James Lawrence Orr, Jr. was born in Abbeville County, South Carolina on August 29, 1852 to James L. Orr (1822 - 1873), and Mary Jane Marshall Orr (1826 - 1898).  His father had been a state legislator, member of Congress, judge, governor of South Carolina, 1866-1868, and United States minister to Russia.

A lawyer by profession, the younger Orr served in the S.C. legislature for two terms beginning in 1874. Orr moved to Greenville in 1880 and established a law practice, Wells and Orr, with George G. Wells.

Orr married Elizabeth Bates Hammett (1853-1920), on November 12, 1873.  She was the daughter of H.P. [Henry Pinckney] Hammett (1822-1891) and Deborah Jane Bates (1829 - 1902). 

H.P. Hammett was a founder of Piedmont Manufacturing Company.  Upon Hammett’s death in 1891, James L. Orr served as an Executor of his estate. Orr became president of Piedmont Manufacturing Company.  On June 27, 1899, Orr became Vice President of American Spinning Company. That same year Orr established Orr Cotton Mills in Anderson, S.C. and served as its first president. 

Orr died on February 26, 1905 at age 52 in Greenville.