HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY
CHAPTER 6
THE EARLY LIVE STOCK AND GRAIN TRADE
As early as 1825 T. F. Chapman began to buy grain of the farmers and ship the same by wagon to Leavenworth, for transportation down the river. About the same time, also, he began to buy live hogs, which were driven to Leavenworth, where they were slaughtered and packed. William Lindley engaged in the same business, though he made a specialty, rather, of the horse and cattle trade. He bought droves of three-year-old steers for an average of $10 per head, and drove them in herds of several hundred to Ohio, where there were extensive markets for them for some reason. He also bought droves of horses and had them driven through to Philadelphia and New York, where they were shipped to Cuba to be used on the large sugar plantations there. Dr. Reed also engaged in buying cattle and hogs, which he drove to Leavenworth, and sold to the large packers there. It is probable that Chapman packed the first pork at Paoli. Dr. Reed and T. V. Thornton seem to have been in partnership in 1833-34, and later in the buying of hogs and the packing of pork. They slaughtered and packed as high as 100 hogs in one season. It was about 1835-36, that Clendenin and Moorman began buying, slaughtering, packing and shipping hogs. Each erected a good substantial and rather large building in the town on Lick Creek, where he gave employment to ten or twelve men during the packing season-from November to March. Together, these men slaughtered as high as 500 hogs in one season. Then in the spring, after the roads became good, the pork was hauled to the Louisville market. Clendenin's packing house was destroyed with fire in 1840, but Moormnan continued several years later. Late in the twenties and during the thirties the above men flat-boated the products of the farm - corn, wheat, rye, oats, flour, pork, skins, etc., to the Southern markets. Lick Creek was then a "navigable stream." James Pearson bought herds of horses and drove them to market at an early day. He was perhaps the earliest buyer of live stock in the town, and Chapman and William Lindley next.
OTHER MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS
In about 1833 Campbell & Simpson erected the necessary buildings, equipped with suitable machinery, and began to card wool. At the same time or a little later they erected an oil-mill, and manufactured linseed oil, buying the flaxseed throughout the surrounding country. As every family raised flax in those days, the industry was common and profitable. About 1835 the Johnsons built the King grist-mill, which they operated until about the year 1850, when they sold out to John Fraser, who made some improvements, and in about 1855 sold out to the Truebloods, who remodeled the mill and made it much more valuable. At the same time, also, the Truebloods, Alfred and Hiram, began to pack pork and to keep store in the Andrews building. They also began the manufacture of cigars, buying large quantities of tobacco throughout the surrounding country. Alfred Trueblood was the active brother. He was venturesome and enterprising, and made a comfortable fortune at the various pursuits mentioned. The brothers had $30,000 worth of capital invested, and had during the busy seasons not less than thirty hired men. They packed 2,000 hogs during each season, and constituted the business life of the town, and gave activity to all other branches of business. Under them the grist-mill became useful and valuable. They made hundreds of thousands of cigars, and shipped tobacco in the leaf packed in huge hogeheads, in considerable quantity. Their store did a mammoth business. Reverses at last fell upon the brothers. Several of their consignments to New York houses were wrecked on the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic, entailing heavy losses, and their speculations and purchases became reckless, until at length, just before the last war, they were compelled to suspend business with heavy liabilities-$10,000 more than their assets, it is said. The grist-mill went to John C. Albert, and just at the close of the war to King & Stucker, who rebuilt it and made it firstclass. These men yet own and conduct it. They also started a woolen factory in an addition built to the mill, and for many years manufactured jeans, flannels, satinete, yarns, etc., of an excellent quality and in considerable quantity. This factory is yet in operating order, though its use is reduced to carding only. During this period, also, these men bought large quantities of wool.
