Mrs. Parthena Trent Orr

Mrs. Parthena Orr, whose death was mentioned last week, was one among the oldest settlers north of Flint in this county.  She was born in Westmoreland county, Va., in 1805 and was 83 years and four months old at the time of her death.  She was married in Kentucky, in 1826, to Jefferson Orr, and the family came to Iowa in 1835 and settled on the John Wright farm in the 16th section of Franklin township in which neighborhood she has lived ever since.  Her husband died in 1964.  Her father, Rev. Wm. Trent came to Iowa with his family, and preached the first sermon ever preached in Des Moines Co., outside of Burlington.  He organized the old Baptist Society at what is now known as the Old Stone church.  Her brother, Martin Trent, was the second white man who was buried in Burlington.  Mother Orr leaves a family of 6 sons and 3 daughters, all well along in years.