Faithfulness to duty on the part of public officials is always appreciated by the people, and an official who regards his office as other than a sinecure is recognized as honest, capable, and well-meaning. In Louis C. Orr, postmaster of the city of Atchison, Kan., the patrons and citizens of Atchison have a capable and conscientious public servant, whose sole interest is to see that the affairs of this important Government office are conducted smoothly, and for the convenience of the patrons of the post office.
Although, in times past, the Atchison post office has been looked upon as a sinecure, operated as a well-oiled piece of Government machinery with an efficient and well-trained force, Mr. Orr, since taking over the duties of his position, has demonstrated that he can work as hard and efficiently as any of the many employees making up the postoffice force. Probably no post office in the State of Kansas is better conducted, or the welfare of the patrons more carefully looked after than the Atchison post office, and credit is due Mr. Orr for his diligent application to the duties of his office since his appointment.
Louis C. Orr, postmaster of Atchison, was born August 3, 1857, in McGregor, Iowa, a son of James and Man Elizabeth (Underhill) Orr, concerning whom further mention will be found in the biography of James W. Orr, brother of Louis C., in this volume. When Louis C. was eight years of age the family removed from Iowa to Niles, Mich. Louis C. and his brother James W. knew what poverty was in their youthful days, and shared their hardships in common. Louis C. was ambitious to obtain an education, and at an early age was compelled, by force of circumstances over which he had no control, to practically earn his own living and the wherewithal to obtain an education. For some years he and James W. pooled their earnings and worked together for their mutual benefit, and to this day this trait of brotherly devotion is present. Louis C. attended school until he had attained the age of eighteen years, and he then entered a drug store at Niles, Mich., in the capacity of clerk. He remained in Michigan until 1885 when he came to Atchison. Kan., where his brother, James W., had preceded him in 1881. Mr. Orr entered the Government railroad mail service and was employed in this capacity on the Santa Fe Railway System, on the run from Atchison to Topeka, during Grover Cleveland’s first administration. He then left the railway mail service and was employed as a clerk in the drug store of A. W. Stevens for the following period of eight years. For the six years following he was in charge of the paint department of the McPike Drug Company, a wholesale drug firm then operating in Atchison, and since removed to Kansas City, Mo. For four years, from 1907 to 1911, he served as city collector of Atchison. He was engaged in the real estate and fire insurance business until January 1915. Mr. Orr was appointed postmaster of Atchison on December 29, 1914, by President Wilson, to take effect January 4, 1915, although Mr. Orr did not begin his duties until January 15, 1915.
Mr. Orr was married in 1886 to Mary Isabelle Smith, of Richmond, Ind., a daughter of John P. and Mary (Sedgwick) Smith, residents of Richmond, Ind. One son has been born to this marriage, Richard Sedgwick Orr, born in 1888, and at present employed as manager for the Standard Oil Company in Atchison.
Louis C. Orr is a Democrat and is affiliated with the Christian Scientist church. For the past twenty-five years, he has been a member of Lodge No. 127, Ancient Order of United Workmen. It can be said of him that he is courteous, efficient, and obliging to all with whom he is brought in contact.
