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Natural feature in Orange County

Little River

A river of northeastern Orange County, formed by its North and South forks, that gave its name to Little River Township and to Little River Presbyterian Church.

Source: NCpedia, North Carolina Gazetteer

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In the chronology

Storylines about Little River, in date order. Each has its own page.

StorylineHugh McAden, Henry Pattillo and the first Presbyterian congregations, 1753–17901753–1790 · 19 events · Orange County's Presbyterian settlers had congregations before they had ministers. Hugh McAden preached on the Eno and at the Hawfields in 1755 and 1756, and the settlements asked Hanover Presbytery for preachers, but none came regularly until Henry Pattillo became pastor of the Hawfields, Eno and Little River churches in 1765. Pattillo and his fellow ministers condemned the Regulators in 1768 and he preached to Tryon's troops; in 1770 they formed Orange Presbytery, which first met at Hawfields. In 1775 the Provincial Congress sent Pattillo to win former Regulators to the American cause, and about 1790 the old Pattillo field was split into two pastoral charges. StorylineThe Hawfields, Cross Roads, Eno and Little River churches, 1780–18211780–1821 · 16 events · Between 1780 and 1821 the Presbyterian churches of western Orange split into two pastoral charges and went through the revival that began at Cross Roads. Hawfields moved west about 1780, Cross Roads was gathered from its neighbors, and about 1790 Hawfields and Cross Roads took one pastor while Eno and Little River took another. Opponents of James McGready burned his pulpit at Stony Creek in 1796. Under William D. Paisley, pastor from 1801, a Cross Roads communion in March 1801 set off what a 1966 article calls the Great Revival in the state, and crowds camped at Hawfields. Paisley also kept a grammar school before leaving in 1818. StorylineStagville and Fairntosh: the Bennehan and Cameron plantations, 1799–18261799–1826 · 8 events · Stagville and Fairntosh grew into the Bennehan and Cameron plantations on the labor of enslaved people, and the county court's records show how the law reached into their lives. Richard Bennehan built Stagville in 1799 on about 4,000 acres worked by 44 or more enslaved people, and Duncan Cameron built Fairntosh beside it from 1810. In 1809 the court let four men they enslaved carry guns and made patrollers return six guns taken from others. Mary Walker was born into a family they held in 1818, and by 1826 the plantations sold close to 30,000 pounds of tobacco. StorylineThe Grange in Orange County, 1873–19481873–1948 · 6 events · The Patrons of Husbandry, or Grange, took root in Orange County twice. James Means of Concord organized the Eno Grange at Cedar Grove in December 1873, and in October 1874 delegates of seven Granges organized a county council with John K. Hughes as master. A state Grange revival from 1929 to 1931 produced five Orange chapters, among them Schley Grange No. 710. Schley and Fairfield made their halls out of abandoned schoolhouses, and the chapters met every two weeks with women and children as members. A Grange was organized at New Hope in 1946, and in 1948 W. Kerr Scott, the Democratic nominee for governor and a former State Grange master, spoke to the county's Granges. StorylineThe stock law and the end of open range, 1881–18871881–1887 · 10 events · From 1881 to 1888 Orange County argued over whether to keep the open range, with farmers fencing their crops against roaming livestock, or adopt a stock law, which made owners keep their animals penned. Little River Township voted for the old fence system in 1881, and two Black leaders, Alfred Holmes and Lewis Jenkins, spoke for a no-fence law in 1884. An 1885 act barred cattle from running at large in four townships and let Chapel Hill Township adopt the stock law. Its voters rejected the law 415 to 104 that November, but in 1887, on a petition of 383 freeholders, the commissioners put it in force there from 1888, without an election or a fence tax. StorylineThe Farmers' Alliance in Orange County, 1887–18951887–1895 · 16 events · Orange County farmers began organizing in 1887 and within a year had joined the Farmers' Alliance. Bingham Township farmers formed a club at Oaks that June, and in September an Orange County Club organized under Alex. McIver, though small attendance soon led it to put off a farmers' institute. After the Alliance's state organizer spoke at Hillsborough in March 1888, chapters formed quickly, and on May 18 delegates created the County Alliance under Sheriff John Knox Hughes. It opened an exchange in Hillsborough in 1890 and in 1891 endorsed the sub-treasury plan and all the Alliance demands. In 1893 a county committee called a bill to repeal the State Alliance charter a scheme to destroy the order.
Show all 10 storylines
StorylineThe revenue officers' killing of Henry McMannen, 18901890 · 6 events · On February 25, 1890 federal revenue officers searching for illicit stills shot Henry McMannen, a Black man, dead at his house in Little River Township. The officers said he had fired a shotgun at agent S. Kirkpatrick; others in the county said he was killed without cause, and the Rev. Sam P. Terry swore out murder warrants. Judge Armfield let the officers go after the sheriff gave them up to the U.S. marshal, and the Orange grand jury indicted five of them for murder. Federal Judge Dick freed all five by late April; the Observer wrote that the people would not be satisfied. In August the state dropped its charges against three of them. StorylineProhibition and the blockaders in Orange County, 1901–19301901–1930 · 22 events · Hillsborough's fight over its saloons gave way to a long struggle against illegal stills across Orange County. In 1903 the town elected a board chosen mostly on the prohibition ticket, which refused every saloon license, and the barrooms closed that June. In 1905 the county commissioners refused the licenses a new town board recommended, and the town voted against liquor dispensaries. The county voted against state prohibition in 1908, though the state carried it, and in 1919 Orange's representative voted against ratifying national prohibition. Blockading, the illegal distilling of whiskey, went on: in 1920 Louis Graves wrote in the New Republic that Orange had the largest distilling operations in the state, and officers kept capturing stills through 1930. StorylineLocal school taxes come to Orange County, 1903–19091903–1909 · 10 events · Between 1903 and 1910 Orange County's school districts voted one by one on whether to tax themselves for better schools, and the votes went both ways. Caldwell District approved a local tax for a rural graded school in 1903, while Elm Grove rejected one that October. After a 1904 election the Mebane district followed, and in 1905 the commissioners levied special school taxes in both. In 1907 Superintendent John C. Hocutt said he meant to campaign for local taxes. In 1908 the Hillsboro district defeated a school tax while Fairfield carried one, and in 1909 the legislature created the Chapel Hill Graded School District with a special tax. By 1910 special school taxes were collected in six districts. StorylineConsolidating the rural schools and hauling the children, 1919–19261919–1926 · 32 events · Between 1919 and 1926 Orange County closed many of its small country schools and began carrying the children by truck and bus to larger ones. The Chapel Hill Graded School had a Ford truck for country children by 1919, and in 1923 superintendent Claytor began folding the county's one- and two-teacher schools into larger ones. The county board set an order for new buildings at Efland, White Cross, the Orange County Training School, Orange Grove and Caldwell, ordered its first school buses in 1924 and sold the emptied schoolhouses. By April 1926 the county had put up seven brick consolidated schools since 1922, including the Orange County Training School for Black pupils, and ran 24 buses.

