Orlan P. Whitcomb

Orlan P. Whitcomb
3rd Auditor of Minnesota
In office
1873–1882
Preceded byCharles McIlrath
Succeeded byWilliam W. Braden
Personal details
BornOrlan Pliny Whitcomb
(1831-12-18)December 18, 1831
DiedFebruary 7, 1898(1898-02-07) (aged 66)
PartyRepublican
OccupationPolitician, farmer

Orlan Pliny Whitcomb (December 18, 1831 – February 7, 1898) was an American farmer and politician who served as the third state auditor of Minnesota from 1873 to 1882 as a member of the Republican Party.

Whitcomb was born in Granville, New York. He settled in Rochester, Minnesota Territory on a farm in 1855. He served as county treasurer from 1861 to 1869. Whitcomb served as Minnesota State Auditor from 1873 to 1882. He died in Mankato, Minnesota.[1][2][3]

Electoral history

1872

1872 Minnesota State Auditor election[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Orlan (O.P.) Whitcomb 51,190 59.48
Democratic Albert Scheffer 34,817 40.45
Write-in 62 0.07
Total votes 86,069 100.00
Republican hold

1875

1875 Minnesota State Auditor election[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Orlan (O.P.) Whitcomb (incumbent) 45,831 55.01
Democratic Patrick H. (P.H.) Rahilly 35,994 43.20
Temperance Asa B. Hutchinson 1,493 1.79
Total votes 83,318 100.00
Republican hold

1878

1878 Minnesota State Auditor election[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Orlan (O.P.) Whitcomb (incumbent) 60,059 55.50
Democratic Mahlon Black 40,119 37.07
Greenback Orin H. (O.H.) Page 6,049 5.59
Write-in 1,131 1.05
Prohibition Theodore G. (T.G.) Carter 856 0.79
Total votes 108,814 100.00
Republican hold

Notes

  1. ^ 'Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society-Minnesota Biographies 1655-1912,' volume XIV, Warren Upham/Rose Barteau Dunlap-editors, Minnesota State Historical Society, Saint Paul, Minnesota: 1912, Biographical Sketch of Orlan Pliny Whitcomb,' pg. 846-847
  2. ^ 'O.P. Whitcomb-death,' Albert Lea Freeborn County Standard, March 16, 1898
  3. ^ "Orlen (O.P.) Whitcomb Candidate". Minnesota Historical Election Archive. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  4. ^ "Auditor, 1872 Election". Minnesota Historical Election Archive. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  5. ^ "Auditor, 1875 Election". Minnesota Historical Election Archive. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  6. ^ "Auditor, 1878 Election". Minnesota Historical Election Archive. Retrieved February 23, 2026.