Archives West Finding Aid

William Crosby Orr was born in Ireland on April 11, 1829, the son of Nathan and Hannah Turney Orr. The family immigrated to America in 1833, locating in Ohio. William Orr attended school in Ohio and then worked as a carriagemaker in Mississippi. He later moved west, starting a ranch in northern California. In 1856 Orr formed a partnership with Philip H. Poindexter that purchased and drove cattle, and operated butcher shops in mining districts in Idaho and Montana territories. In 1866 Orr moved to Beaverhead County, Montana Territory, and the partnership relocated there breeding horses, cattle, and sheep, on a 30,000-acre ranch. Poindexter and Orr Cattle Live Stock Company had the Masonic square and compass emblem for its brand. Both Orr and Poindexter were Masons and Knights Templars. Orr was also the proprietor of The Percheron Ranch located at Red Rock, and The Central Stables at Dillon. Orr married Rachel Cunnard in 1869. The couple had six sons: Matthew, Ernest, William II, Charles, Bert, and John. William C. Orr died on May 11, 1901. Matthew Orr owned the electric light and power plant in Dillon. Bert Orr managed the cattle business for Poindexter and Orr. William C. Orr, Jr., was a veterinarian in Butte. Ernest Orr moved to Alaska; his son, William C. Orr, III, received the Legion of Honor from the Order of DeMolay in 1930, and was killed in a car accident in 1934. John Turney Orr was born on September 21, 1881, in Dillon, Montana Territory. He attended schools in Dillon and Butte. He was a photographer in Dillon operating the Orr Studio in the 1930s and 1940s. He also operated the John T. Orr Auto Company and developed the "Orr carburetor". He was president of Poindexter and Orr Livestock Company until 1943 when the company was sold. Orr was an active Mason, receiving his master Masons degree from Dillon Lodge in 1906. He served as treasurer of the Red Cross of Constantine, Grand Commander of Knights of Templar (1944), and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Montana (1940). He was also active in the Order of DeMolay, the Order of Rainbow for Girls, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Orr, a Democrat, was an alderman for the city of Dillon for fifteen years. John T. Orr married Iva Lea Benedick of Hill, Montana, in 1918. Iva Orr attended the Montana State Normal College and was licensed to teach in the state. She was active in the Delphian Society of Dillon and the Montana State P.E.O. Sisterhood. The couple had two sons, John T. (Jack), Jr., and Matthew. Both sons were active in DeMolay and the Masons, and both served in the armed forces during World War II; Jack in the U.S. Naval Reserves and Matt in the Marines. Jack married Ruth (Susie) Fahey in 1944 and Matt married Evelyn Larson in 1952. John T. Orr, Sr., died in Dillon in May 24, 1956.