Other dated events here, in date order. See these 74 dated events in the chronology →

  1. Little River Presbyterian Church is organized Hugh McAden led the organization of Little River Presbyterian Church, with Henry Pattillo as its first pastor. People: Henry Pattillo, Hugh McAdenLefler and Wager, Orange County, 1752-1952 (1953), p. 295
  2. Henry Pattillo becomes pastor of the Hawfields, Eno and Little River churches Henry Pattillo moved to Orange County as pastor of the Hawfields, Eno and Little River Presbyterian churches and served them for nine years, becoming known as "Father Pattillo." He was the first regularly installed minister at Eno. People: Henry Pattillo Also mentions: Eno and Little River Presbyterian churchesSearch the index · NCpedia: Pattillo, Henry (Dictionary of North Carolina Biography)
  3. William Johnston offers Richard Bennehan a partnership in the Little River Store William Johnston offered Richard Bennehan a one-third partnership in the Little River Store on his Snowhill plantation near Hillsborough. Bennehan moved to North Carolina in late 1768 or early 1769 to manage it. People: Richard Bennehan, William JohnstonSearch the index · UNC Libraries, Southern Historical Collection: Cameron Family Papers finding aid (#00133)
  4. John Collett's map of North Carolina shows a row of mills on the Eno and Little River Collett's 1770 map of the colony marks a series of mills along the Eno and on the main branches of the Little River. Also named: John CollettSearch the index · NC Historic Preservation Office: Richard L. Mattson, History and Architecture of Orange County (1996), p. 7
  5. Eno and Little River form a charge of their own, apart from Hawfields and Cross Roads When Jacob Lake left about 1790, the old Pattillo field was split: Hawfields and Cross Roads shared one pastor, and Eno and Little River another. The two Orange churches were still paired when the history was written, apart from short breaks. Also named: Jacob LakeSearch the index · A. A. Ellis, History of Eno Presbyterian Church, Cedar Grove, North Carolina (1980), scan p. 7
  6. James H. Bowman becomes pastor of Eno and Little River Bowman took the Eno and Little River charge and held it for about twenty years, gathering many members during the revival that began in 1802. His ministry at Eno ended in 1815. Also named: James H. BowmanSearch the index · A. A. Ellis, History of Eno Presbyterian Church, Cedar Grove, North Carolina (1980), scan p. 7
  7. The court lets Jack and Sam, enslaved by William Cain, carry guns to hunt On William Cain's motion the county court allowed two men he held in slavery, Jack at his plantation on New Hope Creek and Sam at his plantation on Little River, to carry a gun each and hunt in his woods. Cain, with Duncan Cameron as his security, gave a bond of £100 for their behavior. People: Duncan Cameron Also named: William Cain, Jack, SamMark Chilton, transcription of the Orange County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions minutes: August Term 1802
  8. The court lets four enslaved men on the Bennehan and Cameron lands carry guns The county court gave leave to carry guns to three men enslaved by Richard Bennehan, Frank Kennon at the store, Humphrey at the Little River plantations and a man at the Brick House whose name the transcription gives as Donom with a query, and to David, enslaved by Duncan Cameron at his Eno plantation. The owners gave bond and security as the law required. People: Richard Bennehan, Duncan Cameron Also named: Frank Kennon, David, HumphreyMark Chilton, transcription of the Orange County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions minutes: November Term 1809
  9. The court orders a road laid out from Cain's mill on Little River across Flat River to the Granville line On a petition from inhabitants of the lower end of the county, the court ordered the sheriff to summon thirteen named men, any twelve to serve, to view and lay out a new road. It was to run from the main road past William Cain's mill on Little River, on or near McCulloch's long line, crossing Flat River near Hunter's old ford, to the Granville County line. Also named: William CainSearch the index · Mark Chilton, transcription of the Orange County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions minutes: August Term 1810
  10. A great freshet sweeps away mills and bridges on Little River and Flat River After days of rain, a flood on the night of August 6 carried off nearly all the mills and bridges on Little River and Flat River, destroyed most of the corn on the low grounds, swept away hay and overwhelmed sheep and other stock. In the western part of the county the bridge over the Alamance was carried away.Search the index · Hillsborough Recorder, August 12, 1847, p. 3
  11. Webb and Douglass finish a cotton factory on Little River Webb and Douglass had finished building a cotton mill on Little River, some thirteen miles east of Hillsborough, by February 1852, and machinery for 1,000 spindles was on its way. Later owners kept it running, for a time as a rope works, until about the 1920s.Search the index · Lefler and Wager, Orange County, 1752-1952 (1953), p. 269-270
  12. A post office opens at Orange Factory with John H. Webb as postmaster The Post Office Department established a post office at Orange Factory, the Webb and Douglass cotton mill village on Little River, with John H. Webb as postmaster. Also named: John H. WebbSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, March 16, 1853, p. 3
Show all 74 dated events
  1. Mrs. Margaret Woods dies when her house on Little River burns Mrs. Margaret Woods died when her house on Little River, seven miles northeast of Hillsborough, burned one night in the week of the spring Superior Court. A coroner's jury held Presley Riley on suspicion of killing her and setting the fire, but Chief Justice Nash discharged him for want of evidence, and suspicion turned to enslaved men held by William D. Ray and Joseph Brown of the county. People: Frederick Nash Also named: Margaret Woods, Presley Riley, William D. Ray, Joseph BrownSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, March 21, 1855, p. 2
