Edward S. Orr (1854 - 1926)
Ed Orr was the ex-mayor of Tacoma, Washington. He operated the tramway across the Chilkoot Pass for T. B. & Hugh C. Wallace, Tacoma capitalists from 1898 to 1900. He had a stagecoach freighting business from 1900 to 1904.1)
Ed Orr and William V. Tukey of Boise, Idaho were partners in an extensive freighting business on the Chilkoot Trail. They began their operation in Dyea, transporting miner's outfits to Lake Lindeman and Bennett. During construction of WP&YR they moved to the terminus of the tramway carrying heavy supplies from Crater Lake to the new rail line. They also freighted from the end of rail construction of steamers at Bennett. By 1899, they were living in Dawson, floating there in nine huge scows with a large outfit of horses, wagon, sled, pack animals, fittings, and feed. In Dawson, they did grading, clearing and development, and contracted to convey all kinds of freight to the creek. In two years they were the best known freighters in the city and were experts in moving heavy machinery. By 1900, they had a daily stage to Grand Forks and the following year bought out their competition, Hadley Stage Line and its regular service to Dominion and Gold Run creeks. They extended service to Hunker Creek and set up an office at Grand Forks. They ordered two twelve seat stages from the United States. They freighted railway equipment to build the Klondike Mines Railway, which probably put their freighting out of business.2)
Orr moved to Fairbanks and established the first stage line over the Valdez-Fairbanks Road (the Richardson Highway).3) In 1906, the Fairbanks representative of the Ed S. Orr company received communication from Mr. Orr that he was in Valdez and would stay there until after freeze-up when he would personally bring in the first mail of the season. Mrs. Orr and their son arrived in Fairbanks on 16 September on the Seattle #3 and planned to stay in for the winter.4)
Ed Orr was the mayor of Fairbanks and a congressman in 1910. He had a lumber business in Chehalis, Washington and died there.5)