West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-08-27

Inc descendants OF Nicholas Orr, ST..
held their first family reunion At the old
homestead near Wallace, w. Va. on Sat
urday, August 18th. enjoying among
other things. fine weather for the out
door meeting.
The proposed family gathering having
been extensively advertised, and the day
being ideal. they came from farm and
city, on foot and in carriages, by rail and
in autos, from among the third, fourth,
fifth and down to the sixth generation,
to the number of perhaps two hundred
and fifty-a jolly set of Celts. After a
few hours OF renewing old acquaintance
and forming new ones, the assembly was
called TO order by Edmund ID. Orr, the
temporary chairman, Rev. j. w. Funk
conducting the devotions. The temporary
officers being made permanent John NJ.
Orr delivered the address of welcome,
giving thrilling recount from indepen-
dent Irish history OF the family ancestral
blood in its relation to some of the string
events in which the Emerald Islanders
took active part, especially showing the
name as among those who became mar
tyrs to the Protestant religious faith
when William, Prince OF Orange, de-
feated James III at the battle OF Boyne,
giving Professionalism equal rights with
Romanism as a religion in the British
Isles. He made. in passing, some fitting
remarks on the tempermental character
istics of the family, and concluded with
words OF welcome TO all. In response to
which Hiram Underwood of Shirley, w.
Va, made some happy hits, especially
insisting that he had succeeded in win
ming for wife many years ago, the pref
tiest lassie of the whole clan, and of
course was more than pleased to be pres
ent with goodly delegation from his
county, his wife included.
A sumptuous dinner having been
served, the crowd was again called to-
gether, and Rev. Funk, of the local Nj.
T.. church, delivered brief address on
the present war situation in Europe.
The meeting was then thrown open for
short reminiscent speeches from any one
present, and the chairman led the way
with series of remarkable deer killing
stories as achieved and related by his
uncle John p. Orr in his youth. This
stirred up the Nymrods present, to relate
incidents Of adventure with deer and
narrow escapes from panthers by men,
bers OF the family connection or as hap
pening upon the home premises, in which
Washington Swiger, Israel Swiger and
ID. Il. Orr took part. William T.. Lam
bert then spoke OF the religious devotions
OF some of the mothers OF the family
whom he had known.
Rev. ID. b. Orr then being called for.
closed the afternoon speaking with a
| short talk on the IncongruitY OF Degen
crate Progeny from Noble Ancestry.
At this juncture George Underwood OF
Clarksburg, presented Mrs Lena Orr, also
OF Clarksburg, with a small purse OF
money, slight remembrance OF those
present, it being her birth anniversary.
The report of the committee on future
reunions was then presented by F. q.
Orr, of Weston, which recommended
that the next meeting be held at Shirley,
Tyler county, w. Va, Wednesday,
August Is. 1915. All sang blessed be
the Tie that Binds" The benedicsion
was then pronounced by Rev. Funk, and
after many joyous greetings the assembly
dispersed, much pleased with a happy
day spent together.
SKETCH OF THE FAMILY HISTORY
Nicholas Orr, ST., and Ann johnson
Orr with their children, Elizabeth, Ann,
Jane and Nicholas Orr, Jr, left Londen-
derry, Ireland in 1906, later sailing from
Dublin they reached New York in May,
1907, after voyage of six weeks in one
OF the old sail vessels. The baby,
Nicholas, Jr., came so near dying on
board that he was prepared for burial
and was about to be cast overheard when
life was discovered and the child sur
vived. Alter coming to New York city
the husband and father found employ
ment for time in nail factory and
while there the fifth child, Mathew John
son was born. Soon after this the family
came south into what is now West Vir-
ginia and finally settled on the old site
just west of the town OF Wallace, w. Va.
In the mean while six other children
were born, viz: Robert c., Sarah,
Susannah, John p, Amanda, and one
who died in infancy. The ten all lived
to marry and settle in the counties of
Harrison, Doddridge, and Tyler, where
they all remained except Nicholas, Jr.,
who with his family later left Tyler and
moved into Montana, his family becom-
ing dispersed in that and other states in
the West. Four of the children, viz {:
Elizabeth Orr Mcintyre, Ann Orr Stout,
Jane Orr Swiger and Mathew Orr,
remained on or near the old place now
occupied by Edmond d. Orr, son of
Mathew, where the first family reunion
was held on the date above mentioned.
Death of Miss opena c., .tt..,