  2. The Little River neighborhood sends money and clothing to Capt. Miller's company and Vance's regiment Families of the Little River neighborhood of Orange collected cash, shirts, socks, quilts, blankets, pants and drawers for Capt. Miller's company and for Col. Vance's 26th Regiment, and published the list of givers.Hillsborough Recorder, September 3, 1862, p. 3
  3. Wright Malone is abducted and lynched near Little River On the night of September 6, 1869, four mounted men took Wright Malone, a young Black farmer, from the coal kiln he was burning with his father near Little River in eastern Orange County. A neighbor found his body hanging from a tree on September 12, and the coroner concluded the killing had been planned in advance. People: Wright Malone Also named: Squire MaloneOrange County Community Remembrance Coalition: Those We Honor
  4. Great freshet sweeps away bridges and mill dams across Orange A flood on the Eno, Little River and Flat River carried away bridges and mill dams, among them Thompson's, Berry's, Lyon's and Compton's dams on the Eno and all but one dam on Flat River, and ruined crops on the creek bottoms.Search the index · Hillsborough Recorder, June 1, 1870, p. 2
  5. Little River Township's school committee opens five public schools The Little River Township school committee had set up five public schools covering nearly all its districts, one so crowded that an assistant teacher had to be hired. Local leaders were also planning a new academy near the site of the one that had burned.Search the index · Hillsborough Recorder, July 22, 1874, p. 3
  6. A new academy building is finished at Caldwell A new academy at Caldwell, in Little River Township, was completed under the direction of Dr. J. L. Brower, its principal, and got its last coat of paint on Saturday, July 24. A correspondent described it as fitted for a high school and able to hold one hundred pupils, and by early August L. W. Hall was preparing to enlarge his house to board its students. Also named: J. L. Brower, L. W. HallHillsborough Recorder, July 28, 1875, p. 3
  7. The Orange County Grange hears Gen. D. H. Hill at Little River Church Six to eight hundred people, many of them women, gathered at Little River Church north of Hillsborough, where Gen. D. H. Hill addressed the County Grange on agriculture and on the Grange as a defender of the farmer against middlemen; a dinner under the oaks followed, and the Grange met in council in its hall. People: D. H. (Daniel Harvey) Hill, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, September 6, 1876, p. 3
  8. Thomas J. Wilson, longtime county surveyor, dies at Little River Thomas J. Wilson, for many years Orange's county surveyor and the senior deacon of Little River Church, died at his Little River home at about 79. Born in Pennsylvania in 1797, he had married a woman he met in Person County and settled on Little River; after giving up active surveying he was still often called in to settle disputed land lines. Also named: Thomas J. Wilson · Also mentions: Little River ChurchSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, February 7, 1877, p. 3
  9. The county commissioners split Mangum Township and create Lebanon Township Acting on a petition, the board divided Mangum Township at Little River and named the new township Lebanon, adding a ninth to the eight townships laid off in 1868.Search the index · Hugh Conway Browning, Information Related to St. Mary's Chapel (1996), scan p. 57
  10. A post office opens at Caldwell Institute in northern Orange A post office was established at Caldwell Institute on April 1, 1877, giving the neighborhood mail service. A later issue said the office was officially named Caldwell Institute and revived one that had existed there many years before the war.Hillsborough Recorder, April 4, 1877, p. 3
  11. Caldwell Institute holds its closing exercises, with an address by Braxton Craven Caldwell Institute closed its session before a crowd of at least 800 people from Orange, Person, Caswell and Granville counties. Braxton Craven, president of Trinity College, spoke for about an hour on 'sowing wild oats' and on the need for education. Students gave declamations in the afternoon and a program of young ladies' compositions and music at night. Also named: Braxton CravenHillsborough Recorder, June 6, 1877, p. 3
  12. Little River Township has one grist mill and two sawmills The 1880 manufacturing census found a single flour and grist mill in Little River Township, on the Eno, and two sawmills on the South Little River: one run by Furner and Smith, the other by Harry Roundtree. Also named: Harry RoundtreeSearch the index · NC Digital Collections: Historic Resources of Orange County, National Register multiple property documentation form (1993), p. 35
  13. The Little River General Store is built on NC 57 A frame general store serving the Little River community goes up on NC 57 late in the nineteenth century.Search the index · NC Digital Collections: Historic Resources of Orange County, National Register multiple property documentation form (1993), p. 118
  14. The Orange County Sunday School Convention meets at Little River Church The county Sunday school convention met at Little River Presbyterian Church before a crowd put at about 500, though only seven schools sent delegates: one Baptist, three Methodist and three Presbyterian. It chose T. C. Ellis of Cedar Grove as its delegate to the state convention and set its next meeting for New Bethel Church in November. Also named: T. C. EllisSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Ledger, May 15, 1880, p. 3
