Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 83

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314

USA > Mississippi > Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II > Part 83

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Colonel Richardson was asked one day why he did not put more money in factories, as his Wesson interests had proven so profitable. He said: "I would be glad to do so if I

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could get more William Olivers to manage them." Capt. William Oliver's wife, Mary Milner Callaway, died January 10, 1883: she that had been the comfort and joy of his young life, that had increased the strength of his mature manhood, proven herself to be the fitting companion of such a man, passed away, with the praise and blessing of all who knew and loved her. After a suitable season in silence and sad solitude, recognizing the truth of God's word that it is not good that man should be alone, he married again; this time, a niece of his first wife, Melissa D. Callaway. This also proved a wise choice, for she was a stay to him in trials, and a comfort to the last hour of his life; he said that parting from her and his children was the saddest thing connected with passing away from this life. The sting of death, itself, he did not fear. He said a short time before he died: " While I have been ready to defend what I regarded as my rights, I have acted with a good conscience toward my fellow-men, and I go out into eternity trusting only in my Lord." Men who had business dealings with him pronounced him honest and fair. The world called him charitable; he sympathized with the suffering, and his hand was open to the wants of the needy. During his residence in New Orleans he became the warm friend and admirer of Rev. Dr. B. M. Palmer, and united with his church in 1867. For a period of eighteen years he held the office of elder in the Presbyterian church at Wesson. One who knew him well said: "The Captain differs from most men; as he grows richer he grows better." It is exceedingly common for men to grow in worldliness as they grow in worldly goods, but it was not the case with the subject of this sketch. Some men are too busy to worship God; this man, although very busy, attended church regularly; if his own pastor was away he went to some other church to worship; he taught a class in Sabbath-school, was equally at home in managing a factory or condneting a prayer-meeting. He took interest in the affairs of the community, the public school, the municipal government, or whatever was of interest to the people. He was specially interested in the welfare of the operatives in the mill; he called them his people. The old women were heard often to say: "The Captain has been mighty good to us; when we came here and had nothing the children soon got work in the mill, and we got credit at the store until we could pay up." The Captain had an eye to the morals of his people, and refused to employ any disreputable person. His devotion to his home was very beautiful; its lovely surroundings attest to his exquisite taste and love for flowers. A profusion of greenhouse plants and rare flowers grace his extensive lawn, and gladden the eyes of all; it was his delight and recreation to wander among them, and in their beauty seek oblivion from the sordid cares of business. As a homemaker, one sees the loveliest traits of his character brought to light; his home was first with him always, nothing had precedence before it. It was his delight to make those about him, young and old, happy, and he was ever thinking of the wants and pleasures of others.

Never was more solicitude expressed in a community for a sick man than was expressed during his last illness. Never was there such a crowd at a funeral; the church was packed, all the standing room in the aisles was occupied, the yard was filled, the masses about the win- dows, with stretched umbrellas in the drizzling rain. Some one remarked that during a part of the funeral service there was scarcely a dry eye in the house. This remarkable man left to his family not only nearly $400,000, which he had accumulated, but also the rich heritage of a good name, an unsullied reputation. A man of wonderful magnetism, he drew about him a host of friends, who deeply mourn his loss. He went down to the grave much loved and greatly honored. The glorious Fourth of July, as we term it, was a sad day for Wesson when Captain Oliver lay in state. He died on the 3d of July, 1891, at 9 o'clock P. M. On the 3d of July, 1890, the people of the mills presented him with a gold-headed cane, in token of their devotion. He died upon the anniversary of this expression of their love.

