African American Pioneers of Orange County, Indiana

Free African American men, women and children traveled from North Carolina to Orange County, Indiana in search of new opportunities in a less hostile environment in the mid to late 1820s. Against the backdrop of slavery, war, racial tension and unfriendly laws, these early pioneers purchased land in this untamed wilderness. Using the primitive tools available, they cleared the forest, constructed their homes and built a place of worship. They tilled the land as farmers, raising crops to sustain their families, and laid the foundation of what became known as the Lick Creek settlement. You won’t find them mentioned in history books, as their lives were too insignificant to historians of the time. However, their names are scattered throughout old musty ledgers, registers, deeds, certificates and probate records in Orange County file cabinets, vaults, drawers and boxes. They were ordinary people living in extraordinary times. These hard working individuals paved the way for future generations who would inherit their strong moral character, good Christian values, a willingness to work hard and true love of family. This work puts flesh on the bones that rest in the old family cemetery and breathes life into their stories. This is an untold part of Orange County, Indiana history.