HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY
CHAPTER 6
MILLS OF ORLEANS
Samuel Lynd is said to have built the first mill in Orleans about the year 1830. It was an old style horse-mill, and was used for some time. He was instrumental in the erection of the first steam-mill, although he was not the entire owner. This continued to do the business for several years, and was superseded by the present mill which was built about 1857 or 1858 by Eli Wright & Brothers, who, after operating it for six or seven years, sold out to Mr. John Chenoweth, the present owner and proprietor. He has frequently repaired and remodeled it so that it is now one of the best mills in the country, and equipped with all necessary modern machinery. About ten years ago a large steam grist and sawmill was built by Mr. Newton Turley. This did a very extensive business in both grinding and sawing, and was considered one of the model mills in southern Indiana. It was totally destroyed by fire in 1883, and has not since been rebuilt.
PRESENT BUSINESS MEN
The following is a full list of the different persons and firms with their respective businesses now in Orleans, and will give a tolerably accurate idea of the present commercial status of the town: W. L. Reed, dry goods and hardware; John D. Carter, dry goods and notions; Walker & Son, dry goods, boots and shoes, and groceries; J. B. Gifford, dry goods and groceries; C. A. Conder, J. T. King & Co. and T. R. Webb, groceries; John Gonichio, restaurant and confectionery; J. H. Bowles and David Hardman, drugs; Mrs. L. C. Alers and Miss Lizzie Webb, milliners; Cox & Taylor and John Oches, furniture; Merriman & Mallory, carriages and agricultural implements; S. J. Glover, wagon-maker; John Ficklin, William Carter and Miller Girkin, blacksmiths; Reynolds & Co., sawmill; John Chenoweth, grist-mill and wool-carding; Salyards & Son and Albertson & Nugent, marble dealers; J. C. Hattabaugh, Charles H. Keeth and Henry Heil, boots and shoes; Oliver Turley, harness and saddles; J. H. Steers, Union Hotel; W. H. Graves, Phoenix Hotel and livery; J. Stanley, Stanley House; Newton Turley, dealer in general produce; Love Brothers, livery; W. F. Brewer, jeweler; J. Henson and M. A. Ashley, barbers; E. D. Laughlin, R. W. Lingle, B. J. Hon and May, physicians; J. J. Lingle and Thomas G. Mahan, attorneys; Emmett Harris, editor of Examiner.
INCORPORATION
Orleans was incorporated as early as the year 1829, and Ezekiel Blackwell was first President of the Board of Trustees. The town was too small, however, to support these municipal expenses, and all effort at maintaining its incorporation was soon abandoned. It is said that at this time the town contained only about thirty-five houses. A second incorporation was effected in the fall of 1865, the election to decide the question of corporation or no corporation being on the 3d of October in that year, with David L. Barker, John Laswell and W. B. McDonald Judge and Inspectors. There were seventy-five votes cast in all, sixty-one for and fourteen against incorporating. On the 4th of December following the Board of County Commissioners declared it duly incorporated, and on the 22d of the same month an election was held for officers. This resulted in electing the following persons as Trustees for the First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Wards respectively: A. W. Gray, John Vestal, Henry Lingle, Samuel H. Glenn and Elbert Jeter. David L. Barker was elected Clerk and Treasurer, and Thomas N. Collins, Marshal and Assessor. Immediately after this the Trustees met and were sworn by James W. Webb, a Notary Public, and organized by electing Samuel H. Glenn President of the Board. They then adjourned until December 29, at which time they met and passed several important ordinances, the first one of which was "for protecting public morality, order and safety;" the second "for regulating and protecting streets, alleys, sidewalks, shade trees, etc.;" the third "regulating licenses and providing a penalty for the violation thereof." Forty printed copies of these were ordered, and on January 15, 1866, the Board met to inspect these copies and the record. The meetings of this first Board were held in the shop of David L. Barker. The first annual election was held May 8, 1866, with the following result: Trustees, Thomas Elrod, John Vestal, Henry Lingle, S. H. Glenn and G. H. Hon; Clerk and Treasurer, David L. Barker; Marshal and Assessor, Samuel Lingle. Marshal Collins reported having received $34 on license, and the Treasurer reported having received $30, and paid out $69.15, leaving the town in debt to him the sum of $39.15. At the first meeting of the new Board, May 14, 1866, a tax of 25 cents on the $100 and 25 cents on each poll was ordered to be levied and collected "for the purpose of building a lock-up, and other contingent expenses during the ensuing year." The next record of a Board meeting was in October following, when the Marshal reported $91.02 his collections, and the Treasurer was instructed to promptly collect all unpaid taxes, and to "defend in court the suit appealed by Joseph Kauffman from the Justice of the Peace, and if necessary to employ an attorney for the same." At the election in 1867 the same officers were re-elected, excepting S. B. A. Conder in place of Marshal Lingle. About this time a lethargy fell over the municipality, and for a time it seemed that the town organization was about to expire. This continued until 1871, when the next election after the one just spoken of occurred. At that time Jacob H. Stephens, John Chenoweth, William C. R. Kemp, Thomas D. Lindsey and Jeptha S. Jeter were chosen Trustees. John J. Lingle, Clerk and Treasurer, and Charles L. Freeman. Marshal and Assessor. This Board met at the shop of Jeter & Irwin, electing William C. R. Kemp, President F. A. Sears, A. F. Allen and S. B. A. Conder were appointed as School Trustees, but Allen declining, H. Lingle was appointed in his place. In April, 1873, the town was re-districted into three wards instead of five, as before, and each Trustee thereafter elected was to receive 25 cents for each Board meeting he was in attendance. Under the new order John D. Carter, Thomas N. Taylor and Volney T. Moore were Trustees, with Taylor as President.
SCHOOLHOUSE BONDS
On February 27, 1874, it was ordained by the Board of Trustees "that there be procured fifty $100 bonds for the payment of the school building situated on the public square, principal and interest payable at Orleans, Ind. Interest at 6 per cent per annum." This building was erected in 1864 on what is known in the original plat of the town as Congress Square. It was done by a stock company, or it might almost be said, by public subscription, the cost being $9,000. It was generally considered at the time of purchase by the town to be something of a bargain a $5,000. The last of this debt was paid in 1880, amounting at that time to $1,276.41. So rapid and prompt a payment as this is a thing not often noticed in the history of towns. The time was less than six years, which would make over $1,000 yearly, counting the interest - a large sum for a town of this size to turn off each year besides its other current expenses. The present School Trustees are Thomas R. Webb, J. H. Steers and Thomas G. Mahan.
OTHER PUBLIC AFFAIRS
There are two wells in the town that are kept up by public money. One of these is at the corner of Mr. Salyard’s property in the northwest part of town, and the other is at the southeast corner of the public square. In March 1879 G. W. Sutherland was awarded the contract for putting 100 shade trees on Seminary Square for $35. The wisdom of this is manifest, for the yard already presents a beautiful and alluring scene, contrasting agreeably with the surrounding bustle of business. In June, 1882, Dr. R. W. Lingle was elected Secretary of the Board of Health, and after serving with satisfaction for one year, was re-elected by a full vote of the Board. Benton J. Hon was for several years Clerk and Treasurer, and his signature to the town records is a familiar sight on nearly every page, recording the transactions of the Board while he held that office. The present Trustees are E. W. Moore, J. J. Cox and E. J. Salyards, the first acting as President. Mr. Charles E. Allen is the efficient and accommodating Clerk.