New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-23
HIS LIFE. CHARACTER, WORK.

, VARIED AND EvENTFUL CAREER-FIRsr A
TEACHER AND AFrERwARD A BOOKsELLER-
HIS HISTORY AS AN OFFICE-HOLDER-n!s CON
NECrIoN WITH TELEGRAPH COMPANIES
William Orion was born in Cuba, Allegany
Co.. n. Y, on June Il, 1926. Receiving common
school education at home he went TO the State Normal
School at Albany and studied diligently TO prepare HIM
self for teaching 1t Is stated fact significant mainly
because of his connection with teegraphy in
after life, that his first thesis on the mag
ne;lc telegraph then recently brought into pnbhc
notice and that he made model OF the instrument 10
illustrate his paper which is still preserved in the De-
partment OF Education at Albany. He was graduated
from the Normal school, aud at once began teaching IN
district schools When in a mood for "Reminiscences, in
his later years he was fond relating incidents Of his
varied experience a country schOOlmaster. In $500
he was engaged In teaching school IN Livingstone
Co., N y. and III the same year, growing urea OF
the had adopted he entered the bookstore
of Derby Co.. in Geneva, " V In two years he became
associated with J. c. Derby, and the new firm did
thriving business at Geneva In 1885, MI OrtOn moved
10 this city, and with Mr. Derby and Mr. Miller opened
booksellers store in Walkerst. After two years, tho
firm went into liquidation, aud Mr. orion became man
gng clerk for j. g. Gregory Co., publishers IN PARK
Row.
Here begins Mr. Orton's first connection with public
life Politics had a strong attraction for him. He
Pm ardent Republican, bitterly opposed TO al fraud IN
local government and his conrse secured MS election
IA tbe Common Council In the early days OF the war,
Mr. orion was very emphatic in his expressions OF
loyalty In 1862 he appointed Collector of Internal
Revenue for the With District Of New-York. He sue
ceeded In bringing order out OF chaos in this de-
partment. Here first his executive abilities
had ample scope, and his success brought him
prominently TO the attention OF Mr.. McCunoeb'
secretary OF the Treasury who, in 1863 requested Mt
Orton TO act as Commissioner OF Internal Revenue at
Washington The appointment, Mr. McCulloch smd was
due solely TO his own observation of the administrative
abilities Of Mr. OrtOn and his power OF graspg detas
A few months experience convinced Mr.. orion
that HIS health would not endure the strain
imposed by the duties Of his new position.
ELECTED A TELEGRAPH PRESIDENT.
At this time an event occurred which brought Mr..
orion into new field OF activity. Grosvenor p Low
rev. now of the firm OF Porter Lowrey, soren Stone.
was then Mr. Orton's counsel A suit was brought 70
restrain Collector orion from collecting a reye-
nue. tax on the property OF William b. Dinsmore.
Judge Nelson decided against the Government. Mr..
Lowrey went TO Windsor, VI. aud obtained from tho
Judge on presentation OF tho case, reversal OF bis
order. In the conduct OF this and other cases MI.
Lowrey conceived high opinion Of Mr. orton's e1ecu'
tive abilities At this time Mr. Lowrey was eounsei
for the United States Telegraph Company. The
President, James McKaye. desired TO resign Mr.
Lowrey brought up the name oil Mr. oitoh
for the Presidency Though he not known TO SIN
go member the directors from the reports OF his work
IN the Revenue Department decided TO tender him tho
o,cs which would soon be vacant by the resignation OF
Mr.. McKaye.
M Iovrev was commissioned TO wait upon Mr.. orion
and aeouaint him with tho cOmpany's action. He
found Mr. orion working hard in Warrington on
salary of 81 900 year. When the offer was made 10
him, he at first refused, saying that he was
averse to undertaking an entirely new business