  15. Independents put up W. W. Allison, Josiah Turner and John Berry against the Democratic ticket An independent ticket was put up in Orange County for the November election, with W. W. Allison of Cedar Grove for the state Senate and Josiah Turner of Hillsborough and John Berry of Little River for the House, plus a candidate for treasurer. Republicans had been advised to back independent Democrats rather than name their own men. People: Josiah Turner Jr. Also named: W. W. Allison, John BerrySearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), October 23, 1880, p. 3
  16. Little River Township votes down the no-fence law In a fence-law election called by the county commissioners, Little River Township voters favoring the old fence system outvoted the no-fence (stock law) side by a large majority, keeping the open range. People: A. L. HoldenSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), March 19, 1881, p. 3
  17. Orange Presbytery makes Eno, Little River, Stony Creek and Grier's one field under James L. Currie Meeting at Tarboro, Orange Presbytery formed a new pastoral field of the Stony Creek, Grier's, Eno and Little River churches with the Rev. James L. Currie as pastor. Currie, who had resigned the Chapel Hill church that summer, was to live near Fairfield. People: James L. Currie, Nelson Parrish HallSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), November 17, 1883, p. 3
  18. Dr. Thomas H. Turner of Little River Township dies Dr. Thomas H. Turner died at his home in Little River Township. His body was brought to Hillsborough for a funeral at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, and he was buried in the churchyard. Also named: Thomas H. Turner · Also mentions: St. Matthew's Episcopal ChurchSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), September 12, 1885, p. 3
  19. Fire destroys the Caldwell Institute building in Little River Township A fire thought to have been set destroyed the Caldwell Institute building in Little River Township at night, together with about 4,000 pounds of tobacco stored in it by H. Y. Harris, the postmaster and merchant at Caldwell. Also named: H. Y. HarrisOrange County Observer (Hillsborough), April 10, 1886, p. 3
  20. Little River farmers organize a Farmers' Club at their district school house Farmers of the Little River district met at the district school house in Little River Township and organized a Farmers' Club, with Benjamin Kinion in the chair and N. V. Ray as secretary. They named eight delegates to the county meeting at Hillsborough and set talks on grass culture, sweet potatoes and tobacco for their next meeting. Also named: Benjamin Kinion, N. V. RaySearch the index · Hillsboro Recorder, September 1, 1887, p. 3
  21. J. H. Clark leases a mill on Little River and sets out to repair it Millwright J. H. Clark leased a grist mill on Little River and planned to put it in thorough repair so it could again grind flour and meal for the neighborhood. Also named: J. H. ClarkSearch the index · Hillsboro Recorder, October 20, 1887, p. 3
  22. Caldwell Institute closes its session with an address by Graham College's W. S. Long Principal Foust's school at Caldwell Institute held its closing exercises on May 25, running from 3 in the afternoon until 10 at night. The Rev. W. S. Long, president of Graham College, gave the address, six students delivered declamations, and a string band from Hillsborough played. Also named: W. S. LongHillsboro Recorder, May 31, 1888, p. 3
  23. Longtime Little River Township magistrate Hall dies near Caldwell Institute Mr. Hall, for many years a justice of the peace in Little River Township and an officer of the Presbyterian church in his neighborhood, died at his home near Caldwell Institute on the morning of June 18. He had often been mentioned as a candidate for the legislature and left a widow and six children. Also mentions: Caldwell InstituteSearch the index · Hillsboro Recorder, June 21, 1888, p. 3
  24. Little River Presbyterian Church installs W. F. Wilhelm as pastor At two days of services Little River Presbyterian Church received twenty-seven new members, baptized seventeen people and installed W. F. Wilhelm as its pastor, with Dr. Johnston, evangelist of Orange Presbytery, preaching the installation sermon. People: W. F. WilhelmSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), September 14, 1889, p. 3
  25. Meridith post office serves northern Little River Township Around 1890 the Meridith post office in northern Little River Township had J. Law's store, the Riley and McKee sawmill and Berry's Grove Baptist Church close by. Also named: J. LawSearch the index · NC Digital Collections: Historic Resources of Orange County, National Register multiple property documentation form (1993), p. 37
  26. Federal revenue officers break up a still on Little River northeast of Hillsborough Deputy Collector Crawford and other revenue officers raided a still on Little River about eight miles northeast of town, destroyed the beer, cut up the still and arrested a man found asleep in the still house, who was jailed when he could not give bond for the federal court at Greensboro. Also named: CrawfordSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), February 22, 1890, p. 3
  27. Revenue officers kill Henry McMannen, a Black man, at his house in Little River township Searching for illicit stills about seven miles northeast of Hillsborough, federal revenue officers went with Henry McMannen to his new log house; the officers said he fired a shotgun at agent S. Kirkpatrick, wounding him in the face, and was shot dead. Others in the county said he was killed without cause, and the Rev. Sam P. Terry swore out murder warrants against the officers before magistrate A. L. Holden. People: A. L. Holden Also named: Henry McMannen, S. Kirkpatrick, Sam P. TerrySearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), March 1, 1890, p. 3
