Armstrong County, Pennsylvania her people past and present, embracing a history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I, Part 60

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 618

USA > Pennsylvania > Armstrong County > Armstrong County, Pennsylvania her people past and present, embracing a history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I > Part 60

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to contend. When he came to this region Armstrong county was on the outer border of civilization, and he was one of the patriot offi- cers who defended the frontier of Pennsyl- vania during the Revolutionary war. Later, upon the organization of the county for judi- cial purposes, in 1805, he became associate judge, and continued to serve as such for over a quarter of a century, until his death. In every position he rendered superior service to his fellow men, and his name will live as one of the early builders whose work has proved to be of permanent value.

Born in County Derry, Ireland, Robert Orr came to this country in 1766, and thereafter lived in Pennsylvania. He first settled east of the mountains in what is now Mifflin (then Cumberland) county, where he continued to reside until the year of his marriage, 1774, to Frances Culbertson, member of a celebrated pioneer family of this State, she being the daughter of Squire Samuel Culbertson, a dis- tinguished man of his day, for whom Captain Orr worked as farmer several years before he married the daughter. Then Mr. Orr removed to Hannastown, in Westmoreland county. where she died. He married secondly Rachel Hunter, who died one year later at Hannas- town. His third wife was Rachel Chambers, whom he married about 1799. They settled some years later in Sugar Creek township, Armstrong county. When the Revolutionary war broke out he was an earnest supporter of the Colonial cause from the very beginning, giving his personal services and enlisting oth- ers to its aid. At that time no regular troops could be spared to protect the residents in the outlying settlements from the Indians, and vol- unteers had to be depended upon in emergen- cies. Early in the summer of 1781 Gen. George Rogers Clark, of Virginia, having de- termined to enter upon a campaign against the Indians down the Ohio river, communicated his intention to Archibald Lochry, the lieuten- ant of Westmoreland county, and requested him to raise one hundred volunteers and a company of cavalry in his county. Lochry acquainted Orr, one of his most reliable friends, with the situation, the latter being cap- tain of a company of militia. As he did not have the authority to order these from home

ROBERT ORR was one of the most dis- tinguished of those men of character and un- alterable purpose by whose strength the foun- Orr promptly raised a company of volunteer dations of this Commonwealth were laid. He riflemen, chiefly at his own expense, furnish-

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

ing the necessary equipment to such of its had killed they were surprised with a volley members as could not afford same. Early in of rifle balls from an overhanging bluff where July he marched with his command to Carna- a large number of Indians had gathered. han's block-house, about eleven miles north- west of Hannastown, where Lochry's whole force rendezvoused the 24th of the month, con- sisting of two companies of rangers, com- manded by Captains Shannon and Stokeley and a cavalry company under Captain Camp- bell, besides Captain Orr's command. They numbered about 125 men in all, and General Clark had instructed Colonel Lochry that he would await his arrival at Fort Henry (now Wheeling). On July 25th they started by way of Pittsburgh. On reaching Fort Henry, how- ever, it was found that the General had ad- vanced with his men twelve miles down the river, and although he had left some provi- sions and a boat for them there was not enough to afford subsistence for the men or forage for the horses. Though their supply of an- munition was also inadequate they proceeded down the river, expecting to overtake the main body or meet them at the mouth of the Kana- wha. Again they were disappointed, Clark having been obliged to move his force in order to prevent desertions. The situation was des- perate. They had no other source from which to replenish their supplies than this main body ahead of them, and the water in the river was so low that ordinary progress was impossible, but their provisions and for- age were so nearly exhausted something had to be done. Lochry accordingly sent Captain Shannon ahead with four men in a small boat, hoping they might catch up with Clark and arrange for supplies. The little party was captured by the Indians, to whom the letter intended for Clark revealed the destitute con- dition of Lochry's forces and the fact that they had not been able to join Clark. There were nineteen deserters from Clark's army whom Lochry had arrested but afterward released, and they joined the Indians and gave them information. Taking advantage of these cir- cumstances, the savages collected in force be- low the mouth of the Great Miami, placed their prisoners in a conspicuous position on the right bank, and promised to spare their lives if they would hail their comrades passing down the river and induce them to surrender. Before the little force reached that point, how- ever, worn out and despairing of meeting Clark, they disembarked about ten o'clock on the morning of August 25th at the mouth of an inlet since called Lochry's creek, landing their horses to feed on the grass. While pre- paring a meal from the meat of a buffalo they right bank of the Allegheny, where Tarentum

