Flipside: Matthew Thomas Orr of Elkrun and Centre Townships, Columbiana County, Ohio

My maternal great-granduncle, Matthew Thomas Orr, son of William Morland Orr and Nancy Agnes Cannon Orr McCormick, was born in Elkrun Township, Columbiana County, Ohio on September 8, 1836.

Matthew Thomas Orr grew up on a farm. I have thought that it could have been the land of his maternal uncle and aunt, Matthew Cannon and Jane Fife Cannon, in Section 29 in Elkrun Township, Columbiana County, Ohio.

Matthew Orr was only twelve when his father, William Morland Orr died in 1849. The Orr's were enumerated with Uncle Matthew Cannon's widow, his Aunt Jane Fife Cannon, on the 1850 Ohio Census. Matthew had willed the farm to his wife. Perhaps Matthew Thomas Orr was named for his maternal uncle, Matthew Cannon.

On the 1860 Ohio Census, Matthew is listed as living with his mother and sisters in Elkrun Township and he is farming. Matthew's grandparents, Lindsey and Elizabeth Fife Cannon have purchased the land in Section 29 and are living and farming there in 1860. Perhaps Matthew is working on his grandfather's land and the Orr's are living elsewhere in Elkrun Township.

With the beginning of the Civil War, Matthew enlisted on August 2, 1862 and mustered in on August 30, 1862 as a Sergeant with Company C, 104th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

In this book, History of the 104th Regiment, Matthew is listed as a Second Sergeant. He was wounded twice; at a battle in Old Town Creek, North Carolina on February 20, 1864 and near Atlanta, Georgia on August 7, 1864.

The Evening Review
East Liverpool, Ohio
February 22, 1939
Page 12

Two accounts of Matthew having been killed in battle near Atlanta, Georgia. The newspaper article was a reprint from a 1864 newspaper article. I can only imagine the rejoicing in the family when Matthew showed up at the front door.

I did not purchase Matthew's civil war pension file, so I do not know why he was demoted to private. He mustered out on June 17, 1865 in Greensboro, North Carolina and headed home to Elk Run Township.

On December 30, 1869, thirty three year old, Matthew Thomas Orr married twenty four year old, Mary Ellen Smith, in New Lisbon, Columbiana County, Ohio. The marriage was performed by Reverend William Baxter, pastor of the Christian Church, New Lisbon, Columbiana County, Ohio. Mary Ellen born on April 25, 1845 in Ohio, the daughter of James L. Smith, Esq. and Elisabeth Roff Smith.

1870 Ohio Federal Census
New Lisbon, Centre Township, Columbiana County
June 1, 1870

Mathew Orr, age 28, supervisor, value of personal estate $300, born in Ohio

Mary Orr, age 22, keeping house, born in Ohio

The newly weds have set up housekeeping in the town of New Lisbon (now called Lisbon). Thee is no indication where Matthew is a supervisor. Mary Ellen's parents also live in New Lisbon where her father is an attorney. Matthew's mother and half sister have also moved to New Lisbon.

The Orr's welcomed their first child, a daughter, Effie Orr, on June 16, 1870 in New Lisbon, Centre Township, Columbiana County, Ohio.

A second daughter, Anna "Annie" Orr, was born in 1872 in New Lisbon, Centre Township, Columbiana County, Ohio.

History of Columbiana County, Ohio......Horace Mack,
D.W. Ensign & Co, Philadelphia, 1879,
page 28

Matthew was appointed janitor of the Columbiana County Courthouse in New Lisbon, Ohio on October 22, 1872.

Hattie Orr was born on May 1, 1874 in New Lisbon, Centre Township, Columbiana County, Ohio and Mary Emma Orr was born on October 15, 1876 in New Lisbon, Centre Township, Columbiana County, Ohio.

Thirty five year old Mary Ellen Smith Orr died on December 13, 1879 in Columbiana County, Ohio from dysentery.

Mary Ellen was buried in Lisbon Cemetery, Columbiana County, Ohio. Thirty years later, her husband, Matthew Thomas Orr, was laid to rest beside her.

1880 Ohio Federal Census
Centre Township, Columbiana County
June 26, 1880

Matthew Orr, age 38, widowed, janitor of court house, born in Ohio, both parents born in Ohio.

Effie Orr, age 10, daughter, at school, born in Ohio, both parents born in Ohio.

Annie Orr, age 8, daughter, at school, born in Ohio, both parents born in Ohio.

Hattie Orr, age 6, daughter, born in Ohio, both parents born in Ohio.

Mamie Orr, age 3, daughter, born in Ohio, both parents born in Ohio.

On December 18, 1880, forty four year old Matthew Thomas Orr, married thirty year old, Libbie Elizabeth Keck, in Columbiana County, Ohio. Libbie Elizabeth was born on July 15, 1850 in North Benton, Mahoning County, Ohio the daughter of Charles Keck and Dorothy Frederick Keck.

Matthew and Libbie welcomed their first child, a son, William Monigan Orr, on November 1, 1881 in New Lisbon, Centre Township, Columbiana County, Ohio.

Julia B. Orr was born on July 16, 1883 in New Lisbon, Centre Township, Columbiana County, Ohio.

A second daughter, Delle M. Orr, was born on March 8, 1885, in New Lisbon, Centre Township, Columbiana County, Ohio.

1890 Veterans Census
New Lisbon, Columbiana County, Ohio
June, 1890

Matthew T. Orr, private, Company C, 104 Regiment, Ohio Volunteer, Infantry, Date of Enlistment August 7, 1862, Date of Discharge June 17, 1865, 2 years, 10 months, 6 days, Post Office address: New Lisbon, Disability: gun shot wound.

