There is pride for the old and successful, and inspiration for the youth and ambitious, in the history of a man who has started a poor boy, and by his energy, perseverance and native ability conquered adverse circumstances and step by step won his way to honor, wealth and fame. In this free land of America every county has some man whose success is the pride of generous souls and the envy of narrow, malicious hearts. The multitude applaud the winner in life's battle, but it is only the student of biographical history that appreciates how the victory was won. One of the men of Miami county who has traveled the thorny path of poverty, climbed the hill of difficulty, and at last reached the high plane of success, is General William P. Orr.

He was born in Covington, Miami county, Ohio in 1834. His father, Joshua Orr, was a native of Virginia; his mother, Ann (Worley) Orr, of Kentucky. They had six sons: Nathan W., John A., William P., Thomas T., Caleb V. and Joshua W., the last two being twins. Five of the six served in the Union army, and the sixth volunteered but was rejected on account of physical disability. William P. Orr received his education in the common schools of Covington, then at that early age a small enterprising village on the banks of the Stillwater, in Newberry township, of this county. At the early age of fourteen years he commenced for himself the battle of life. When seventeen years of age he came to Piqua to learn the trade of carriage painting, but the paint shop was too close and narrow for the boy and he fell an easy victim to the gold fever that was then prevailing in Miami county. In March, 1852, in his eighteenth year, he started for California on the overland route, and drove a team of five yoke of oxen over the old emigrant trail, and was one hundred and thirteen days making the trip. The personal experiences and hardships of that trip would make interesting reading to the friends of General Orr. He seldom refers to those days, but that trip developed in the boy the industry and firm determination to succeed that afterward made him the successful business man. He remained in California two years, working in the mines, and made and saved a little money with which to return home. He then engaged in the mercantile and grocery business in Covington in 1854. He continued in that line until 1869, gradually enlarging his business until he had a general dry- goods, grocery and hardware store. He purchased all kinds of produce from the farmers and shipped the same. He also had a flouring mill and saw-mill, and packed pork every winter. The business prospered under his management and he gradually accumulated wealth.

In February, 1869, he sold his store and mills and removed to Piqua, where he has been engaged in the linseed oil business for thirty-one years. The business was not always prosperous, for twice were his mills destroyed by fire, and adverse circumstances came; but nevertheless, his personal energy and business ability were such that he won prosperity and compelled success. In addition to the linseed oil business, he engaged in the grain trade and ran a line of canal boats on the Miami and Erie canal. He also engaged in other business enterprises. He built three strawboard mills in Piqua, a large linseed oil works, and in connection with Samuel Statler, in 1891, he built the Hotel Plaza, one of the finest hotels between Cincinnati and Toledo.

So well established was his character as a safe, sagacious and successful business man that his experience and ability were in demand, and his reputation become national, as one of the shrewd business men of the country. He was vice-president of the Piqua Rolling Mill Company, president of the Piqua Strawboard Company and the Piqua Furniture Company, president of the Citizens' National Bank, of Piqua, and director of the Seventh National Bank, of New York City. He is also a director of the F. Gray Woolen Mills Company and of the Piqua Underwear Company. He is now treasurer of the American Linseed Company, also of the American School Furniture Company and a director in both companies and president of the Miami Valley Railroad Company.

General Orr, notwithstanding his many busy enterprises, has ever been loyal to the city of Piqua, and cheerfully gives a portion of his time to her welfare. For over thirty years he has served in the city council of Piqua, and most of that period was president of the council. He has done as much, and perhaps more, to build up the city of Piqua than any other resident of that enterprising and wide- awake city. For her prosperity and welfare he has given much time and thought. His hands are ever ready and his purse is ever open to advance Piqua's progress. He, with other public-spirited citizens, has made Piqua known as one of the prosperous manufacturing cities of Ohio.

