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History of Orange County
Introduction
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We might here remark, that the great source of corruptions in the etymologies of names, both of places and men, consists in the natural propensity of mankind to substitute in the place of that which is obscure or difficult, a more common and notorious appellation, suggested and warranted by affinity of sound.
The term Etymology includes the tracing of the different signification’s of a word, and shows how one proceeds from another, which is of great extent and difficulty; and though not well adapted for the amusement or instruction of all classes of readers, is curious and interesting. The history of some words would be more amusing than the lives of half the people found in our common biographies.
In executing this paper, we will endeavor, as far as our knowledge of localities enables us, to enumerate,
1st, The names of all places, villages, streams of water, mountains, hills, &c., in the county, under the head of the town in which they are located.
2nd, The historical reasons, if any, why so named.
3rd, The etymology of the name, and the tradition, if any, connected with the name or place.
4th, Short biographical sketches of early settlers, &.
We shall be brief as possible, and not run out much into historical detail, as that might be an infringement upon some other department. In an historical point of view, we shall aim to state those things only which are of a domestic and local character, not found in print, resting wholly, or nearly so, in the memory of the present generation; and thus chronicle events somewhat below the dignity of history; and which the historic muse in her most careless stroll along the-track of time—richly strewed with flowers of every color, fragrance and magnitude—would not deign to gather or weave into a garland. Doing this, we shall deal as little as possible with fancy, and bold a tight reign on our imagination, indulging neither without apprising the reader we are speculating on the point. Any other course would be false and deceptive. In all candor, however, we are free to proclaim that we shall appropriate and impress into our service, as public property, all we read in books and newspapers, pick up in conversation along street, or find treasured in the memory of our citizens, which in any way may add interest or truthfulness to our paper. After this decIaration of intent and motive, we trust no one will charge us with a felonious appriation of their worthless goods and chattles. We say worthless to them without interesting and valuable to us, and without which, we do not well see how we could execute the object we have in view. All such claimants will be held on derision, for they must be content with the honor of having their fragments gathered up and spread before the public, where they may be of some present and future benefit. We come in the character of a gleaner, with a rake in hand, and the bundles gathered up, give back to the people, for our object is of a public character and publicly executed.
In conclusion, we must be permitted to remark, that never flaying thought on the subject till recently—possessing little information relative to the historical reasons for our county names and local traditions, and knowing absolutely nothing of the Saxon, German and Indian languages, from which many are derived, we have small hopes of executing the task to our own satisfaction, or to the edification or amusement of the Association. Nay, failure stares us in the face, and almost frightens us from the effort. No one will infer our ability from the tenor of our introductory remarks, for we frankly confess that what is here said, calculated to leave such an impression, is said in jest only, and now in time, as danger comes up clearly in view, we make a virtue of necessity, openly confess our cowardice, and that we are not a strong man armed for the battle. We shall truly and honestly, however, endeavor to do all that we can, to make it as perfect and correspondent with truth and fact as our information will warrant. The facts and statements will be made with the same belief of their truth that we would state them in a court of justice, when speaking of information derived from others. In many instances we may be in error from misconception and false information. Some things may be thrown in now and then to light up the sombre dulness of the subject, which some may think misplaced and undignified; but we trust they will receive what is said in the same temper and spirit in which they are proffered, separate the true from the false, fact from fiction, and smile only at our attempts at the light and frivolous. As an atonement for such offence, and that the dignity and historical reputation of the Association may be left unsullied in honor, and unimpeached for want of true gravity and intelligence, we promise to expunge all such objectionable matter from our next edition, personally assuming the responsibility of this.