  28. Federal judge Dick discharges the revenue officers who killed Henry McMannen At a habeas corpus hearing in the U.S. court at Greensboro, Judge Dick freed the three Orange deputies, Dodson, Dickson and Cates, for want of evidence, and by late April he filed an opinion discharging revenue agents Kirkpatrick and Patterson as well. The officers had shot and killed Henry McMannen, a Black man, at his house in Little River Township in February; the Observer wrote that the people would not be satisfied with the ruling. Also named: Judge Dick, Henry McMannen, Kirkpatrick, PattersonSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), April 12, 1890, p. 3
  29. Census enumerators begin the 1890 count in Orange County Seven enumerators went to work: Miss M. E. Allison for Cedar Grove, Dr. John Berry for Little River, Frank Pickard for Bingham, two men for Chapel Hill, and T. L. Tinnin and C. D. Turner for Hillsboro. People: Chester D. Turner Also named: M. E. Allison, John Berry, Frank Pickard, T. L. Tinnin, Dr. John BerrySearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), June 7, 1890, p. 3
  30. Samuel R. Jordan, a Little River church elder for 23 years, dies The Little River church session recorded that Jordan died at his home in Orange County on Jan. 19, 1891. He had been ruling elder for 23 years and a member for about forty-six, and also served as deacon, clerk of session and Sunday school superintendent. Also named: Samuel R. JordanSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), March 28, 1891, p. 2
  31. Rev. H. S. Bradshaw takes charge of the Hillsborough, Fairfield and Little River Presbyterian churches Rev. H. S. Bradshaw of Tennessee arrived in Hillsborough with his family to serve the Hillsborough, Fairfield and Little River Presbyterian churches as stated supply until the fall meeting of Orange Presbytery. People: H. S. BradshawSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), June 16, 1894, p. 3
  32. The county board of equalization raises every Little River Township assessment by a third The three county commissioners, joined by one assessor from each township, sat as the board of equalization, compared the standards each of them had applied, and increased every assessment in Little River Township by one-third.Search the index · Lefler and Wager, Orange County, 1752-1952 (1953), p. 203
  33. The clerk of court redraws Orange County's election precincts Under the 1895 election law calling for a polling place for about every 350 voters, Superior Court clerk D. F. Crawford set new precinct lines and polling places for the county. Chapel Hill township was split into North and South Chapel Hill, Patterson's and Cole's Store; Hillsborough township into East Hillsboro at the court house, West Hillsboro at Zach Cunningham's store, University Station and Cheek's Crossing; and Cedar Grove township into Carr's, Cedar Grove and Toler's, while the Bingham and Little River boxes stayed as they were. Also named: D. F. Crawford · Also mentions: University StationSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), February 22, 1896, p. 3
  34. The Thomas Laws House is built in the Little River community A two-story T-shaped farmhouse with a wraparound porch was built for the Laws family in the Little River community around the turn of the century. Also named: Thomas LawsSearch the index · NC Historic Preservation Office: Richard L. Mattson, History and Architecture of Orange County (1996), p. 52
  35. A post office called Mohan opens in Little River Township A new post office named Mohan was established in Little River Township, seven miles east of Hillsborough, with E. Marvin Lockhart as postmaster. Also named: E. Marvin LockhartOrange County Observer (Hillsborough), April 4, 1901, p. 3
  36. County commissioners order new bridges over New Hope Creek, Cane Creek and Little River The Orange County commissioners ordered new bridges built over New Hope Creek at Robson Station, over Cane Creek near Oaks, and over Little River at Anderson Toler's. At the same meeting they settled with the county treasurer and revised the jury list.Search the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), June 6, 1901, p. 3
  37. The county pays $214 toward a schoolhouse at Pleasant Green The board paid Pleasant Green, District No. 1 of Little River Township, $214 for its school building.Search the index · DigitalNC: Irene Oliver Pender, A History of Orange County Schools, 1752-1983 (1983), p. 54
  38. Caldwell school district votes a special tax for a rural graded school Voters in Caldwell District No. 5, Little River Township, approved a local tax for a rural graded school by 17 to 10, setting 30 cents on the $100 of property and 90 cents on each poll. People: James Yadkin JoynerSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), January 15, 1903, p. 3
  39. A tornado with hail ruins crops across northern Orange County On the afternoon of July 29 a storm of wind, rain, hail and lightning swept northern Orange County from the Caswell line southeast past Laws' store and through Little River township to the Durham line, ruining tobacco, corn and fodder, felling timber and breaking farmhouse windows with hailstones as large as hen eggs. Will Lee McDade lost his tobacco crop, and A. L. Holden and others in Eno township were badly hurt. People: A. L. Holden Also named: Will Lee McDadeSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), August 3, 1905, p. 3
  40. M. C. Arrowood resigns as pastor of Little River and other Presbyterian churches Rev. M. C. Arrowood tendered his resignation as pastor of Little River Presbyterian Church and the other Presbyterian churches he served in Orange County. Also named: M. C. ArrowoodSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), October 7, 1909, p. 3
