Orr, Alexander Brown

Submitted by Mike Miller

Orr, Alexander Brown, secretary-treasurer of the Bluefields Fruit & Steamship Co., and president of Orr-Laubenheimer Co., Mobile, Ala., is a son of William K. and Catherine (Holloway) Orr, and was born near Selma, Ala., June 17, 1860. William K. Orr, the father, was born at Talladega, Ala., in the year 1810. He manufactured and operated cotton gins at Selma, Ala., and was in active business there until the time of his death in 1896. He is survived by his wife, who is a resident of Selma at this time. Alexander Brown Orr, the son and subject of this sketch, passed his youth in the locality of his birth, near Selma, where he attended the public schools. After attaining his 18th year he attended Moore's Business College, Atlanta, Ga., and when the course of preparation had been completed at that institution returned to Selma and became associated with merchandising business, which continued until he had reached the age of 28 years, when he removed to Nicaragua, and there engaged in mercantile business and in buying crude rubber. In 1893 he began exporting bananas to Mobile, Ala., under the name of the Orr-Laubenheimer Co. This company has remained in the business to this time and, in addition to the original business, now operates steamers to Guatemala and British Honduras. At present the Nicaraguan business is known as the Bluefields Fruit & Steamship Co., of which Mr. Orr is secretary and treasurer. He is also president of the Orr-Laubenheimer Co. In the year 1898 Mr. Orr was married to Miss Mamie Mitchell, daughter of Thomas J. Mitchell, of Nashville, Tenn. Since their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Orr have resided at 7307 St. Charles avenue, New Orleans. They have 2 children, namely: Benjamin Palmer and Garland Alexander Orr.

Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 339-340. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.