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Reprinted from the Oakes Co., ND newspaper: Rites for Henry Orn Yesterday:
Death Comes to Pioneer Resident at Age of 81; Settled in Sargent County in Year 1881 Another pioneer answered the final summons this week when Henry Orn was taken from our midst at 9:00 o'clock Sunday evening, Jan. 21 News of his passing came as a great shock to all for little had even his immediate family thought that the end was so near.
The story of Mr. Orn's life indeed resembles that of fiction, one dating back to time of which so few of us realize the stern realities which faced the men and women who carved from these plains a commonwealth of reality. Serious in life, quiet in demeanor and positive in action, he had created for himself a reputation of one who accomplished that which he set out to do.
In his original township of Denver in Sargent county he had filled a niche of usefulness since settling there in 1884. With his brother, the late Charles Orn, he had turned virgin soil on a neighboring tract of land. As their life began on these priaries the two men lived the lives of bachelors. Their homesteads were located about eight miles northeast of Crete. That place continued as home to him until 1907 when he purchased and moved to the farm he owned since, 2 1/2 miles northwest of Crete. Successful in his every venture, Mr. Orn retired from active farm work in 1914 when the family home was established in Oakes. Thi had since been his home. In Denver township he had served in many capacities, including membership on the school and township boards. When Mr. Orn settled on his homestead Harlem was a flourishing city and his post office . Grain and produce were then taken to and sold in either Englevale or Harlem. Previous to coming to the present Sargent county he had worked for two years in the coal mines of Michigan.
A peculiar connection in the lives of Henry and Charles Orn, the two who homesteaded together, is noted in the fact that when Henry's brother, Charles, died Aug. 30, 1937 he was 81 years, 7 months and 8 days old. Henry Orn's span of life was just 21 days greater than that of his brother.
On the 22nd day of October, 1885, Mr. Orn had found for himself the girl of his dreams and together, in a borrowed lumber wagon, they drove to Lisbon and there took their marriage vows that day. He and the same girl, once known as Helena Anderson, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in Oakes in 1935. Mrs. Orn passed away Nov. 5, 1936.
Henry Orn was born at Shinnage, Ostergotland, Sweden, May 23, 1858. He was 81 years, 7 months and 29 days of age when death came. He had been ill but ten days previous to his death. Mr. Orn was moved from his home to Mercy Hospital, Saturday, Jan. 20, and died the following day from pneumonia. At no time did he suffer from illness and death came in the same way in which he had lived--peacefully. HARDCOPIES: Pioneer Records - 15 pages, including above obituary and biography of Henry's life
Naturalization records (1st & 2nd): 1st from Ransom Co. 5/30/1882, 2nd from Ransom Co. 10/30/1890. |