On December 30, 1896, Matthew's oldest child, twenty six year old, Effie Orr, married twenty seven year old Wesley P. Wood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Wesley was born on May 1, 1869 in Janesville, Wisconsin, the son of Royal Wood and Eliza Andrew Wood.

1900 Ohio Federal Census
Lisbon, Centre Township, Columbiana County
June 9, 1900

Mathew Orr, head, born Sep 1836, age 63, married, 20 years, born in Ohio, both parents born in Ohio, day laborer, owns a house on West Washington with a mortgage.

Elizabeth Orr, wife, born July 1850, age 49, married 20 years, mother of 3 children, 3 alive, born in Ohio, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Germany.

William Orr, son, born Nov. 1881, age 18, single, born in Ohio, both parents born in Ohio, tin mill screw boy.

Julia Orr, daughter, born July 1883, age 16, single, born in Ohio, both parents born in Ohio, at school.

Della Orr, daughter, born Mar 1885, age 15, single, born in Ohio, both parents born in Ohio, at school.

All of Matthew's daughters from his marriage to Mary Ellen Smith Orr have left Lisbon. Effie is married and living in Chicago, Illinois. Anna, Hattie and Mary Emma are all MIA on the 1900 census.

The Evening Review
East Liverpool, Ohio
April 27, 1901
Page 3

On December 23, 1905, twenty nine year old, Mary Emma Orr married thirty nine year old, Charles Harrison Hopwood in Chicago, Illinois. Charles was born about 1866 in either Kentucky or Illinois; however, probably in Kentucky. Parents could be John W. Hopwood and Rachel A. Banks Hopwood.

The Evening Review
East Liverpool, Ohio
September 12, 1906
Page 8

My maternal great grandmother, Lucinda "Lou" Bell Orr Frederick, spent several weeks with her brother, and only living sibling in September, 1906. Since their mother, Nancy Agnes Cannon Orr McCormick, is not mentioned, I am assuming she has died.

The Evening Review
East Liverpool, Ohio
December 23, 1909
Page 8

The Mahoning Dispatch
Canfield, Ohio
December 31, 1909
Page 1

Matthew Thomas Orr, son of William Orr nd Nancy Cannon, died in Lisbon, Centre Township, Columbiana County, Ohio on December 22, 1909 at age seventy three. His personal information was given by his youngest child, Delle Orr.

Matthew was buried beside his first wife, Mary Ellen Smith Orr, on December 23, 1909 in Lisbon Cemetery, Lisbon, Centre Township, Columbiana County, Ohio.

From the obituary, some information was given as to the location of Anna Orr, living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Hattie Orr, living in Chicago, Illinois in 1909. Unfortunately, I have not been able to trace their movements or lives.

Additional Civil War Documents

Civil War Pension Filing

Libbie Elizabeth Keck Orr continued to live in Lisbon after her husband's death. She stayed in their house on West Washington Street with her youngest daughter, Delle Orr. Following Delle's marriage in 1920, Elizabeth Orr lived with her married daughter and her family at 317 East Chestnut Street, Lisbon, Ohio until she died.

The Salem News
Salem, Ohio
December 2, 1948
Page 8

Elizabeth Keck Orr died at age ninety eight, on December 2, 1948 at her daughter, Delle Orr Beck's home, where she had lived for over twenty years. The obituary only mentions Elizabeth's natural born children. At least one of her step children, Mary Emma Orr Hopwood was alive in 1948. She was buried in Lisbon Cemetery, Lisbon, Ohio.

Children of Matthew Thomas Orr and Mary Ellen Smith Orr:

Effie Orr, born on June 16, 1870 in Lisbon, Centre Township, Columbiana County, Ohio, died on December 4, 1939 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Married Wesley P. Wood on December 30, 1896 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Effie had a linen business and Wesley was a railroad conductor. No children.
Anna Orr, born 1872, Centre Township, Columbiana County, Ohio. Lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, unmarried, when her father died in 1909. No further knowledge.
Hattie Orr, born on May 1, 1874, Centre Township, Columbiana County, Ohio. Was living in Chicago, Illinois, unmarried, when her father died in 1909. No further knowledge.
Mary Emma Orr born on October 15, 1876, Centre Township, Columbiana County, Ohio, died on August 1, 1969 in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Married on December 23, 1905 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, Charles Harrison Hopwood. Children: Mary Elizabeth Hopwood, born on July 18, 1909, Illinois, died on March 11, 1911 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. John James Hopwood, born on November 21, 1915 in Warren, Minnesota, died February 28, 1973 in Hennepin County, Minnesota.

Children of Matthew Thomas Orr and Libbie Elizabeth Keck Orr:

William Monigan Orr, born on November 1, 1881 in Lisbon, Centre Township, Columbiana County, Ohio, died on June 18, 1910 in Centre Township, Columbiana County, Ohio. Brakeman with the railroad. Death certificate lists that he was divorced.
Julia "Jewel" B. Orr, born on July 16, 1883 in Lisbon, Centre Township, Columbiana County, Ohio, died on April 4, 1982 in Columbiana County, Ohio. Married John L. Moore, on October 4, 1919, in Lisbon, Centre Township, Columbiana County, Ohio. No children.
Delle M. Orr, born on March 8, 1885 in Lisbon, Centre Township, Columbiana County, Ohio, died on October 18, 1958 in Lisbon, Centre Township, Columbiana County, Ohio. Married Walter Washington Beck on August 14, 1920 in Columbiana County, Ohio. Child: John Orr Beck.

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