Though taken at a great disadvantage they defended themselves until their ammunition was exhausted and then attempted to escape by the river. But the boats were unwieldy, the water low, and the 106 men too weak to resist successfully the band of 300 Indians who made the attack. Not one escaped. The In- dians hastily massacred Lochry and several oth- ers, though this was done without the approval of their leader, the celebrated Captain Brant. Forty-two, including all those wounded so that they were unable to travel, were tomahawked on the ground, and the other sixty-four were taken captive, among them being Captain Orr, whose left arm had been broken by a shot early in the engagement; the bullet pierced the rim of his hat and then broke his arm. The prisoners, regardless of wounds and fa- tigue, were taken through the woods to Lower Sandusky. After several months there Captain Orr was taken to the military hospital at Detroit, and thence during the late winter or spring to Montreal. His wound not having been properly treated, he was becoming such a care that the Indians were going to dispatch him on the road to Montreal as an incumbrance, when a French- man saved his life by buying him from the savages, for a gallon of whiskey and two fox skins. Years afterward this Frenchman visited him at Kittanning, and the Captain gave him $100 in gold-a large sum in those days-as a substantial mark of his apprecia- tion. The man at first refused to take the money, but the Captain insisted on him accepting it, feeling that he owed his life to him. In his later years the Captain's grand- children used to joke him about not being "worth more than a gallon of whiskey and two fox skins." He was an earnest Chris- tian, and his faith sustained him bravely in those trying days. His fellow prisoners were exchanged early in the spring of 1783 and returned to their homes, and he was one of the few of Lochry's men who managed to get back. He arrived at Hannastown, where he had long been mourned as dead, in the summer of 1783, having come on foot from Montreal. On July 13, 1782, the town had been attacked and burned by the Indians, and his house and property were destroyed. Soon after reaching home he raised another company to serve two months in the defense of the frontier, and they advanced to the mouth of Bull creek, on the

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

is now situated, building a blockhouse there obtained permission to pay this last mark of under his direction. In the fall of 1783 Cap- respect to one whose life and deeds had tain Orr was honored with election as sheriff brought honor to his community. The medi- of Westmoreland county, in which office he cal profession, the local clergy, the officers of gave great satisfaction. He took part in the the courts and members of the bar also took subsequent Indian wars of this region. By act part in the funeral procession, and a large number of citizens attended the burial of this venerable patriot. of Assembly, March 30, 1821, the State treas- urer of Pennsylvania was authorized to pay Captain Orr or his order, immediately there- after, $750, in consideration of his services and losses during the Revolutionary war, which was to be full compensation for such services and losses, including all his claims for military service.

From the time of his settlement prior to 1800 in Sugar Creek township, Armstrong county, until about 1812 Captain Orr resided at what was known as the McDonald-Mon- teith-Dinsmore-Wilson tract, thence removing to the place in Sugar Creek afterward owned by his sons Robert and Chambers Orr, half brothers. In the history of Armstrong county published in 1883 was found the following account of this property: "Next south of the Moore-Adams tract is a square one, 300 acres, on which Robert Orr, Sr., settled, and with 197 acres, one horse and five cattle, he was assessed in 1805 and 1806 at $146.80. The patent for the entire tract was granted him Feb. 16, 1815; 140 or more acres of the north- · ern part he conveyed to John Conly, July 4, 1816. Robert Orr, Sr., continued in the occu- pancy of the southern half of this tract until he leased it to Solomon Rumbaugh about 1825, about which time he moved to Kittanning. He conveyed this parcel to his sons, Chambers and Robert Orr, May 7, 1831." In 1818 or 1819 Captain Orr laid out north of his resi- dence on this tract, and west of the present

Kittanning and Brady's Bend road, the town of Orrsville, the plan of which is not on record. Its first separate assessment was listed in 1819. The names of Robert Orr, Sr., and of his sons, John, Robert and Chambers Orr, appear in the record of various real estate transactions in the vicinity.