  41. A captured still is stolen back out of the Hillsboro jail Officers seized a copper still and destroyed about 2,500 gallons of beer in Little River Township and hauled the still to Hillsboro, where it was locked in the jail. That night someone carried the still away from the jail.Search the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), June 30, 1910, p. 5
  42. County commissioners order a road laid off from Dodson's Crossroads and pay on the Hall's Mill bridge At their December meeting the county commissioners named Chairman Ed. N. Cates, T. D. Lloyd and J. W. Cheek to lay off a road from Dodson's Crossroads to the Chapel Hill township line, and appointed Lloyd road inspector for Bingham Township in place of M. L. Cates. The accounts they approved included a payment to the Joliet Bridge and Iron Works on the Hall's Mill bridge and lumber and cable for bridges on Little River. Also named: Ed. N. Cates, T. D. Lloyd, J. W. CheekSearch the index · The News (Chapel Hill), December 13, 1917, p. 1
  43. The county tax assessor values Cedar Grove land at about $35 an acre under the new revaluation law Robert D. Bain, county tax assessor under the 1919 revaluation act, finished Cedar Grove township and part of Little River. He put Cedar Grove land at an average of about $35 an acre and Little River at no more than $20, and reported few complaints about the new plan. People: Robert D. BainSearch the index · The News (Chapel Hill), August 21, 1919, p. 5
  44. Orange County's townships hold their school commencements Township school commencements drew large crowds on March 28 at Orange Grove for Bingham, Caldwell for Little River, the new Aycock school for Cedar Grove, Efland for Cheeks and Murphey for Eno, and on March 29 at Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. Each day brought contests in spelling, story-telling, recitation and declamation, a speaker at noon and athletics in the afternoon, ahead of the county commencement in Hillsborough in April.Search the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, April 3, 1924, p. 1
  45. The county lets the contract for the new Caldwell school in Little River Township The contract for a new school at Caldwell in Little River Township, with eight classrooms and a 300-seat auditorium at a cost of about $20,000, went to B. C. Blanchard of Burlington. County superintendent R. H. Claytor said it was the sixth and last school under the building plan begun with state loans in 1922, after Murphey, White Cross, Orange Grove, Efland and Aycock, and that the county's 16 buses carried children among its roughly 6,000 pupils. People: R. H. Claytor Also named: B. C. BlanchardThe Chapel Hill Weekly, April 23, 1925, p. 1
  46. The county board merges Little River Township's schools into a new Caldwell School Little River patrons voted in March 1925 for a new school at Caldwell, the board let the building contract to B. F. Blanchard for $12,956.20, and C. S. Miller gave seven acres just beyond Caldwell for the site. In June the board consolidated every school in the township except Schley into Caldwell, which opened with 124 pupils. Also named: B. F. Blanchard, C. S. MillerSearch the index · DigitalNC: Irene Oliver Pender, A History of Orange County Schools, 1752-1983 (1983), p. 75 · Also: Chapel Hill Weekly, April 16, 1926, p. 1
  47. Two new county bridges near completion on the Eno and Little River Ralph Ward, chairman of the county commissioners, said two new bridges costing about $8,000 were nearly finished, one over the Eno River at the Southern Power plant and one over Little River about seven miles east of Hillsboro. People: Ralph H. Ward Also mentions: Eno RiverSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, July 17, 1925, p. 1
  48. Women of Little River Presbyterian Church organize The church's women first organized in 1927 with the help of the minister's wife, Mrs. J. W. Mann, forming three circles with about fifty members; the circles lasted until 1948. Also named: Mrs. J. W. MannSearch the index · Women of the Church of Orange Presbytery, Celebrating Our History (1988), scan p. 39
  49. A prohibition officer seizes stills in Little River township Federal prohibition officer Charles G. Rosamond, helped by his son, captured two stills with a combined capacity of 300 gallons in the Little River section of Orange County, the second near a settlement called Egypt, along with several thousand gallons of mash, a barrel and keg of liquor, and a mule and wagon. One Black operator was caught and released on bond given by his neighbors; the others escaped. Also named: Charles G. RosamondSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, September 9, 1927, p. 4
  50. W. P. Berry serves on the Orange County Board of Commissioners W. P. Berry, a Democrat and a Little River township farmer, served three terms on the Orange County Board of Commissioners. Dr. S. A. Nathan took his seat in December 1936 after Berry ran for the state House instead. People: W. P. Berry, S. A. NathanSearch the index · Lefler and Wager, Orange County, 1752-1952 (1953), p. 359
  51. County names township tax assessors for the 1931 revaluation Gilbert Ray, Orange County auditor and tax supervisor, appointed assessors in every township for the revaluation of all property required in 1931: P. L. Burch, W. H. Ray and George Howe for Chapel Hill, and others for Hillsboro, Bingham, Cheeks, Eno, Cedar Grove and Little River. Assessments three years earlier had been set at about 55 to 60 per cent of value. People: George Howe, Gilbert W. Ray, Peter L. Burch Also named: Gilbert Ray, W. H. RaySearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, December 12, 1930, p. 1
  52. Orange County records 71 births and 39 deaths for 1931 The county's vital statistics for 1931 showed births and deaths by township: Chapel Hill 24 and 11, Hillsboro 15 and 5, Cedar Grove 11 and 6, Bingham 7 and 4, Cheeks 6 and 5, Little River 6 and 4, and Eno 2 and 4. The Weekly noted that many Orange County babies were now born in Durham hospitals and counted there.Search the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, April 1, 1932, p. 1
