Page:The Stained Glass Windows of the German Reformed Church in Brunswick, MD.pdf/20

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Clayton Kieffer Orrison was born in Martinsburg, Berkeley County, WV, in 1891, the first child of Clayton Elmer Orrison and Hester America Ramsburg. His parents were originally from Frederick County, MD, and they were living there again in 1896, so it is assumed that they were in Martinsburg temporarily, perhaps working in the B&O car yard, which was moved to Brunswick just a few years later. His 4 younger brothers would all be born in Maryland. He was the grandson of Charles and Lydia Orrison, who also have a stained glass window dedicated to them in the Reformed Church.

In the 1900 Census, Kieffer (as he was known) was living with his parents and two younger brothers in Brunswick, Ward 3 (the west side of town). His father was a conductor on the Railroad. In that same year, his mother gave birth to a baby boy, G. Russell Orrison, who died 23 days later of “marasmus,” a term used then for general malnutrition. Apparently his mother had eclampsia during the later stages of her pregnancy that led to this condition.

In the 1910 Census, Kieffer was living with his parents and three brothers on N. Maple Ave. in Brunswick (probably at 411 N. Maple Ave., where they were living when his father died in 1936). He was employed as a stenographer in the Railroad office.

On 5 June 1917, Kieffer, age 26, registered with the draft in Brunswick. He was single, and listed as his occupation, “Chief Clerk for the B&O Railroad.” He was described as being “short, stout,” and the notation was made that he had a disability: “One foot,” which obviously kept him out of the draft.

Kieffer died on 14 October 1918, at the age of 27, cause unknown. (His nephew, Paul Orrison, speculates that it may have been from the flu.). He is buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Frederick, MD.

Descendants: None.

Kieffer Orrison’s gravestone in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Frederick, MD

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