This information was found in the vertical files of the Genealogy Department of the Longview Public Library.

THE AVINGER CITIZEN
Special Historical Edition
June 18, 1954

Four Orr brothers came from Alabama in about 1850 and settled in the area five miles south of Avinger, later known as Orr's switch. All four of them, Will, Jim, Justis and Charlie, built homes there. One of the old houses was still standing, near present R.R. crossing until about two years ago.

Justis Orr, direct ancestor of most of the local members of this family, married Hessie McKinley. The latter lived at Longview and stemmed from the same family tree as former president William McKinley. The McKinleys came to Texas from Tennessee.

Justis Orr and wife lived in Longview for awhile and then returned to this vicinity and built a home where the S.A. Faviell, Jr. residence is now. (Mrs. Faviell is their great-granddaughter.)

Four children were born into this home; Samuel Allison, Charlie, Alice and Mattie. Charlie grew to manhood, married and had one son, however all three died early in life leaving no descendents. Alice became Mrs. J.M. Niblett, presently of Hughes Springs. Her children still living are Charlie, Clarence, Luckell, Blanche (Mrs. R.P. Mays), Bess (Mrs. L.T. Jordan) and Carney of Hughes Springs and Bertha (Mrs. Marvin Moseley) of Smithland. Mrs. W.A. McCain of Avinger is a granddaughter; her father was Carl Niblett, deceased. Mattie Orr married Carl Griffis, a nephew of the late Will Griffis of Avinger. Their descendants are Jack Griffis of Wichita Falls, Gent Griffis of Tulsa, Ok. and Willie Mae (Mrs. Robert Page) of Jefferson.

Samuel A. Orr spent the major part of his life in and around Avinger acquiring considerable real estate and other property in the course of a lifetime. In 1886 he married Lena Leota Adams, daughter of another pioneer family in this area.

The old Adams home two miles south of town on Mimm's Chapel road is still standing. It is occupied by Barney Jackson and family at this time. Another old Adams house, built later by Claude Adams, brother of Lena, used to be nearby but has since been torn down. It was at this house that a Mr. Holt killed a Mr. White about forth years ago. He attempted to escape from the authorities by masquerading in his wife's clothing. The Adams' ancestors came to Texas from Georgia.

Sam and Lena Orr's first home was a large, story and a half house built on the site of the present Claude McGarity home. On Dec. 31, 1900 they moved into town into what later became known as the old Orr Hotel. It is probably the oldest building in town still standing. About the same age if not a year or two older is the Pete Friday house on second street, now rental property belonging to Mrs. Cora Mitchell of Galveston.

The old Orr Hotel was built by Crawford Bruce in about 1880, shortly after the advent of the East Line and Red River narrow gauge railroad. The latter also known as the S.S. & S. (Sherman, Shreveport and Southers) used to pass right in front of the hotel which was the stopover place of train crews and passengers. The hotel's builder, Mr. Bruce, was noted for his big watermelons and fine horses. He was said to keep a lot full of thoroughbreds on hand all of the time just for show purposes. David A. (Captain) Hearne and Kit Avinger, two expert carpenters and builders, worked on the hotel during its construction; the latter narrowly escaped injury by almost sliding off its high roof. D.A. Hearne, also a brick mason, worked on the old L.A. Pattillo home and the old Methodist Church.

The J.R. McCain family followed the Bruces as occupants of the Hotel and the S. A. Orr family were the McCains successors. They ran it until the death of Mrs. Orr.

On one occasion there were eight newly wed couples in the Hotel at one time; among them were the A.V. Simpson's and the Henry Whitworths. Space at a premium, it became necessary to build Mr. Simpson an office out in the yard; he was a surveyor for the railroad at the time.

Children of S.A. and Lena Orr still living are Mrs. Claude (Nan) McGarity, Mrs. Jo Whitworth and Mrs. Clay (Mozelle) Allen of Avinger; Mrs. Joe (Cleo) Early of Linden; and F.L. (Sug) Orr of Dallas. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren are: Frank Early, and children Lydia Jean and Robert; Howard Early and children Joe Pat and John Frank; Mrs. S. A. Faviell, Jr. and son Richard; Mrs. J.R. Caver of Atlanta and Mrs. H.F. Lawson of Louisville, Ky and sons Sam and Tim.

A local descendent of James Orr of the original four brothers to come to Texas is Mrs. C.A. Webb. James married Miss Susan Alderson. They had several children one of whom was named James also.

James Orr, the second, married Miss Alice Sturdivant. One daughter, Leah, was born to this marriage prior to the death of the father. Mrs. Alice Sturdivant married again, to a Mr. Bruce, and had another daughter.

Leah Orr, while still a young girl, went to live with her aunt, Mrs. Anna Sturdivant Heilbron, who finished putting her through school. Upon reaching young womanhood, she married C.A. Webb. Mr. Webb's grandfather had come to this country from Ireland. His father, Charlie Webb, was a captin in the Confederate Army. He came to Texas from Alabama and first settled on the old road between Lassiter and Kellyville; later moved to place on Jefferson-Coffeyville road, (now owned by Rowells), and built a large gin there. He married a Miss Cotton.

Charley Aubrey Webb and Leah Orr had a big wedding in 1897 in the Dr. Sturdivant house, formerly L.A. Pattillo home. Officiating minister was the Rev. Martin. Dr. Starnes, now of Hughes Springs was the best man. Some of the guests were Ellie Cotton, Nellie Sturdivant, and Albert Bechton (depot agent in Avinger at the time.)

Mrs. Leah and the late Mr. C. A. Webb had three children. Elsie, now Mrs. L.E. Schmidt, resides in Frederickstown, Missouri; Susanne, Mrs. O.R. Gilbert of Quitman, and Ray Webb of Dallas. Ivan Schmidt of Hughes Springs and Gretchen Schmidt of Frederickstown, Mo., are grandchildren.

The family home then located just below the intersection of Highways 49 and 155 was completely destroyed by the tornado of 1921. Mr. and Mrs. Webb and Ray sought refuge in a railroad culvert behind the home place just in time to avoid being blown away. All of their belongings including a new Maxwell automobile were blown clear out of the community. About the only thing Mrs. Webb recalls finding intact was a little hat she had bought a short time before and then decided she didn't like. It was found hanging on a bush near the present colored school.