  53. A house marked as the PWA's Little River Teacherage stands on Warner Lane The frame house at 116 Warner Lane carries a Public Works Administration sign naming it the Little River Teacherage, project N.C. 1127-F. Warner Lane and its houses are not on the 1924 Sanborn map; the house is on the 1943 map.Search the index · NC State Historic Preservation Office: Hillsborough Historic District Additional Documentation, National Register (OR0077ad, 2014), 116 Warner, House
  54. Duke Power agrees to bring electricity to Caldwell School The Duke Power Company decided in February 1937 to build a line to Caldwell School, the last rural consolidated school in Orange County without electricity; in 1933 none had been on a power line. The county then had about 140 miles of rural lines built or authorized, serving more than 500 families, and Duke Power had agreed to build the whole 30-mile system proposed for a cooperative between Hillsboro and Chapel Hill and around White Cross, not just its better miles. People: Don S. Matheson, Carl T. DurhamThe Chapel Hill Weekly, February 12, 1937, p. 1
  55. American Legion lists the graves of World War veterans buried in Orange County Rev. A. S. Lawrence, chaplain of the Chapel Hill Legion post, published a list of World War veterans buried in the county, about 80 graves in 38 cemeteries from Chapel Hill and Hillsboro to Cedar Grove, Bethel, and Little River, with Black veterans listed separately. The Legion, which had marked the graves, planned a single memorial service at St. Matthew's churchyard in Hillsboro on May 25 instead of visiting each grave. People: Alfred Stratton Lawrence Also mentions: St. Matthew's churchyardSearch the index · The Chapel Hill Weekly, May 23, 1941, p. 3
  56. Little River Presbyterian Church is brick-veneered and enlarged Little River Presbyterian, organized in 1761, had nearly raised the money by September 1944 to add basements, central heat and Sunday School rooms and to brick-veneer the outside walls of its church; the county survey describes the result as a 1940s brick church. The large cemetery around it is one of the county's oldest.Search the index · NC Digital Collections: Historic Resources of Orange County, National Register multiple property documentation form (1993), p. 109 · Also: The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), September 7, 1944, p. 3
  57. A military funeral at Little River Presbyterian Church honors Cpl. Jerome Floyd Berry Jr., killed in Korea A funeral with full military honors was held at Little River Presbyterian Church for Corporal Jerome Floyd Berry Jr. of the Caldwell community, whose body had been returned from Korea. The News called him the first Orange County soldier lost in the Korean War; he was killed in action in July 1950. Also named: Jerome Floyd Berry Jr. · Also mentions: Caldwell communitySearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), June 28, 1951, p. 1
  58. Caldwell families get telephone service from the Morris Telephone Company The Caldwell community in northern Orange was being served by a new Morris Telephone Company network, with forty families already connected and reporting good service. Also mentions: Caldwell communityThe News of Orange County (Hillsborough), November 20, 1958, p. 7
  59. Turrentine descendants rededicate their family graveyard in the Little River community About 150 members of the Turrentine family from 15 states met in Hillsboro and Chapel Hill for their sixth biennial reunion, toured historic Hillsboro, held communion and dinner at Little River Presbyterian Church, and closed with a dedication service at the family graveyard near Little River. The graveyard, said to hold the immigrant brothers Samuel and Alexander Turrentine, had been found again in 1957, and the family had bought the land and cemented the old homemade stones. Also named: W. H. Turrentine · Also mentions: Little River Presbyterian ChurchSearch the index · The News of Orange County (Hillsborough), August 6, 1959, p. 1
  60. The county school board calls off the sale of the closed Caldwell School The Board of Education had voted on September 7 to auction the seven-acre Caldwell School property in Little River Township, but in November the superintendent reported the sale called off because the board could not give clear title. All-American Apparel, which had shown interest in the building, had also withdrawn. People: G. Paul CarrThe News of Orange County (Hillsborough), November 7, 1963, p. 10
  61. Seven Orange County Presbyterian churches form a cooperative in place of the Eno cluster A four-church cluster of Eno, Efland, Fairfield and Bethlehem was dissolved in 1975 and replaced by a cooperative of seven: those four plus Hillsborough, Little River and New Hope. The churches worked together especially on youth programs.Search the index · A. A. Ellis, History of Eno Presbyterian Church, Cedar Grove, North Carolina (1980), scan p. 15
  62. Archaeological survey completes the third phase of Orange County's historic preservation inventory UNC's Research Laboratories of Anthropology finished a surface survey of about 400 acres, mostly in northern Orange County near the Little River and in Duke Forest, recording 151 archaeological sites, 116 of them prehistoric, and almost 3,000 artifacts from stone spear and arrow points to colonial and later pottery. The $20,000 survey, paid half by a state Department of Cultural Resources grant and half by the county, completed the third phase of the county's historic preservation program after two phases inventorying historic buildings, and its sites were to be used in county planning review.Search the index · The Daily Tar Heel, November 2, 1994, p. 2

