Alpha F. Orr, born April 28, 1860, in Jersey City, New Jersey, was a distinguished attorney based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Raised in Florence, New York, and educated at Whitestown Seminary and Hamilton College, Orr pursued law, being admitted to the bar in 1882. He initially practiced in Rome and Camden, New York, before relocating to Sioux Falls in 1889, where he quickly became a prominent legal figure. A committed Republican, Orr was active in politics, though he primarily focused on his legal practice. He married Eva E. Green and was involved in the Elks and Knights of Pythias.
Alpha F. Orr, attorney at law, Sioux Falls, was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, April 28, 1860, the son of James and Susan (Royle) Orr. When two years old he was taken by his parents to Florence, New York, where he spent his childhood and youth and received his preliminary education. After finishing the public-school course, he attended Whitestown Seminary, and from that institution became a student of Hamilton College, where he pursued his literary studies for a period of two years. On quitting college he took up the study of law and in 1882 was admitted to the bar in the city of Rochester, New York, after which he opened an office in Rome, New York, where he practiced for one year. From the latter place Mr. Orr went to Camden, New York, where he soon built up a lucrative professional business and achieved marked prestige in legal circles. He continued in that city until the fall of 1889 when he came to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he has since been actively engaged in professional work, achieving meanwhile distinctive precedence as an able lawyer and successful practitioner.
Mr. Orr is an untiring worker, a close student with a profound knowledge of jurisprudence and occupies a prominent place among the leading lawyers of his adopted state. While devoted to his profession, he is also deeply interested in politics and ever since locating in his present field of labor he has been active in upholding the principles of the Republican party and zealous in his efforts for its success.
Mr. Orr has never been an office seeker nor an aspirant for any kind of public distinction, notwithstanding which he is always an active and influential participant in political campaigns, taking the field in the interest of his party’s candidate and rendering valuable service on the hustings. He is an able and logical speaker, a clear, concise reasoner, and by his eloquence has contributed much to the success of the ticket, not only in local affairs, but throughout the state. He has served one term as city attorney of Sioux Falls, aside from which he has held no office, preferring the duties of his profession and the simple title of citizen to any honors within the power of the people to bestow. Mr. Orr has a pleasing personality, enjoys high professional and social standing and is one of the popular men of the city in which he resides. He is identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias, and at the present time holds the title of past chancellor in the latter organization. He is a married man and has a pleasant and attractive home in Sioux Falls, his wife having formerly been Miss Eva E. Green, of Knoxboro, New York.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.