City Directories and History: Writing in 1898, A. S. Salley, Jr. remarked that the “h” had been dropped from Orangeburgh “in late years.” In 1894 the Post Office Department began “wholesale standardizations” of post office names. The changes of “-burgh” to “-burg”, “-borough” to “-boro”, and the dropping of “City,” “-town,” “C.H.” (for Court House), and possessives were a few of the common changes instituted.
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Upon the arrival of the Switzers at Charlestown, the South Carolina Gazette 51 suggested that they might find profit in the cultivation of grain. The settlers heeded this counsel and by late in 1737 they had begun construction of a water mill on the Edisto River. The mill had not been completed in 1742. In exchange for an acre of land on the river adjoining the town, Peter Roth completed the mill; and the plat made of his land one year later shows “The Mill” on the banks of the river. The mill is referred to again in 1791 in the Statutes of S. C. when an act was passed establishing a bridge “from some place at or near the Old Mill Seat, situated within the limits of the Town of Orangeburgh … to the most convenient spot on the south side.” A causeway through the swamp was also provided for as “great benefit would arise to the inhabitants of the western part of the State, and to the public in general, from such a bridge and causeway.” The bridge was built by Sanders Glover, Esq.
The bridge was to be at least twenty feet wide, and the center arch over the river not less than thirty feet wide and made in the deepest part of the river, six feet above the common high freshet. This provision was for the convenience of those who navigated the river. The proprietor of the bridge was obligated to keep men at hand sufficient to “attend passage over the bridge,” and was liable to fine if anyone who had paid the toll was willfully delayed in crossing. The injured party could recover damages at the rate of five shillings per quarter hour if his complaint were attested before a magistrate within twenty days. Four wheeled passenger vehicles drawn by two or more beasts were charged one shilling and six pence. Empty wagons drawn by two or more beasts were charged six pence, but one shilling if loaded. The toll included the drivers of such conveyances. Every horse, mule, ass or ox—laden or unladen—could pass for two pence. All foot passengers paid one penny. Exempt from the rolls were ministers and those going to or from places of worship. Jurors, certain officials of the government, and those going to or from an election were also exempt.
In 1825 Orangeburg had a population of 152. There were five merchants, three lawyers, a tailor, and a blacksmith. The town was chartered by the legislature in 1831. By 1883 a population of some 3,000 supported seventy-five stores. There were a cotton mill, a rice mill, and two wagon factories. Cotton shipments to New York and Charleston were averaging ten thousand bales a year.
(Information from: Names in South Carolina by C.H. Neuffer, Published by the S.C. Dept. of English, USC)
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