The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-12-02
THOMAS GRAHAM ORR

bdhotd ploHttI, anu SlNll war vet
eran, came to a sudden but peaceful
end at his home in this city last Tues.
day, November 20. His passing Is
mourned by hundreds of friends over
the state in which he has labored
prominently since territorial days.
serving his fellow men in many i'm
portant Offices.
Thomas Graham Orr was born at
Martinsburg, Ohio, June 81, 1S47. His
father, who was a physician, died
when Mr.. Orr was Z, and his mother
passed away when he was but 5. Fol-
lowing his fathers death he went
to Volney, Iowa, and made his home
with his brother, Gregory Orr and
wife. Later at the age of IL he be-
came printers devil on the Ian.
sing, Iowa, Mirror. He enlisted in
the Union army as a drummer boy
at the G of 10, special permission
being granted to him by the war de-
partment on petition Of the officers
and men of Company c, 5th Iowa Inf.
He was said TO be the youngest en-
listed soldier Of the Civil war from
the state OF Iowa. He served four
and one-half years as a private, two
years as a drummer, n year in the
infantry and eighteen months in Co.
G, 9Th Iowa Cavalry. He was offered
a l~ieutenantcy in a colored regiment
by General Grant but refused. The
last eighteen months he served as
orderly to the colonel Of his regiment.
His company passed through 81 en-.
gagements. Colonel Orr was twice
wounded. After being mustered out
in 1865, he took a short business
course Of study in Chicago. He was
express messenger for a time and
later a clerk in a store at Waukon,
Ia, whore he married Emma Minerva
Newell on June /, 1870. Mrs. Orr died
July IA, 1920, only a few months prior
to her husband, after fifty years of
happy married life. 1t is indeed
beautiful that after a half century
of welded life they should not be
separated by death except for so short
a time.
After his marriage, Mr.. Orr entered
the grain buying business at Victory,
Wis, Lansing, Ia, and Viroqua, Wis.
Two sons and n daughter were born,
but the only one to survive is Frank,
now a banker at Mott. Nd, and
who was at Brookings with his wife
and two sons to attend the funeral.
The deceased has beer a resident of
Dakota since 1883, when he began
residence on a homestead in Walworth
county, near Mobridge. He served as
register Of deeds of that county for
four years. He was chief enrolling
and engrossing clerk at the last terri
torial Legislature assembly held at
Bismarck, in 1888 and 1889. He at
tended the constitutional convention
at Sioux Falls which framed the fun
damental law for the state. During
the eighties and nineties he lived at
Bangor, Evarts and Mobridge, in Wal
worth county. In 1889 during the
Sitting Bull uprising, he was ap-
pointed colonel by the governor and
organized the militia in Walworth
and Campbell counties for protection
against the Indians. He has been
known all over the state as Colonel
Orr since that time.
The family came to Brookings in
1892 TO give their children, Frank and
Angie, the benefit of college training.
In 1897 Mr.. Orr was appointed deputy
food and dairy commissioner and
served until 1900. He served for about
four years, from 1907 to 1911, as a
member Of the governing board in
charge of the State Soldiers Home
at Hot Springs, after which he wa
elected superintendent of that insti-
tuition, serving in that capacity seven
years. Mrs. Orr acted as matron.
Failing health compelled him to resign
about three years ago., after which he
made his home in Hot Springs until
last June when Mr.. and Mrs. Orr
moved back to Brookpgs, hoping that
his heart would be benefited by the
lower altitude.
He was at all times an ardent re-
publican and was closely identified
with that organization in South Da-
kota. He was a member of the Blue
lodge, Chapter and Commandery in
Masonry. He was a member of John
Manager Post No. $50, G. A. r., at
Selby, where he has retained his mem
bership for many years. His life was
a life of service. He was most happy
when doing something for others. AS
a result he leaves a host Of close
friends all over the state of South
Dakota as well as at points Of his
former residence in Iowa and Wis
consin.
Funeral services were conducted by
the Bookings Commandery, No. IA,
Knights Templar at the Baptist
church. Friday, November Is, at 300
p. m, Rev. ]. F. Bryant officiating.
!, Robert l.. McCook Post, G. A. r..