A History of Orange Page: 1
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A History of Orange
by
Robert Everett Russell - January 25, 1911
(Edited by Loren Le Blanc)
My friends have often urged me to write a history of Orange. They feel that
I ought to know and remember everything about Orange. Some are curious as to
whether I have written notes. By no means, I keep it all in my head.
Among the first to settle here on the bluff were the Harmons, Reynolds,
Goodens, Jordans, Taylors, and as early as 1820 or 21, the Garners live out at what
is now called Black's Ferry or Cow Bayou.' Mr. and Mrs. Garner, the great
grandparents of our county commissioner, Jack Garner, died and were buried there
in 1822 or 23. The first settlement on the river was at least seventy years ago. I
have been told by persons older than I that it has been a shingle and lumber market
for that length of time.
The county of Orange was organized in April, 1852.2 It was at one time a
part of both Jefferson and Jasper counties. At the time my father moved here the
settlement was called Green's Bluff. The name was afterwards changed to
Madison, and later, to Orange. Earlier than that, according to T. S. McFarland
Diary,4 Orange was called Pine Bluff and there was a town laid out near here called
Huntley in honor of General Memucan Hunt.) He headed the Boundary Line
Commission that surveyed the boundary line between the United States and Texas
in 1840.
Within the past few years a dispute has arisen between the states of Texas
and Louisiana as to whether the old river or the Narrows are the boundary between
Texas and Louisiana, and whether the island formed between the old river and the
Narrows belongs to Texas or Louisiana. However, according to the survey made in
May of 1840, the old river is the boundary and the island belongs to Texas. If the
state of Texas had the evidence that is recorded in the T. S. McFarland Diary, this
lawsuit would have been decided in favor of Texas, and it may not, at this time, be
too late for a judgment favorable to Texas. It is now nearly seventy-one years since
this information was written.
The commission that ran the line between the United States and Texas in
1840 was composed of Judge John W. Overton of the United States and George W.
Smythe6 of Jasper, representing Texas. General Memucan Hunt had been a member
of the commission and the head of it until May 22, 1840 when he was relieved by
Mr. George W. Smythe here at Pine Bluff. Major Grayam of the United States and
Lieutenant McGuire of Texas were the surveyors. Among the many others in the
surveying party were a Mr. Bee and Mr. Graham. After being put in charge, Mr. G.
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Orange County Historical Society (Tex.). A History of Orange, book, 1998; Orange, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth312851/m1/5/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Orange County Historical Society.