Maps of Little River

Dated maps that show this place, oldest first: town plans, county, road and soil maps, fire insurance sheets and the U.S. Geological Survey’s topographic maps, each linked to the library or archive that holds it. The USGS maps are free to download.

  1. Map of Orange County UNC · a county map
  2. Map of Orange County, N.C. UNC · a county map
  3. A map of Orange County, N.C. UNC · a county map
  4. Soil map, North Carolina, Orange County sheet Duke · a county map
  5. School map, Orange County, North Carolina. UNC · a county map
  6. Map of Orange County, N.C. : 1939 UNC · a county map
  7. An atlas for Orange County, North Carolina UNC · a county map
  8. USGS topographic map, Caldwell quadrangle (1:24,000) U.S. Geological Survey (PDF)
  9. USGS topographic map, Caldwell quadrangle (1:24,000) U.S. Geological Survey (PDF)

Deeds

Deeds in the county’s deed books, from Mark Chilton’s published abstracts, that name Little River in describing the land. Results also include longer place names, such as roads or meeting houses named for Little River. Each name opens a search for those deeds.

Search every historic deed →

Research sources

Sources and research tools for this place. Research guide: Research a neighborhood or rural community.

Collections and databases

  • NC LIVE: prepared search for Little River Library card Search NC LIVE for this subject and Orange County. You can change the search terms. Sign in through your North Carolina library to access the materials.

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Indexed works

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