waterworks was installed during his term of office. In fact, Mr. Orr was heartily favored whatever he believed would advance the interests of Newnan and of Coweta county, and of his State as well. In 1905 the people of Coweta county elected Mr. Orr as a member of the General Assembly. He served with such great acceptance to the people of his county that he was chosen for the second term in 1907. In fact, many of his fellow citizens did not hesitate to say that Mr. Orr was good gubernatorial timber.
Since 1873, Mr. Orr was closely identified with the educational interests of Newnan. It was in that year he was made a member of the school board, and he continued a member of that board, and he continued a member of that board, except for the periods during which he served on the council and as may, up to the time of his death, in 1917. He was an enthusiastic supporter of education and a warm supporter of every movement that promised to make the schools of his city, county, and State more efficient.
In 1867, Mr. Orr married Miss Dora Johnson, daughter of Berry D. and Cynthia Gibson Johnson. Mr. Berry D. Johnson was a pioneer citizen of Heard county, Georgia, and a man of sterling character and of fine natural ability. Twice he represented his county in the legislature and was member of the first Convention after the war. The home of Mr. And Mrs. Isaac Newton Orr was blessed with eight sons, six of whom are living. They are I. N. Orr, Jr., Benjamin, Robert, Cleveland, Frank and Paul.
In 1856 Mr. Off united with Bethel Baptist Church, Heard county, Georgia. A short time after moving to Newnan, he transferred his membership to the First Baptist church, of which he was a devoted and useful member until his death, which occurred at his home, July 4, 1917. His widow, Mrs. I. N. Orr, and four sons are also members of the First church, Newnan.
Mr. Orr was a loyal Baptist, and for many years he was actively involved in denominational affairs in the city, in the Western Association and in the State and South. For more than twenty-five years he was a familiar figure at all the meetings of the Western Association. He was always willing and ready to serve his church and denominations in any capacity desired by his brethren, Mr. Orr was jealous of the good name of his church, and under no consideration would he permit it to be tarnish because of its failure to meet its obligations to its pastor and others. During the long period of his membership in the First church he had only a few pastors. In the selection of a pastor he showed unusual tact. He made it a rule when his church was without a pastor to privately confer with his brethren who were in a position to know the preachers of the State. When favorable consideration was given to the name of a given brother, accompanied by a group of his brethren he would visit the church of the pastor under consideration and attend the regular services of the church, and thus hear the pastor preach. If the preacher made a favorable impression, then an interview would be sought and had. In every case Mr. Orr insisted on dealing with only one minister at a time.
Mr. Orr was given to hospitality. Especially was he fond of entertaining preachers. The following incident is cited: At a session of his association a visiting minister was invited to preach. The sermon profoundly impressed Mr. Orr, and at the close of the service he thanked the preacher for the message and insisted that he stop by with him and spend the night. The preacher accepted the invitation. After he had retired he heard a gentle tap on his door. Suspecting that it was Mr. Off the preacher invited him to come in. He entered the room, dressed for bed, and said to the preacher: "After preaching such a sermon as you did today, you deserve a pillow of down under your head. Raise up your head." The preacher obeyed, and Mr. Orr slipped a pillow of down under his head and bade him good night and wished him sweet dreams. Few men were more gifted in the art of entertaining his brethren and making them feel at home than Mr. Orr. His good wife always shared his pleasure in entertaining preachers and others.
Mr. Orr was easily one of the leading citizens of Newnan, Coweta county and Georgia. He was a man of exceptional business ability, and therefore a man of fine judgment. He was blessed with an unusual degree of foresight, and he had acquired tact in handling delicate situations. He was one of those men who could so manipulate differences between fellow citizens or brethren as to bring about a return of friendship without making himself conspicuous.
When Isaac Newton Orr passed away, the whole city of Newnan realized that it had lost one of its truest and most useful citizens, and as a mark of respect for him all the business houses of Newnan were closed during the hour of his funeral. Men and women from all walks of life delighted to pay tribute to his memory, not only as an ideal citizen, but as a model husband, tactful father, devout Christian and useful deacon in his church. Though he be dead, he yet speaks in the noble life which he lived, and not only his children, but his fellow citizens rise up to call him blessed.
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