HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY
CHAPTER 6
ORANGEVILLE
On the 14th day of June, 1849, Samuel Hicks, Harvey Denny and Nathaniel B. Wilson laid out a town on the southeast quarter of Section 6, Township 2 north, Range 1 west. This town, consisting of fifty-eight lots, was named Orangeville, and something of the spirit of its founders may be caught from the following stipulation placed in the record at the same time: "The proprietors of the said town of Orangeville do mutually covenant and agree that we and our successors in title forever will not make, sell or dispose of, or permit others to make, sell or dispose of spirituous liquors, except for medicinal or mechanical purposes, in or contiguous to the said town of Orangeville. For each day’s violation of the above covenant the violator shall pay five dollars, as in any case of debt, upon the complaint of any citizen of said town of Orangeville, to be applied to the district school in which the said town of Orangeville is situated." The object aimed at by this agreement is indeed a commendable one, but whether or not such a contract would be binding on everybody "forever" is a matter of much doubt. Nevertheless, it is surely a harmless means to obtain a worthy end, and in this case it seems to have worked the desired effect, as there has never yet been a saloon or retail liquor establishment of any kind in the town. Long may Orangeville retain its present reputation for temperate and moral habits! It is situated at what is usually known as the "rise of Lost River," where the water springs from the earth at the foot of a large rock, affording a stream sufficient to be dignified with the name of river. A short distance below this is situated the flouring-mill now owned by Samuel Hicks, one of the original proprietors of the town. The first mill here was built and owned by Jacob Shirley, probably as early as 1820, and it was operated by an undershot water-wheel. The building was made of logs, as was nearly everything else in the line of architecture at that date in Orange County. This mill has changed owners several times, but for several years has been controlled by Mr. Hicks at different times. The last time it came to his hands he changed the location and rebuilt, at the same time putting in new machinery, so that it can now be operated by either steam or water power.
About the year 1850 William P. Hobbs began doing the first trade in general merchandise that was ever carried on at Orangeville, and at nearly the same time was appointed the first Postmaster of the place. He continued in his business for about three years when he sold to Van R. Noblitt and Andrew Elrod, the former of whom has remained in trade there ever since. John B. Buskirk succeeded Mr. Hobbs as Postmaster, and since then John A. Ritter and Van R. Noblitt have held the office, the last since 1869 continuously.
There is at present a daily mail, and it is on the route from Mitchell to Jasper, going each way every day. The firms of Ritter & Buskirk, Buskirk & Collins, Noblitt & Buskirk, Davis & Brown and H. H. Polson & Son, have all, in their turn done the leading trade of the place. Lewis Webb had a drug store about 1876, and Dr. Ritter also kept a full line of medicines for several years. Asbury Knight kept a sort of huckster shop here for a short time.
Harrison Woods was the first blacksmith and after him Richard Pruett and many others. Robert Knight is the present "Village Blacksmith," and he finds but little time to repose in the shade of any spreading chestnut. John Whittington followed wagon-making for several years, and used to turn out two-horse wagons for $15. Of course there were others at higher prices, but then people were not so proud nor wealthy either, and a $15 wagon was good enough for most folks. George Faucett also worked at this considerably in early times, and Dr. Ritter now has a wagon that he says was made by Faucett nearly sixty years ago.
Dr. John A. Ritter, one of the prominent and respected citizens of the county, was the first physician at Orangeville, where he settled in 1850, and has ever since been in the active practice of his profession. Other physicians here have been Dr. A. L. Goodwin, Dr. Charles Reed. Dr. Elias Albertson, Dr. Charles M. Riley and Dr. Carter, the last coming in 1856, and has ever since then been associated with Dr. Ritter.
A lodge of Odd Fellows, No. 113, is located here. It was organized June 30, 1852, at Orleans, with M. L. Deal, J. B. Wilson, Edward Barr, W. L. Vanoy and L. S. Coffin as petitioners. The following were the charter members: John Baker, William C. R. Kemp, George Clark, Jeremiah Reed, Thomas W. Knox and John G. Huff. Sometime after this the lodge was changed to Orangeville, where it has been successful, owning the building in which they meet, and have over $1,000 at interest, and a present membership of twenty-five. There was also a lodge of the Patrons of Husbandry that flourished here for a while during the period when that organization was in its glory.VALEENE
Within the bounds of Southeast Township there is but one town. This is Valeene, located a little west of the center, on the southwest quarter of Section 10, and the northwest quarter of Section 15, Township 1 south, and Range 1 east. It was laid out April 10, 1837, by John Hollowell, Sr., and John Hollowell, Jr., who at the same time donated Lot No. 21 to the public for school purposes. The first store in the township is said to have been kept by Samuel Stalcup, one and a half miles east of Valeene, at his residence, about the year 1836. He soon after sold to Isaac Roach who moved it to Valeene making the first store of that place. Since then the following persons have been doing a general merchandise trade there: William Wellman, Irvin Polson, John Briggs, John Maxedon and Dr. Lee Hazlewood, partners, Joseph Ferguson, Thomas Maxedon, Reed Stalcup, J. W. Montgomery & Co., Albert Montgomery & Co. and J. W. Sloan, these last two being now in business. The earlier merchants were compelled to haul all their goods from Louisville by wagons, but since the building of what is known as the Air Line Railroad, all goods are shipped to Marengo on that road, and thence carted to Valeene. The postoffice was established about the year 1840, with William Holaday as the first Postmaster. Since then William Wellman, William Stalcup, Henry Smith, John Walton, John Maxedon, Pearson Maxedon. J. W. Montgomery and J. W. Sloan have held that office, the last-named gentleman being the present incumbent. The first postal route that brought mail to Valeene was from Leavenworth to Paoli, which continued until November, 1882, and since that time has been brought from Marengo on the Air Line. On account of the prevailing good health, physicians have been rather shy of this town. Dr. Lee Hazlewood, now one of its honored and respected citizens, was the first doctor that located there, coming in the spring of 1841. Dr. John C. Dyer came in 1852, and after a few months ]eft, as did Dr. Goodwin in 1873. Dr. Robert Maxedon practiced here from 1873 to 1875. Dr. George R. Hazlewood began practice in 1879 in company with his father, and has remained with him ever since.
A lodge of Odd Fellows, known as Valeene Lodge, No. 558, was organized here in 1879. Its first officers were: J. W. Montgomery. N. G.; Pearson Maxedon, V. G. ; S. S. Murphy, Secretary; Robert Wood. Treasurer; Lee Hazlewood, R. S. N. G.; G. R. Hazlewood, L. S. N. G.; Isaac Free, R. S. V. G.; Emanuel Smith, L. S. V. G. These six persons appear as charter members: J. W. Montgomery, S. S. Murphy, Emanuel Smith, Pearson Maxedon, Robert Wood and Joseph Bird. The lodge has been prosperous and has about forty members at present.