William Orton (businessman)

William Orton was born in Cuba, New York on June 14, 1826.^[3] He was trained as a printer and worked on a newspaper in the village of Cuba.^[4] He graduated from the State Normal School (now the State University of New York at Albany) in 1847, and received his certification as a teacher.^[5]

He taught at a school in Cuba, and then moved to Geneva to become a clerk in a bookstore.^[6] In 1852 Orton moved to Buffalo, where he became a partner in a publishing company called Derby, Orton & Co.^[6]

In 1858 Orton moved to New York City to become a partner in another publishing company, Miller & Orton.^[6] This firm went out of business two years later, with Orton moving to the bookselling and publishing firm of J. G. Gregory & Co. as managing clerk.^[6]

A Republican and supporter of the Union during the American Civil War, Orton was elected to New York City's Common Council in 1860, and served one term.^[7]

From 1862 to 1865 he was federal Collector of Revenue for the 6th district of New York.^[8] In 1865 Orton was appointed Commissioner of Internal Revenue, but he served at this post in Washington, D.C. for only four months before resigning to resume his business career.^[9][10]

Orton was appointed president of the United States Telegraph Company in the fall of 1865.^[11] When this company merged with Western Union in 1866 Orton was appointed Western Union's vice president.^[12] He also studied law, and attained admission to the bar in 1867.^[13] In 1867 Jeptha Wade resigned as president of Western Union, and Orton succeeded him.^[14] In addition to his position at Western Union, Orton was president of the Gold and Stock Telegraph Company,^[15] International Ocean Telegraph Company, and Atlantic and Southern Telegraph Company.^[16]

In 1871 President Ulysses S. Grant offered the position of Collector of the Port of New York to John Augustus Griswold, who declined.^[17] Grant then offered to nominate Orton, who also declined.^[17] Griswold and Orton both recommended Chester A. Arthur, who received the appointment.^[17]

Orton was a delegate to the 1872 and 1876 Republican National Conventions.^[18]

He was active in the Episcopal Church, and served as a vestryman at New York City's Church of the Holy Apostles.^[19]

Orton died at his home in New York City on April 22, 1878.^[20] He was buried at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York.^[21] He was succeeded by Norvin Green as the head of Western Union.^[22]

In 1852 Orton married Agnes J. Gillespie of Buffalo.^[23] They were the parents of eight children: Jessie; Alice; William, Jr.; James; Agnes; M. Virginia; Robert; and Grosvenor.^[23]