Robert Orr, Sr.

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     Robert Orr was born 2 Aug 1803 at Kilbirnie, Ayreshire, Scotland the son of James Orr and Ann Houston. He was a boilermaker by trade, being employed at one of the large woolen mill factories, where the production of woolen fabrics were manufactured.

     Robert Orr maried Elizabeth McQueen, daughter of Osborne McQueen and Elizabeth Copeland and he was baptised into the church 28 July 1847 at Kilbirnie, Scotland. Elizabeth McQueen was born 15 June 1806  in Kelleylay, Down Ireland.  They sailed from LIverpool, England on the ship Falcon 28 March 1853 when Robert was 49 and Elizabeth 47.  Robert signed on as an engine keeper. With them listed on the shipping records were James 20, Robert 17, Mtthew 15, Elizabeth 12, Ann 9 and John 7.  Elder Cornelius Bagnall was PResident of the company.

     Robert Orr and Elizabeth McQueen were the parents of 10 children: Mary, Thomas, James, Robert C, Robert Orr Jr, Matthew, Elizabeth, John, Annie, and John.

     They arrived in Salt Lake October 16th 1853 and after arriving made there home in Grantsville, Tooele County,  Utah.  However, upon arrival in Utah the family made their first home in the city where the father and older boys were employed hauling granite stone from the quarry in Little Cottonwood Canyon to the Salt Lake City temple yard.

     After several years the family moved to Tooele county and settles in Grantsville in 1856 where Robert built a log house on the corner of Clark and Cooley streets, and started a store which they operated for many years.  Elizabeth McQueen served as midwife for many years here in Grantsville. She was present when J. Rueben Clark was born.

     Robert Orr died Nov. 7, 1887 and was buried in the Grantsville cemetery.
                                                          -Taken from a history written by Ella Or Jacobsen

     Orr is a common Scots surname and the name of an old Renfrewshire family. It is numerous in the west end of the shire of Renfrew in the Parrish of Lochwinnooh.  The Orr name dated back in history as far ar 1296.
     The McGreggors were a pround fighting clan in Scotland and to escape from their enemies they fled to northern Ireland and to hide their identity some of them took the name of the last 2 letters in McGreggor, and as some say someday we may well find our ancestors in Northern Ireland for there are many Patrick Orr's among out ancestors.