That site had first been settled by Philander Prescott in 1841, but had languished due to land disputes with the federal government and the influential American Fur Company.
Maxson was one of the pioneers who finally broke this impasse, buying out some of the original fur trading interests and establishing the first store in 1851.
[3] They had the site platted and surveyed and actively promoted the growth of the settlement, and Maxson operated a medical practice there for the next fifteen years.
Through the 1850s, Maxson was identified with a group of Republican men in Prescott referred to as the "Waukegan Clique", including Austin H. Young.
They had a difficult time moving through Illinois due to problems with the railroad and insufficient winter lodgings, but eventually arrived at Weston, Missouri.
[12] Afterward, they were involved in pacifying remaining Confederate resistance in southern Mississippi and Louisiana until they received a veterans' furlough in March 1864.
Returning from their furlough in Wisconsin, they met the non-veteran members of the regiment and then joined Sherman's Atlanta campaign, meeting the Army of the Tennessee at Acworth, Georgia, in June.
[12] Shortly after arriving, they participated in preliminary actions leading toward the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, at which Maxson distinguished himself.
After crossing the field, they navigated through the wood and found himself on the flank of a Confederate rifle pit, and poured on enfilading fire into the trench.
The Confederates fled back to their reserve lines until reinforced by a brigade, which exchanged fire with Maxson's detachment, which soon withdrew in good order.
Maxson led a rapid advancing skirmishing line which forced Confederates to abandon trenches and flee to the other side of the river.
They came under intense fire in open field, but charged directly into a Confederate trench, engaging in hand-to-hand combat.
[12]: 582 The 12th Regiment had been reduced to 600 combat-ready men before the start of this charge and lost another 134 in the attack, but captured the line along with hundreds of Confederate firearms.
[1] Densmore Maxon, who was also a prominent Wisconsin politician at roughly the same time as Orrin, was a distant (sixth) cousin.