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B. F. Ormond, Meridian, Miss., was born in Greene county, N. C., in January, 1849, and is the sixth of a family of nine children. His parents, Fletcher and Fanny (Sugg) Ormond, were natives of North Carolina, and there grew to maturity, were married, and died. The father was a merchant in his early days, and was also a brick manufacturer and planter. He and his wife both died in 1861. They were consistent members of the Method- ist Episcopal church. There are only five of the family now living: Thomas, John, William, Julia, wife of O. C. Thomas, and B. F., the subject of this notice. He was educated at the Cooper institute at Spring Hill, Miss., and at the University of Kentucky. After leaving school he devoted his time and attention to the mercantile business at Lauderdale, Miss., forming a copartnership with his brother and E. C. Eason in 1869. This relationship existed one year, when Mr. Ormond purchased Mr. Eason's interest, and finally bought the entire business. He conducted the business alone until December, 1881, and then sold out, going to Meridian. The following year he embarked in the wholesale provision business under the firm name of Branch, Ormond & McInnis. This partnership continued until 1886, when Mr. Ormond bought the interest of Mr. Branch, the firm name being changed to Ormond & McInnis. 8. At the end of one year he purchased Mr. McInnis' interest, and conducted the business under the firm name of Ormond & Co. until July, 1890. His brother, W H. Ormond, was then admitted as a partner to the business; they are now doing an extensive trade in groceries and cotton, and are one of the largest wholesale concerns in the place. Mr. Ormond is connected with some of the most important banking institutions of Meridian, and is also a stockholder of the Insurance, Build- ing and Loan association. He has been very successful in all his business enterprises, and is considered one of the most progressive and energetic men of Meridian. In 1-870 he was married to Miss Batty Watts, and they had born to them nine children, six of whom are living: Ella, J. B., Earl (deceased), Marion, Robert, Wayne (deceased), John W., Marie (deceased), Marguerite. The eldest daughter, Ella, is a graduate of the East Mississippi Female college and has taken a post-graduate course at Pulaski, Tenn. James B. has been a student at the Southern university at Greensboro, Ala., and the other children are yet attending the public schools. Mr. Ormond is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he affiliates with the democratic party, but takes no active part in the movements of that body. All educational enterprises are sure of a hearty support in Mr. Ormond, and he has contributed liberally to the churches.

Dr. T. T. Orendorff, a physician and surgeon of Rolling Fork, Miss., was born in Breck- inridge county, Ky., on the 11th of April, 1847, and is a son of M. and Mary (Cain) Oren- dorff, natives of Virginia, born in 1822 and 1826, respectively. Both families removed to Kentucky in an early day, where the young couple was married in 1840, in Breckinridge county, and where Mr. Orendorff died in 1853; his wife still survives him. She is a daughter of Thomas and Ona (Meador) Cain, natives of Virginia, and long since dead; the former was a son of Micajah and Elizabeth (Wilkerson) Cain, and the latter a daughter of Benjamin and Mary H. (Morris) Meador. The Orendorffs were originally from the lower Palatinate, Ger- many, and were descended from noble ancestry. They were driven from their native country of the Rhine nearly two centuries ago by Louis XIV. on account of their religious opinions. They fled to England and eventually made their way to America, the future land of the free and home of the brave, prior to the Revolutionary war. Members of the family settled in Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, and the tradition goes that many of the male men- bers became active soldiers in the war for independence. From these pioneers, representa-

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tives have penetrated half the states of the Union, as a family reunion, held at Bloomington, Ill., in October, 1886, found representatives present from seventeen states and territories. This fraternal gathering developed many family traits, characteristics and peculiarities, one of which is worthy of note: in all this prolific family not a member of it has ever been known to have been tried in court for a criminal offense. Dr. Orendorff, the subject of this sketch, is the fourth in a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters, all of whom, except the youngest son, Thomas Jesse, are living. He was brought up on a farm and received the benefits of the common schools, finishing off a good English education at the Brandenburg (Kentucky) academy. After leaving school he was for some time employed in a country store, during which time his evenings and leisure hours were occupied in reading medicine. Thus, by energy and perseverance, he was qualified to enter the Kentucky school of medicine at Louisville, in the fall of 1868, attending his first course of lectures. He then spent eight- een months in one of the city hospitals, after which, in 1871, he graduated from the Ken- tucky school of medicine. Immediately after being graduated he went to Mississippi and located in the Deer Creek valley, Sharkey county, where he has practiced his profession ever since and where, by that courtesy and politeness which are his strongest characteristics, and a close attention to his patrons, he has won flattering success. In 1880 he made a trip to Europe and spent the year in visiting the hospitals of Edinburgh, London, Paris, Berlin, etc., and in making a tour of most of the countries of the old world. In 1882, in addition to his medical practice he engaged in cotton planting, and is now the owner of some two thousand acres of fine land in the Deer Creek valley, in Sharkey county, on the cultivated portion of which he raises about eight hundred bales of cotton annually. He is also the owner of some valuable property in Memphis, Florence, Ala., and in El Paso, Tex. All of his possessions have been won by his own individual efforts and persevering industry. Although he has often been urged to run for office, he has invariably refused, party politics having no charms for him. Dr. Orendorff's brothers and sisters are as follows: Prof. Henry, who is a prac- ticing physician, holds a chair in the Kentucky school of medicine, from which he graduated in 1871, and in which he has been a professor for twelve years; Capt. C. C. is connected with the Southern Palace Car company at Memphis, Tenn. ; Edmonia B. was educated at Bethlehem convent in Kentucky, and is a cultured and accomplished lady. She is the wife of Col. W. H. Perrin, connected with the Louisville Courier-Journal and one of its ablest writers; William A. is a cotton planter in Sharkey county, as was Thomas J. until his death, which occurred in March, 1891; Lena, who married the late Dr. Edward S. Crosier, of New Albany, Ind., an accomplished scholar, scientist and physician, and for seventeen years in charge of the surveyor's office in the United States customhouse at Louisville, Ky., and also for years a professor in the Louisville Medical college. Dr. Orendorff is one of the most progressive and public spirited men in Sharkey county, and makes an intelligent and judicious use of his means and ability. His knowledge of matters in general is broad and comprehensive, and, being a close observer, his extensive travel in this country and Europe has been of material benefit to him. He is a member of the Mississippi State Medical association, and of the fraternity of A. F. & A. M., of the Knights of Honor and of the American Legion of Honor.

