Orrville

The city of Orrvile, Ohio is situated in Wayne County, Ohio. In 1814, Revolutionary War veteran James Taggart arrived to stake out the claim which was granted to him due to his war service He claimed 160 acres in the middle of what is modern-day Orrville, just east of Main Street. He soon returned to his home in Pennsylvania, but the next year, his sons Robert and Samuel came to settle on the land. Samuel built the first house in 1828, a house that is still standing, on East Fike Street. During the mid-1800s, the house was part of the chain of the Underground Railway. In 1851, the Pittsburgh and Fort Wayne Railroad was said to be coming through the area, and was, of course, a topic of conversation among the settlers. Two of the local settlers, Judge Smith Orr and Christian Horst were talking about it, and Mr. Horst said he was leaving because he didn't want to be living on land that was going to be cut up by the railroad. Judge took the opportunity and bought Mr. Horst's land, 80 acres, moving his family into the Horst house, which is also still standing. That house is now part of the Orrville Historical Museum on West Market Street. Judge Orr talked the railroad company into erecting a water tower for the town, and shortly thereafter, he went into business with William Gailey and the two of them started a saw mill which would furnish wood for the steam engines. In 1852, 42 town lots of ten acres each located north of the railroad sold for $50 apiece. Judge Orr began selling parcels of the land he bought from Mr. Horst on either side of West Market Street. The first plat of the town was made by Jesse Straughn, who named the town Orrville. Orrville was incorporated in 1864, and William Gailey was the first mayor. The J.M. Smucker Co. has its headquarters in Orrville.

Regular Blogs