Orange Seely facts for kids

Orange Seely (born February 20, 1843, died November 13, 1918) was an important early settler in Utah. He helped start the towns of Castle Dale and Orangeville, Utah.

Early Life and Journey to Utah

Orange Seely was born in Nashville, Lee County, Iowa. When he was eight years old, he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1847, he traveled with other early pioneers to the Salt Lake Valley in Utah.

He married Hannah Olsen on July 24, 1863. Their wedding took place in Mt. Pleasant, which was then part of the Utah Territory.

Helping Settle New Towns

In 1877, Brigham Young, a leader of the LDS Church, asked Orange Seely to help set up the first camps in Castle Valley. Seely was also made a bishop in the church in Mt. Pleasant.

He later served as a bishop in other church areas, called wards. These included Castle Dale, Ferron, and Huntington. From 1880 to 1889, he was a key leader in the Emery Stake.

Exploring Castle Valley

In October 1875, there wasn't enough food for the animals in Sanpete County. So, Orange Seely led a group of men and a large herd of animals eastward. They traveled through Cottonwood Canyon to the area where Castle Dale and Orangeville are now.

The herd included about 1,500 sheep and 1,400 cattle. Their journey of 40 miles took 14 days. When they reached Cottonwood Creek, the men built a shelter. This shelter was 20 by 30 feet and served as their base during the winter of 1875–76.

Community Leadership

Orange Seely was also involved in politics. He served as a member of the Utah Territorial Assembly in 1894. This was a group that helped make laws for the Utah Territory.

Naming Castle Dale and Orangeville

When more settlers arrived, Orange Seely tried to get them to stay on one side of the creek. But the settlers did not follow his advice. This led to two separate towns forming about four miles apart. One town was on the northwest side of the creek, and the other was on the southeast.

The settlers decided each town should have its own name. This caused a friendly disagreement. Some people thought the town now called Castle Dale should have been named Orangeville. This was because Bishop Orange Seely lived there, and a church leader named Erastus Snow suggested the name in his honor.

They also thought Orangeville should have kept the original name of Castle Dale. This was because the first settlers had camped there. This friendly competition led to nicknames. People from Orangeville were called "Skillet Lickers" because they made molasses. People from Castle Dale were called "Woodenshoes," suggesting that many Danish settlers lived there.