|
 Orlando’s
history dates back to 1838 and
the height of the Seminole Wars. The U.S. Army built Fort Gatlin south
of the present day Orlando City limits to protect settlers from attacks
by Indians.
By 1840, a small
community had grown up around the Fort. It was known as Jernigan, named
after the Jernigan family, who had established the first permanent
settlement in the area. Jernigan had a post office, established May
30th, 1850.
Six years later with
the settlement expanding northward, the community officially changed its
name to Orlando. In 1857, the U.S. Post Office adopted the name change.
The Town of Orlando was incorporated in 1875 with 85 inhabitants, 22 of
whom were qualified voters.
History is not as
clear on where the name Orlando originated. There are four stories that
are told. One involves Judge James Speer, who worked hard in getting
Orlando as the county seat, naming Orlando after a man who once worked
for him. Another is that Speer named it after a character from
Shakespeare’s, "As You Like It".
A third version has
Mr. Orlando on his way to Tampa with a caravan of ox. It is said that he
got ill, died and was buried, and that folks would come by and say,
"There lies Orlando"
The most common
story is about a company of soldiers on duty during the height of the
Seminole Wars. After battling Indians back into the swamps on the east
side of Lake Minnie (now Cherokee), the military troop settled there for
the night. Sentinel Orlando Reeves was guarding the camp when he spotted
a log floating toward him. Recognizing the Indian disguise and wanting
to warn his fellow soldiers, he fired his gun. Arrows felled the poor
fellow as the Indians came out to ambush the camp. The Indians were
chased back again, and the south side of Lake Eola was chosen to bury
Orlando Reeves. | 
