Orleans County could have been named for Adams or Jackson, who both became presidents
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, Number 2
This genial looking gentleman, Nehemiah Ingersoll, 1788-1868 is credited with the naming of Orleans County.
ALBION – Imagine that you are a new settler in this area. What would you name the town you live in, or this county?
We take the place names where we live for granted, but two hundred years ago these names were purposefully selected and had resonance for the people who lived here.
We can see why the early settlers were so conscious of their role in history – not only did they purchase the land, stake their claims here with hard labor and make the land productive, but they also had the opportunity to name the land.
On September 14, 1824, a petition was presented to “the Honorable, the Representative of Genesee County” requesting the creation of this county from the north part of Genesee County. The petition refers to the new county as “Adams,” referring to John Quincy Adams, a leading Presidential candidate at the time.
Naturally, the supporters of his opponent, Andrew Jackson, protested and wanted the county to be named “Jackson.” We can well relate to this dilemma.
Nehemiah Ingersoll is credited with championing the name “Orleans” as a compromise, though one source credits Oran Follett, a Genesee County legislator, with this honor. “Orleans” could be construed as an honor to the Duc D’Orleans – or, more likely, a compliment to General Jackson on his victory against the British in New Orleans in 1815.
Incidentally, John Quincy Adams was elected President in 1825, Andrew Jackson won the following Presidential election in 1829.
By the time the name of the county came to be selected, several naming rights decisions had already been made. Eight of the ten towns had been formed and named:
1803 – Town of Murray: named for John Murray, a large landowner in the area.
1812 – Town of Ridgeway: named for Ridge Road
1816 – Town of Gaines: named for General Edmund Gaines who defended the area in the War of 1812
1818 – Town of Barre: named by Judge John Lee (Lee Rd.) for his birthplace, Barre, Massachusetts.
1818 – Town of Shelby: named for Gov. Isaac Shelby, a Revolutionary war soldier.
1821 – Town of Clarendon: originally named Farwell’s Mills for Eldredge Farwell, an early settler, named for Clarendon Vt., hometown of Farwell’s wife.
1822 – Town of Carlton: at first named Oak Orchard, it was changed to Carlton in 1825, for Governor Guy Carlton of Quebec.
1822 – Town of Yates: originally called Northton, the name was changed in 1823 to honor Hon. Joseph C. Yates, Governor of New York State.
The towns formed following the formation of the county were:
1837 – Town of Kendall: named for Amos Kendall, Postmaster General of the United States.
1875 – Town of Albion: set off from the town of Barre and named for Albion, the county seat.
Basically, the names selected were chosen to honor a hometown, a prominent businessman or an elected politician.
Just as a matter of speculation, which name would you prefer: Adams County, Jackson County or Orleans County? Would the selection of either Adams or Jackson have changed the course of history here?
