Laurel, Indiana

Laurel was platted, originally, Xovember 30, 1836, by pioneer James Conwell, who had been selling goods from his house before that date. At first he intended naming his new town site Xew Baltimore, but later changed his notion and called his town Laurel after a town in his old home state, Maryland. It is situated on the old canal and is described on the maps as being situated on parts of sections 9 and 10 in township 12, range 12 east. It is on the Big Four system of railroad. During the first few years of its history it grew very rapidly, especially during the years in which the canal was being constructed, which was from 1839 to 1845. "Dove," the first canal boat to pass through the canal at this point, was owned by W. Harding, of Laurel. The opening of the canal brought in several new business factors, including IVIessrs. William S. Geyer, George and Samuel Shoup, David Hazzard, Louis Steffey, the Snyder brothers. Doctor Giftord, James A. Derbyshire, Horatio Burgoyne, Joel Palmer and a few others. The population of Laurel in 19 10 was five hundred and three.

Passage source: History of Franklin County, Indiana : Her People, Industries and Institutions, published 1915.

Without further evidence of the spirit of enterprise and busv industries at this point, one has, today, but to look upon the ruins of numerous stone and brick structures, many years ago the scene of shops and factories and flouring mills. A wonderful talc conld these old buildings tell were they gifted with tongues. Here men bought anfl soM, manufactured an<l .>hi[)ped by water navigation many useful products. The old canal, completed in 1845, was the great artery of trade to and from the town, which grew rapidly until 1852. Fortunes were here made, and in several instances lost. Many men of more than ordinary note have, at one time or another, resided in Laurel.

Passage source: History of Franklin County, Indiana : Her People, Industries and Institutions, published 1915.

The next mill built was by John Ferris, three and a half miles below the town of Laurel. This mill burned and was never rebuilt. Mr. Webster then constructed a rude mill, near Laurel, at the site of the later "Laurel Wreath mills." It was of but little account. In 1843 Samuel Fisher removed and enlarged this mill and it was rebuilt by the Conwells once if not more times; it was burned in 1855. David Hazzard rebuilt in 1857, selling out to Johnson & ]Moak, and they in turn to James A. Derbyshire. It burned again in 1868, and in 1879 it was again rebuilt by Fisher & Withers. Later it was operated by Flerman B. Buhlmann. It was originally propelled by the waters of the river, but later utilized the water from a cut-oflf of the canal.

Passage source: History of Franklin County, Indiana : Her People, Industries and Institutions, published 1915.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Laurel Township - it names this place 11 more 11 times.