Harry Orwig Contributed by Sharon Komraus





Harry I. Orwig, County Surveyor, residing at Big Rapids, was born at Newport Portage Co., Ohio, Aug. 2, 1857, and is the son of John and Hannah (Hoover) Orwig. In 1866 his father bought a farm containing 40 acres of land in the vicinity of St. Louis, Gratiot Co., Mich., where Mr. Orwig was reared until 1874, when he went to Valparaiso, Porter Co., Ind., and attended the Northern Indiana Normal School and Business Institute two years. He went to the high school at St. Louis, and also studied under private tutors, interspersing his educational course with teaching, which profession he followed six years. In March, 1881, he came to Big Rapids, and engaged with Wm. M. Jacques, City Engineer and County Surveyor. A year later he was appointed Deputy to the latter office, and in the fall of 1882 was elected on the Republican ticket, to the official position he now holds.