THE BUSINESS MEN OF THE FORTIES
The leading business men during the decade of the forties were: White & Moorman, H. T. Moxley, William and Jonathan Lindley, Lindley & Hazlewood, Hiram Braxtan, J. G. Clendenin, Henry Jordon, W. A. Bowles, Polson & Co., William Cox, John, Samuel and William Wise, Charles H. Moore, E. Coffin & Co., Matthew Trueblood, Grigsby & Albert, F. Bartl, James Cosgrove, Wilford Hoggatt. Henry White, J. N. Springer, A. J. Simpson (wool-carder), W. W. Murray, Wible & Rigney, Newby & Braxtan, Z. Tate & Sons, and others. The doctors were: W. A. Bowles, W. F. Sherrod, R. R. Town, W. W. Dougherty, et al. It is said that William Hoggatt was the first Postmaster, and his widow the second. Patrick Dougherty served as Postmaster from June, 1836, to June, 1866, a period of thirty consecutive years. Titus, Anderson & Co. exhibited a circus and menagerie in Paoli in 1841.
THE BUSINESS MEN OF THE FIFTIES
The leading business men of the decade of the fifties were: Gary & Young, tailors; W. Hoechstiller, jeweler; R. C. Alderson, house-painter; White & Trueblood, drugs; Wilford Hoggatt, wagons and plows; S. P. Wicks, merchandise; H. T. Moxley, merchandise; Wible & Rigney, merchandise; Henry Miller, cabinet; J. E. Sage, merchandise; J. E. Buerk, shoemaker; M. N. Messick, cabinet; Hoggatt & Miller, plows, wagons, etc.; E. Hearch, clothing; Dr. H. F. Barnes, Newby & Braxtan, merchandise; Dillinger & Wells, merchandise; Charles Haury, jeweler; Jackson & Polson, hardware; Gottlieb Belzer, clothing; Alfred & Hiram Trueblood, merchandise, cigars, millers, pork-packers; Dr. W. C. Williamson, Dr. S. Dill, Dr. Voyles; White & Woodford, merchandise; E. Doan. cabinet; W. A. Jackson, ironware; William Hoppe, boots and shoes; Hiram Lindley, drugs; Sarah J. Averell, milliner; J. C. Smith, jeweler, C. Lomax, Daguerreotype artist, and others.
THE BUSINESS MEN OF THE SIXTIES
During the decade of the sixties the business men were: Graham & Lomax, boots and shoes; J. W. Payne, merchandise; J. G. Edmundson, merchandise; J. & H. Lindley, drugs; H. T. Moxley, Sebastian Kuri, boots and shoes; T. N. Braxtan, merchandise; J. C. & B. M. Lingle, saddles and harness; White & Woodford, merchandise; W. H. Jackson, hardware; A. Trueblood & Bro., Dr. J. N. Riley, Pro & Allen, wagons and plows; Ebling and Irwin, tailors; P. L. Warrall, cabinet; Cogswell & Pro, groceries; E. H. Comingore, groceries; Hamman, King & Co., millers: Bowles & Hunt, drugs; Dr. L. S. Bowles, James Warrell, saddles and harness; Andrew J. Rhodes, furniture, and others. The population of Paoli in 1820 was about 80; in 1830 was 300; in 1840 was 450; in 1850 was 500; in 1860 was 530; in 1870 was 700; in 1880 was about 750 and in 1884 was about 800.
SUNDRY ITEMS OF INTEREST
The first temperance movement in Paoli was in 1833-34, when, as stated above, a petition was presented to the County Board, asking that no more licenses be granted for the sale of liquor. The leaders of this movement were A. J. Simpson, David Hudelson, Mr. Scantland, Mr. Springer, et al. They failed to accomplish their object, but effected organization which had results in after years. The completion of the New Albany and Paoli Turnpike in 1839, and the establishment of the True American by Henry Comingore the same year, were important factors in the future growth of Paoli and Orange County. Business at the county seat almost doubled, and it is said that soon afterward the town had as great a population as at present, though this must be a mistake. Daily stages ran out on the pike. giving the town quick communication with the outer world-quick for that day. but wofully slow for the present. In 1850 a fine saxe-horn band was organized at Paoli and instructed by Mr. Eckert, teacher; at the conclusion of his course of instruction his class gave a public exhibition of their success. The efforts made by Paoli to get a railroad early in the fifties are narrated elsewhere. The Postmasters of Paoli have been William Hoggatt, Mrs. William Hoggatt, Patrick Dougherty from 1836 to 1866; H. T. Moxley 1866 to 1870; Mr. Knapp 1870 to 1872; A. J. Rhodes 1872 to 1881; J. P. Throop 1881.