For thirty years General Orr has been an active and consistent member of the Presbyterian church, of Piqua, and his influence is ever on the side of temperance, morality and Christianity. On May 8, 1864, General Orr enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into service as captain of Company B. He was mustered out September 2, 1864, by reason of expiration of term of service. This regiment saw hard service in Virginia, and was in several severe skirmishes with the Confederate forces. Governor Asa S. Bushnell was a captain in this regiment, and a number of distinguished citizens of Ohio were in the ranks. The regiment was composed of the Twenty-eighth and two companies of the Thirty-fifth Ohio National Guards, and when the regiment was mustered out it retained its state organization, and Captain Orr was elected lieutenant-colonel of the regiment. He still retains his love for the old soldiers, and for many years has served as trustee of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home of Ohio, situated near Sandusky.

General Orr became a Republican with the birth of his party, and in every campaign from 1856 to 1900 he has given his time and money in support of its principles, and for the success of its candidates. He voted for General John C. Fremont in 1856, and for every Republican candidate since, because he loved the principles of the grand old party. In 1890 he was unanimously nominated for congress in the fourth district of Ohio, and in the campaign that followed he cut down the Democratic majority of thirty-five hundred to fourteen hundred and ten. In the redistricting of the state Miami county was placed in the seventh congressional district. General Orr was Miami county's unanimous choice for congress in 1892, and received the vote of the county for six hundred and twenty-one ballots. Although unsuccessful in the Convention, yet he lost no fame as a man and gained prestige as a politician. In1896 he was again a candidate for congress, and after a long and hard contest he was defeated by a political combination that is often made in recent years to thwart the will of the people.

On the 13th of January, 1896, he was appointed and commissioned quartermaster-general on the staff of Governor Asa S. Bushnell and served for four years. When the Spanish-American war began the office was not one of ornament, but hard work. General Orr went to Columbus April 25, 1898, and entered upon the then arduous duties of quartermaster-general, and under his direction Ohio equipped twelve thousand soldiers, supplied the troops with tents, clothing and rations and sent them to the field. General Orr was highly complimented for his efficient services as quartermaster-general of Ohio by the secretary of war, and the papers of his office were said to be in better shape, and the equipment of troops was furnished more promptly and in better condition, than those of any other state. This report from the war department at that time was a high compliment to Ohio, and to the practical business administration of Governor Bushnell. Many items of interest occurring in General Orr's administration of his office would be very interesting reading, but the history of Ohio in the Spanish- American war will be written by other historians. He was supported by his county for governor at the Republican state convention of 1899, and at the Republican state convention of 1900 he was chosen by acclamation as elector-at-large of the Republican national ticket for Ohio.

W. P. Orr was married in Covington, Ohio, in September, 1854, to Miss Martha Morrison, the daughter of Aaron and Nancy Morrison. Two sons were born to this union, Aaron Morrison and Lewis Hoover Orr. General Orr was then a youth of twenty years. His noble wife shared with him the struggles and trials of life for over twenty-seven years. She lived long enough to enjoy with him the comforts that wealth and success always bring, and then passed away in January, 1882, leaving behind her the record of a fond and faithful wife, a loving and tender mother. General Orr remained a widower for over two years, when he was united in marriage to Miss Frances M. Meily, on March 25,1884, in St. Mark's chapel, Westminster Abbey, London, by Archdeacon Farrar. Mrs. Orr is the daughter of John and Katherine Meily, and a sister of Mrs. C. S. Brice. Mrs. Orr takes an active interest in every enterprise for the higher culture of women, served as president of the Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs for the year 1899, and is president for the year 1900.

The above is the record of an active, busy life, and General Orr is still in the harness. Firm and decided in his convictions, bold and aggressive in action, he has doubtless made enemies. Indeed envy and enmity always follow the successful man, whether the success comes in business, politics or religion, but time, which makes all things even, and adjusts the scale in which a man's worth is weighed, will record that the life of W. P. Orr has not been in vain, for it has shown that in our home and country a man may begin in the humble walks of life and rise by his own industry and ability to rank among those who are honored and respected by the citizens of the state and nation.