When Armstrong county was organized for judicial purposes, in 1805, Captain Orr was one of three associate judges appointed to pre- side over its several courts, and he served as such continuously until his death, which oc- curred Sept. 4, 1833, at Kittanning, when he was in his eighty-ninth year. He was buried in the old graveyard between Jefferson and High streets with military honors, the Arm- strong Guards, under the command of Capt. John Reynolds (son of William Reynolds, a tanner, brother of David Reynolds), having

At a meeting of the members of the bar and the officers of the court of Armstrong county, convened at the prothonotary's office in Kit- tanning on Wednesday evening, Sept. 4, 1833 : On motion the Hon. Samuel S. Harrison was appointed chairman, Frederick Rohrer, Esq., secretary. On motion of Thomas Blair, Esq., the following resolutions were offered and unanimously adopted.

That we as officers and members of the court, over which the deceased has been a judge for upwards of twenty-seven years, as a tribute of respect to the memory of the deceased, do unan- imously resolve that we will wear crepe on the left arm for thirty days and that we will attend the funeral of the deceased.

Resolved, that Thomas Blair, William M. Wat- son and John Croll, Esqs., be a committee for the purposes of communicating the proceedings to the relatives of the deceased, and making the necessary arrangements.

S. S. HARRISON, Chairman. FRED'K ROHRER, Secretary.

By his first marriage, to Frances (Fannie) Culbertson, Captain Orr was the father of the following children: John, the first sheriff of Armstrong county, married Jane Maffit ; Samuel Culbertson married Margaret Sloan ; Robert is mentioned below; Mary Ann first married a Mr. McCartney, who was drowned in Spruce creek, near Mifflin, and later be- came the wife of a Mr. Jones and moved to Philadelphia (by her first marriage she had two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary Ann, and by her second union one son, Robert).

Capt. Robert Orr married for his second wife Rachel Hunter, sister of Col. Robert Hunter, of Westmoreland county, Pa. She died about a year later, at Hannastown, about the time of the birth of her son, William. The latter, who settled in Clarion county, Pa., married Catherine Tarr. Returning to his old home in the Cumberland valley, in what is now Franklin county, Pa., on a visit, Cap- tain Orr married (third) Rachel Chambers, of Chambersburg, who had brothers George, William, James and Benjamin, the owners and settlers of Chambersburg, Pa. ; they after- ward visited Captain Orr in Kittanning. By this union there was one son, Chambers Orr. born March 6, 1800, who died April 8, 1873.

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HISTORY OF ARMSTRONG COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

He married Hannah Dorney (sometimes Sugar Creek township for a few years he written Turney ), daughter of Peter and Susan (Hine) Dorney, and granddaughter of Anna Margaretha Dorney. Mrs. Ephraim Buffing- ton has the baptismal certificate (1759) of her great-grandmother, Anna Margaretha; she was a daughter of John, who came from Hol- land to Germantown (near Philadelphia), Pa. Chambers Orr and his wife had ten children, among whom was Margaret Chambers Orr, who married Ephraim Buffington. They had six children: (1) Catherine is the widow of D. W. Martin, late of Allegheny, Pa., son of William Martin, formerly of Allegheny City ; both were in the iron and steel business. They had two children, Ephraim B., who was drowned at the age of eight years, and Frances, wife of Frank R. Dravo, of Sewickley, Alle- gheny Co., Pa. The mother, Mrs. Martin, resides at Kittanning. (2) Miss Marion Buffington resides in Kittanning. (3) Miss Hannah Buffington also resides in Kittanning. (4) Miss Mary Frances Buffington died April 27, 1908, aged fifty-six years. She was a grad- uate of Vassar College, taught in Wilson Col- lege, at Chambersburg, Pa., for thirteen years, was lady principal of St. Katharine's School, an Episcopal school for girls at Davenport, Iowa, for four years, and lady principal of St. Catherine's Hall, an Episcopal preparatory college, at Brooklyn, N. Y., for one year. She studied one year abroad, at Leipsic, Germany, and made two other trips to Europe. (5) Judge Joseph Buffington, United States Cir- cuit Judge, resides at Pittsburgh, Pa. (6) Orr Buffington is a leading attorney at Kittan- ning.

