Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 08.djvu/157

 ORR

ORTH

a delegate to the Constitutional Union convention at Philadelphia, Pa., in 1866; judge of the 8th circuit of South Carolina, 1870-73, and a delegate to the Republican national convention in 1872. He was appointed U.S. minister to Russia by President Grant, as successor to Andrew G. Cur- tin, who resigned in August, 1872, and he served from March, 1873, until his death in St. Peters- burg, Russia, May 5, 1873.

ORR, John, educator, was born in Chester district, S.C, Aug. 12, 1820; eldest son of William and Isabella (Ervin) Orr ; and grandson of John and Rosanna (Cameron) Orr, John Orr being a graduate of Dublin university, Ireland. He was graduated at Miami university, Oxford, Ohio, A.B., 1845 ; A.M., 1848, and was professor of ancient languages in the Macon Masonic col- lege at Macon, Tenn., which was founded in Fayette county in 1849, ti'ansferred to Clarks- ville, Montgomery county, Tenn. soon after, became known as Stewart college in 1855 and as the Southwestern Presbyterian university in 1875. He was president of the college, 1851-53. Prior to the civil war he removed to Greene county, Ohio, where he was elected principal of the schools at Cedarville, and he was clerk of courts of Greene county, 1864-82. He died at Xenia. Ohio, Dec. 30, 1883.

ORR, John William, wood engraver, was born in Ireland, March 31, 1815. He was brought to New York in 1816 by his parents, who settled in Buffalo, where he attended school. In 1836 he removed to New York city and studied wood engraving in the studio of William Redfield, re- ceiving a silver medal from the Mechanics in- stitute for the best wood engraving in 1837. He engaged as an engi-aver in Buffalo, N. Y., 1837-42 ; in Albany, N.Y., 1842-44, where he made engrav- ings to illustrate the state reports on geology, and in New York city, 1884-87. He established an engraving business, which held front rank for over a quarter of a century, and brought the art of wood engraving to public notice by extensive advertising, new inventions and able assistants, who represented the most skilled English, French and German engravers. His first work of im- portance was the frontispieces for Harper's Illus- trated Shakespeare. He received a gold medal in 1842 from the New York State Agricultural society for the best wood cuts representing do- mestic animals. He edited The American Odd Felloio, 1862-71. He died in Jersey City, N.J., March 4, 1887.

CRT, Samuel Alfred, educator, was born at Lewistown, Mifflin county, Pa., Nov. 11, 1843 ; son of Samuel and £;hristina Ort ; grandson of John Ort, and a descendant of German and Huguenot families. His grandparents immigrated to America from Germany and settled near Lewis-

town, Pa., in 1780. Samuel Alfred Ort was pre- pared for college in Kishacoquillas seminary, near Lewistown, 1853-56, and was graduated at Wittenberg college, Springfield, Ohio, A.B., 1863 ; A.M., 1869. He studied at the Theological school of Wittenberg college ; was a tutor in the preparatory department, 1863-65 ; pastor of the Lutheran church at Findlay, Ohio, 1865-68, and teacher of Latin and literature in Hagerstown Female seminary, 1868-69. He returned to Wit- tenberg college as a tutor in 1869, and was pro- fessor of mathematics, belles lettres, English literature and logic, 1870-74. He had charge of the Lutheran mission at Louisville, Ky., 1874-79, where he erected a church, which was completed in 1875, and was pastor of St. James church. New York city, 1879-80. In 1880 he was elected pro- fessor of theology in Wittenberg college ; became president of the college and Frederick Gilbert professor of Christian theology and mental phil- osophy in 1882, and professor of systematic the- ology in the seminary in 1884. He retired from the presidency in 1900, being succeeded by the Rev. J. M. Ruthrauff ; was elected dean but re- tained his professorships, and on the death of President Ruthrauff in 1902 became acting presi- dent of the college. Under his supervision a new college building was begun and built at a cost of $67,000, which stands as a monument to his per- severance and labor; also a young woman's hall, a gymnasium and Hamnia divinity liall. He was a delegate to the General synod of the Lu- theran church from 1873, secretary of the synod, 1873-79, and president of that body at Omaha, Neb., in 1887. He received the degree D.D. from Wittenberg college in 1877. and LL.D. in 1893. He was married in 1875 to Anna, daughter of W. W. and Mary A. Senteny of Louisville. Ky. He was prominent as a lecturer, contributed to reviews and edited the Lutheran Evangelist at Spring- field, Ohio, 1881-85. He published several lec- tures and pamphlets, and is the author of : Tlie Pre-eminence of the Spiritual (1884), and Christ, the Completeness of Man (1886).

ORTH, Qodlove Steiner, representative, was born in Lebanon, Pa., April 22, 1817 ; son of God- love and Sarah (Steiner) Orth ; grandson of Bal- zer, Jr., and Rosina (Kucher) Orth, and great- grandson of Balzer Orth, a Moravian, who emi- grated from Germany to Lancaster county. Pa., with Count Zinzendorf, and was settled in Leba- non in 1730. Balzer Orth, Jr., served in the Revolutionary war, and had charge of the Hes- sian prisoners after the battle of Trenton. God- love Steiner Orth was graduated at Pennsylvania college ; studied law in the office of James Cooper, and was admitted to the bar in 1839. He settled in practice in Lafayette. Ind.; was a mem- ber of the Indiana senate, 1843-48, and became