J. A. Orr, ex-judge and attorney at law of Columbus, Miss., was born in Anderson county, S. C., April 10, 1828, and inherits many of the sterling qualities of his Scotch ancestors. His paternal great-grandfather, Robert Orr, was of Scotch origin although born in the north of Ireland, and in the year 1720 became a resident of America, settling in Penn- sylvania but afterward moving to the Palmetto state, where his last days were spent. He

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left two brothers in Pennsylvania, who became prominent planters and merchants. His son Jehu followed in his father's footsteps and became a planter, but when the Revolutionary war came up he dropped all personal considerations to espouse the cause of the colonists, as did five of his brothers. His son Christopher, father of J. A. Orr, was born in South Carolina, where he was reared, and wooed and won for his bride Miss Martha McCann, a noble and estimable young lady and a native of the same state as himself. About 1843 he became attracted to the eastern section of Mississippi by the famed fertility of its virgin soil, and at that date he cast his fortunes in that favored region, and although he was first a resident of Chickasaw county he subsequently removed to Pontotoc county, where he was called from life. His family consisted of five children: Jane S., who became the wife of W. H. Calhoun; James L., who was speaker of the XXXVIIIth Congress, Confederate state senator, gover- nor of South Carolina and died while minister to Russia in 1873; Martha E., wife of Gen. J. W. Miller; H. C., an eminent physician of Lee county; and Judge J. A. The latter was brought to Mississippi at the age of fifteen years but was educated at Princeton, New Jersey, and at an early age he imbibed those principles of honor and probity which are so character- istic of those of his nativity. He inherited the gracious and kindly nature of both his parents and, being a lad of quick discernment and possessing a retentive memory, he imbibed the best literary thought in the English language and thus in part received ideas and impres- sions which have distinguished him at the bar and as a civilian. After deciding upon law as his life calling and giving it some study he began practicing in 1849, but in 1850 assumed the duties of secretary of the Mississippi senate, in which capacity his varied attainments soon made him conspicuous. In 1852-3 he represented his county in the state legislature and in 1854-5 filled the high position of United States district attorney, the following year being presidential elector for Buchanan. In 1857-9 he was school commissioner for Chickasaw county and an active member of the secession convention in 1860. He was a member of the provisional congress from February, 1861, to February, 1862, at which time he raised the Thirty-first Mississippi regiment of fourteen hundred men, of which he was the honored commander until March, 1864, during which time he was a participant in the battles of Cof- feeville, Baton Rouge, siege of Vicksburg, Baker's creek, Jackson and others. He was the volunteer aid of General Forrest and General Lee at the battle of Harrisburg. During the last eighteen months of the existence of the Confederate government he was a member of the Confederate congress, and was appointed by the committee of foreign affairs to make its report to congress, which provided for the appointment of the Hampton Roads commission.