Robert Orr, son of Capt. Robert Orr by his first marriage, was born March 5, 1786, in Westmoreland county, probably at Hannas- town. He was quite young when he moved with his parents west of the Allegheny in Armstrong county. He grew up amid pioneer surroundings, and developed the strength and courage which such conditions foster in men of character. He inherited the forceful men- tal and moral qualities of his father, for whom he was named, and he lived a life that added prestige and glory to the record of an honored family. ' Though the educational advantages he had in his native county was scarcely any bet- ter than those he found in his new home he gained considerable learning for his day, and he was one of those who acquired much through observation and experience. This faculty, coupled with ability and energy beyond the average, accounts for his usefulness and suc- cess in life. After living with his parents in

came to Kittanning when the county was or- ganized for judicial administration, in 1805, and became deputy under his brother John, who was the first sheriff of Armstrong county. Subsequently he studied surveying, which he followed so successfully that he was after- ward appointed deputy district surveyor. He inherited his father's military spirit and sense of duty to his country, as was shown by his activity during the war of 1812, in which he rendered valuable service. When the 2d brig- ade rendezvoused at Pittsburgh (Oct. 2, 1812) he was elected major, and left that place the same fall under command of General Crooks, to join the northwestern army under General Harrison, on the Miami river, where Fort Meigs was afterward built. At Upper San- dusky they were joined by a brigade of militia from Virginia. From that place Major Orr, by the direction of the General, took charge of the artillery, munitions, stores, etc., and set off with about 300 mnen to the headquarters of General Harrison. While on the way he was met by an express from Harrison, bring- ing information of the defeat of General Win- chester on the river Raisin, and requesting him to bring on his force as rapidly as possi- ble. After consolidation with the balance of the army from Upper Sandusky, they pro- ceeded to the rapids of the Miami ( Maumee), where they remained until the six months' term of duty of the Pennsylvania and Virginia militia had expired. General Harrison then appealed for volunteers to remain fifteen days longer, until he should receive reinforcements from Kentucky. Major Orr and about 200 other Pennsylvanians did volunteer and re- main until they were discharged, after the battle of Fort Meigs, upon April 19, 1813.

In 1817 General Orr received his first honor in civil life, being elected to the Legis- lature, in which body he served two terms. Then, in 1821, he was sent to the State Senate to represent the large, but comparatively thinly settled, district composed of the coun- ties of Armstrong, Warren, Indiana, Jeffer- son, Cambria and Venango, the latter county including much of the territory now in Clarion. After serving one term he was led to enter the contest for election to Congress, and, doing so, defeated Gen. Abner Laycock. He thus became the representative in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Congresses of the district com- posed of Armstrong, Butler, Beaver and Alle- gheny counties. In the Legislature, in the State Senate and in Congress he served satis- factorily to his people and with unwavering

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integrity of purpose. Calm, judicious and ex-

In politics General Orr was a Democrat, perienced, his presence in the national coun- in 1861 a War Democrat. He used his influ- sels could not but exert a beneficial influence ence and contributed liberally of his means to in the direction and control of the affairs of the country, which at that time witnessed the earlier symptoms of the disturbance that eventually culminated in the tragical events of 1861. Later in life General Orr was ap- pointed by the governor associate judge of Armstrong county and served very acceptably to the people. He retained his interest in mili- tary affairs and was active in the militia organ- izations of western Pennsylvania, in this con- nection acquiring the rank and title of general.

General Orr became possessed of a large number of land tracts in Armstrong and ad- joining counties, which he leased or sold as he had opportunity. During the years he was most extensively engaged in his land business, money was scarce, and it was very frequently In 1836 General Orr was married to Martha Grier, sister of the late Judge Robert C. Grier, of the United States Supreme court. She died Dec. 7. 1881. Two children were born to this union, Grier C. and Fannie E. The latter the case that purchasers were unable to meet their payments. His true character was shown in his liberality and fair treatment of all. When those to whom he sold were embar- rassed and could not meet their obligations, he died March 14, 1882. Grier C. Orr, Esq., an extended their time and gave them easier able lawyer, died Nov. 17, 1895. terms. With many individuals this was done again and again, until at last they were able ROSS. The Ross family, represented in Armstrong county from the days of the carly settlements, has had distinguished connection with the development and history of this re- gion. Judge George Ross, a large number of whose descendants continue to reside in the county, came here in 1800, and in his capacity of deputy State surveyor had considerable part in fixing the lines of carly land pur- chases, etc. Rosston. in Manor township, takes its name from the family. to pay. He never dispossessed a man of prop- erty on which he was toiling to discharge his indebtedness. Often the sons of the men who contracted with him for lands completed the payment for them. Through his leniency and lack of oppression many families were enabled to gain homes. He was in a very literal sense the steward of his riches, holding them for others' good as well as for his own. His kind- ness of heart and practical philanthropy found expression in many other ways, for he was un- ostentatiously and judiciously charitable throughout his life. He did much to advance the interests of the school and the church, and for many years prior to his death was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church.

