John W Orr
Submitted by: Lynn Mack
Law enforcement rests in safe hands with John W. ORR, who is
strict,
fearless and prompt in the discharge of his duties as sheriff
of Polk
county, to which office he was first elected in 1914. Mr.
ORR is
widely and favorably known in the section where he resides, for
he was
born in Polk county on the 9th of August, 1878, and is a son of
Samuel
S. and Charlotte ORR, the former a native of County Tyrone,
Ireland,
while the latter was born near Edinburgh, Scotland. In
1873 the
father emigrated to America and crossing the country to Oregon
purchased land near Rickreall, in Polk county, which he engaged
in
cultivating until 1905, when he removed to Portland and there
lived
retired until his demise on the 19th of March, 1919, at the age
of
seventy-four years. The mother survives and is still
residing in
Portland.
Their son, John W. ORR, attended the district schools of Polk
county
and the public and high schools of Rickreall, later pursuing a
course
in Armstrong's Business College at Portland. His
first position was
that of bookkeeper for the Capital Lumber Company of Salem,
Oregon,
and subsequently turned to agricultural pursuits purchasing
land in
the vicinity of Rickreall which he continued to operate until
1914,
when he was called to public office, being elected sheriff of
Polk
county. So creditable a record did he make in that
connection that he
has since been continued in the office, his excellent service
justifying the trust reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. He
leaves
nothing undone to enforce the law according to his conscience
and is
fearless in the discharge of his duties. He is still
the owner of his
farm near Rickreall but is not active in its cultivation, his
time
being entirely devoted to his public duties.
On the 10th of August, 1904, Mr. ORR was united in marriage to
Miss
Wilma E. DALTON and they have become the parents of a daughter,
Charlotte I., who was born October 18, 1906. In his
political views
Mr. ORR is a republican, loyal to the principles of the party,
and
fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the
United
Artisans, the Dramatic Order of the Knights of Khorassan, the
lodge,
chapter and the Eastern Star of the Masonic order, and Mrs. Orr
is
identified with the Eastern Star and Pythian Sisters. He
is also a
member of the Grange and in religious faith is a
Congregationalist.
He is ever ready to give his support to measures for the
promotion of
the public welfare and as sheriff of Polk county is discharging
his
duties in such a way as to earn the high encomiums of the
general
public. He has a wide acquaintance in this section
of the state,
where his entire life has been passed, and he is everywhere
spoken of
as a citizen of worth, his many sterling traits of character
winning
for him the high regard of all who know him.
History of Oregon, Biographical, Vol. II, The Pioneer
Historical
Publishing Company, 1922, Page 69
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