Mr. Orr furnishes us with a history of the celebrated Hampton Roads conference never before published. There was a large minority in the Confederate congress who, for more than a year preceding the surrender of General Lee, thought the war could and should be ended by negotiation. President Lincoln had, in his annual message to the congress of the United States, asserted that the Southern states-erring sisters, as he termed them-could at any time, of their own volition, resume their allegiance to, and occupy their position in the government of the United States, including their representation in congress. The same assurance was authoritatively given by Hon. F. P. Blair, Sr., in his missives to the Con- federate officials. Every shade of resolution, from those proposing to die in the last ditch to those of unconditional surrender, was referred to the committee on foreign affairs. The resolutions here given were finally adopted by the committee and reported to the house. This report and the action of the house thereon led to the appointment of the Hampton Roads commission. On the next day, Friday, February 13, 1865, Mr. Dupre announced in secret session that the president would appoint three gentlemen to confer with the pres-

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ident of the United States, or such as he might designate. He did appoint Vice President Stevens, Senator Hunter and Judge Campbell of Alabama, and on Saturday evening, Jan- uary 14th, those gentlemen left Richmond with their commission, which closed with the historic words, "peace to the two countries." When the commission was read by President Lincoln, he construed it to mean that the basis of the conference involved the recognition of the Confederacy as a separate government, and terminated the official interview. The fol- lowing is an extract from the proceedings of the secret session of the Confederate congress :

The house being in secret session, Mr. Foster moved that the house resolve itself into open session, which motion did not prevail. Mr. Orr, from the committe on foreign affairs, reported the following resolutions:

Resolved, That the independence of the Confederate states of America, based upon the constitutional compact between the sovereign states composing the Confederacy, and maintained through nearly four years of gigantic war, justly elaims from their former associates, and from the world, its recognition as a rightful fact.

Resolved, That we hail with gratification the just and sound sentiment manifested by a large portion of the people of the United States, since the last session of our congress, that all associations of these American states ought to be voluntary and not forcible, and we give a hearty response to their views and wishes for a suspension of the present conflict of arms, and an appeal to the forum of reason, to see if the matters in controversy cannot be properly and justly adjusted by negotiation, without the further effusion of blood.

Resolved, That, being wedded to no particular or exclusive mode of initiating or inaugurating nego- tiations looking to a peaceful settlement and adjustment of the questions now in issue between the United States and the Confederate States, it is the judgment of this house, that if it should be more agreeable to the government and people of the United States, or even a large and respectable portion of them, that the question should be submitted to the consideration of commissioners from each state, one or more, in the character of a convention, of all the states, than to plenipotentiaries appointed in the usual way, then such a plan of initiating negotiations should be acceded to or proposed on our side; such a convention being acceded to or proposed as an advisory body only, the commissioners or delegates to it being authorized by the treaty-making power of each government respectively, not to form any agree- ment or compact between states, but simply to confer, consult, and after freely entertaining and hearing all propositions and suggestions, to agree, if possible, upon some plan of peace, to be proposed by them to their respective governments. The mode of inaugurating negotiations, in the opinion of the house, would be relieved of all possible constitutional objections by the consent of the proper constitutional authorities of the two governments. With such consent the proposed delegates would but act, in any view of the subject, as commissioners appointed in any other way, to negotiate for peace, and whatever they might agree upon or propose, would be subject to the approval or disapproval of the two govern- ments respectively.

Resolved, Inasmuch as the authorities at Washington have heretofore rejected all formal offers for a free interchange of views looking to negotiations made by our authorities, and as we deem it a high duty, not only to our gallant citizen soldiers in the field, but to the whole body of our people, as well as our duty to the cause of humanity, civilization and Christianity, that the chosen representatives of the people of the several states of the Confederacy upon this floor should omit or neglect no effort in our power to bring about negotiations, if possible; therefore, be it further

Resolved, That the president of the Confederate States be informed of these resolves, and that he be requested to grant permission to three persons to be selected by this house-the members from each state voting in such selection by states, and a majority of all the votes being necessary to a choice in each case- to cross our lines, who shall immediately proceed to ask and obtain, if possible, an informal interview or conference with the authorities at Washington, or any person or persons who may be appointed by then, to meet the persons so sent on our side, to see if any such plan of inaugurating negotiations for peace, upon the basis above set forth, can be agreed upon, and if not, to ascertain any other, or what terms, if any, of a peaceful settlement, may be proposed by the authorities at Washington; and the said commis- sioners shall be authorized to bring into view the possibility of cooperation between the Confederate and United States, in maintaining the principles and policy of the Monroe doctrine, in the event of a prompt recognition of the independence of the former by the government of the latter, and to report the result