For about three years (1848-52) General Orr resided in Allegheny City, and for a short time, about 1845, he lived at Orrsville (mouth of Mahoning), but the greater number of his years were passed in Kittanning. He was interested in and helped to advance almost every local public improvement inaugurated during his time. Laboring zealously for the construction of the Allegheny Valley railroad, he lived to realize his hope in that direction and see the wealth of his county practically in- creased by its mineral and agricultural re- sources being made more easily available to the uses of the world.

assist the organization of the military, and the camp where the 78th and the 103d Regiments rendezvoused was appropriately named Camp Orr in his honor. His appearance upon the ground, when the soldiers were encamped there, was always the signal for an ovation, or at least hearty cheers, and all who knew him gathered around him to shake the hand of the old soldier of 1812. He lived to see the war ended and the country he loved so much pre- served in union. He lived to witness the na- tion recover from the worst effects of the war and in the centennial year rejoice in peace and prosperity. He passed away May 22, 1876, at his residence in Kittanning, after a lingering but not severe illness.

John Ross, the earliest ancestor of the Rosses in America, was born in Scotland in 1685. His father, also named John, removed from that country with his wife and family of five children, in 1689, to the city of Derry, Ireland; the next year he took part in the battle of the Boyne. His son John, who was four years old when the family moved from Scotland, left Ireland in 1706 to escape the British pressgangs capturing young men for the army. He took passage in the ship "Northern Light." which was wrecked off the shoals of Cape May about the first of August, and he saved nothing but his clothes. Travel- ing up the Jersey shore, opposite New Castle, Del., he pledged his silver knee buckles for his ferriage across the Delaware river. Then he came into Pennsylvania, staying with William Miller, to whom he had letters from Ireland. Here he taught school for two years, on the

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point of Infcarion (or Lough Kinamon), now had five children, namely: (1) Jane, the eld- called Avondale, until he received a remittance est daughter, was married about 1764-68 to from Ireland which enabled him to purchase the farm called Ross Common, in London- grove township, Chester Co., Pa., from Jo- sephine and Catherine Hedg, the first settlers, in 1708. A part of the first building he erected is still standing. He married Margaret Small, of New London (now Franklin) township, in 1722, and their family consisted of two sons and four daughters: (1) Thomas, the eldest, married and settled on the Allegheny river about eight miles from Pittsburgh (now Aspin- wall, Allegheny county), where some of the family still reside. When he first settled there he was driven out by the Indians, return- ing to Carlisle until 1782, when he went back, and this time was allowed to remain in peace. (2) Margaret married a Mr. McKitchen and went to South Carolina. (3) Mary married a Hutchison and went to North Carolina. (4) Sallie married James Moss and settled in Washington county, fourteen miles from Pitts- burgh. (5) Jane married Rev. Mr. John Mc- Millan and settled on Turtle creek, in Alle- gheny county, about six miles from Pittsburgh. (6) John was the youngest son. Stephen Cochran, by whom she had three sons and three daughters: Samuel married Rebecca McMahon, of Delaware, and (sec- ond) Hannah Slaymaker, of Lancaster county, Pa., and had three sons and one daughter ; James married Jane Hamilton, of Lititz, Lan- caster Co., Pa., and left three sons; Robert never married ; Jane (eldest daughter ) married Colonel Armstrong, and lived and died near Cochranville ; Elizabeth and Ann each married a Slaymaker, of Lancaster, Pa., and left families, the former one son and one daughter, the latter three sons, Samuel, Stephen and Henry. (2) Sarah, the second daughter, mar- ried Joseph Singleton, and had three sons and two daughters, the sons, Samuel, Stephen and Young, all becoming sea captains, and the daughters both marrying sea captains. Jane became the wife of Captain Warden and Betsy married Captain Gaul, both of whom were in Stephen Girard's employ. (3) Rebecca mar- ried William Wilson and had one son and four daughters. (4) Elizabeth married a Mr. Wiley and died three months afterward. (5) Margaret married John Ross.

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Armstrong County, Pennsylvania her people past and present, embracing a history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I, Part 60

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers Number of Pages: 618

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 618