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of their effort and action to the president and to this house; and should this effort fail, we shall have the consolation of knowing that we, in onr high and responsible trust, have done our duty. We shall have given assurance to our people, that we have done all that we, in our position and capacity, can do, to end the strife upon just and honorable principles, and the rejection of the overtures by the president of the United States will afford additional evidence to the people of these states that he is waging this unnatural war, not for peace or for the good of his country, but for the purpose of the most unholy ambition, while it will demonstrate to our people that his object as to them is nothing short of an unconditional subjugation or extinction.

Mr. Perkins from the same committee, in behalf of himself and his colleague, Mr. Snead, submitted a minority report, which was laid upon the table. Mr. Orr moved that the resolu- tions be postponed until Saturday next, made the special order for that day at twelve o'clock, and printed. Mr. Staples moved to amend the motion of Mr. Orr, by striking out the same and inserting in lieu thereof the following, viz .. "That the resolutions be postponed until the bill to amend the act to organize forces to serve during the war is disposed of." Mr. Dupre called the question, which was ordered. Mr. Orr demanded the yeas and nays, which were ordered and recorded as follows, viz .: Yeas forty-two, nays thirty-eight; yeas- Messrs. Barksdale, Batson, Baylor, Branch, Burnett, Carroll, Chilton, Chrisman, Clark, Clusky, Conrad, Conrow, Darden, Dickinson, Dupre, Ewing, Farrow, Foster, Funsten, Gholsen, Goode, Gray, Hanly, Hatcher, Hilton, Holliday, Johnstone, Lyon, Miles, Miller, Norton, Perkins, Pugh, Read, Rives, Russell, Sexton, Simpson, Staples, Welsh, Wilkes, and Mr. Speaker; nays-Messrs. Anderson, Baldwin, Bell, Blandford, Boyce, Bradley, E. M. Bruce, H. W. Bruce, Clopton, Coylar, Cruikshank, De Jarnette, Echols, Elliot, Fuller, Garland, Gilmer, Holder, Lamkin, J. M. Leach, Lester, Logan, Machen, Manhall, McCallum, McMullin, Menees, Moore, Orr, Shewmanke, J. M. Smith, W. E. Smith, Smith of Alabama, Tripplett, Turner, Villere, Wickham and Witherspoon. So the amendment of Mr. Staples was agreed to. Mr. Lyon submitted the following amendment to the motion of Mr. Orr as amended: Add to the end thereof the following, "and until the tax and other bills for the relief of the treasury shall be disposed of." Pending which Mr. Read moved to recon- sider the vote by which the amendment of Mr. Staples was agreed to; pending which, on motion of Mr. McMullin, the house resolved itself into open session.

Although, as shown, the negotiations of this commission were declined, several hours were spent by Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Seward, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Campbell and Mr. Hunter in agreeable and amicable social intercourse. Mr. Orr was judge of the Sixth judicial district for six years from the 10th of May, 1870, and, upon taking his seat, found that district, which was largely composed of blacks, in a chaotic condition, the preceding judge having been George F. Brown, of Ohio, who sought to instill into the minds of the negro the ideas of equality. During the years that Judge Orr filled this trying position he administered justice with an even hand, and his work was eminently satisfactory. The frequent affirm- ance of his decisions by the supreme court attested his profound knowledge and astute judg- ment of the noble science of law. He has been ardently devoted to the cause of education all his life, and has served his state as a trustee of the Mississippi university for twenty years, and has never missed a meeting of the board. While a resident of Houston, Miss., he was a partner of Gen. W. S. Featherston for eight years, and for the past fifteen years has been associated in his practice with ex-Governor Simms. In his career at the bar he has ever been laborious in research, and his brilliant mental endowments, his rare power of ora- tory, his logical and ornate style of speaking and writing, his sagacity, his skill in planning, and his sound and sober judgment admirably fit him for the arena of law. He is still an active practitioner, although he has considerably passed the three-score year milestone of his

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 83

Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Number of Pages: 1314

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314