Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-12
CAROLINA SKETCHES.
EFFECT OF THE COMPLETION
OF THE \. AND X. ROAD.

vi "A. AMI IA ANOEADs
Laurens County's Early HIstOry-Aston-
ishing Longevity Present Taxable
VaIues-Public Scholastic Oity of
Laurens-Early Statistics-Lively Lo-
eatiOn--The Grsenville Branch-Sket CHI
of LAurens Court House-Laurens Fe-
male COllege-The nj ale = cademy-The
Fourth Estate-County Ofiiciais-A
Musical Sheridan Ancient Ruin.
The completion OF the Augusta and
Knoxville railroad to Laurens proved an
lncalculable blessing to the community.
For half century that ancient town
had remained nearly at stand, almost
within hearing, in late years, of the hum
and hustle of the region developed by the
Clyde railway system. Possessed of in
acknowledgements OF success and advantages
OF soil and climate unsurpassed at the
South, it was not long before these gifts of
nature began to assert themselves.
Never has any Carolina town expanded
with greater rapidity or upon more sub
stantial basis. But the writer must not
anticipate, as the reader has not reached
that point. He was lett at Waterloo, but
the writer will now utilize Mr.. RaouPs
road again, and after passing High Point
and Madden's, small stations, situated in
a country teeming with fertility, trans
port him at once to the Bendella Hotel,
where be will be deity cared for by the
far ladies' who preside over that estaO-
lishment.
The settlementof
LAURENS COUNTY
ante-dates the first struggle for indie
pendence, and according to Robert Mills
History, rare work, now out of print,
reaches hack tn about the Inn At
forwards it was named in honor of that
staunch patriot, Henry LauTens. The
colony received important accessions
from Virginia by the refugees who fed
South after BraddOck's defeat.
This county, better known now as the
Piedmont Region. was always noted for It's
peculiar health and salubrity. AS early
as 175S many instances OF longevity are
on record, including those of a MIR. Neigh
bors and his wife, who lived respectively
TO the ages of 1l2 and 100 years. They
were Pennsylvanians, and had been mar
rled eighty years. Another lady, Mrs.
Newly, died in her 18th year.
In the early days of the settlement
butfalOes were very numerous, but have
long since disappeared.
In 1920 the county numbered 1852 in
habtants, and So, i72 % were raised by
taxation, 1t was then entitled to four
Representatives and one Senator in the
CLdbC Luz vi S''uISt LHo IiODeIJl
In slaves was then included in the return
of taxes. At that time land YVES put
down at from S6 to $2j per acre, and corn
was worth Soc, and wheat 75c. per bushe.
The annual hire of negro laborers was
from $50 to 500 per annum.
The present taxable values Of the county
foot up SO. 054,650, exclusive of the rail
roads, and the population is not less than
10000. From the efficient Commissioner,
MIR. X. S. Griffin, we learn that $4,000
were expended on the public schools last
year, which are 125 in number, and give
employment to ITO teachers. The county
was originally a part Of Ninty-siX dis
trict. On June l3, 1885, the first county
court was organized near the present
county site, as it is quantity expressed,
with 'seven Gent Justices" tO-wit: Jo-
seph Downs, James Montgomery, JOpa-
than Downs, Sylvanus W. Mitcherson,
Charles Saxon and John Rodgers. The
Clerk, Charles Saxon, was required to
give bond of 81 $780, Sheriff Millwee ST.
900, and the Coroner, Joseph Adair, ST.
800. The land upon which the court
house, Jail, pillory and whipping post
were constructed was purchased from
John Rodgers, and is still the county site.
THE CITY OF LAURENs,
| therefore, it Will be seen, was located in
1885, little more than a century ago.
The place remained for many years, how
/ ever, an insignificant village. Ia 1924 it
I contained thirty-tve houses and $50 in
habitants. The increase was almost i'm
perceptible until the advent Of the rail-
road, when the town took a new depart
ure and is now advancing with stately
strides in population, wealth and COM
mercial importance.
Situated in picturesque and charming
country, WITH lofty hills and verdant
fields and valleys, dotted with neat dwell
linz hn1 q ViGJA m cid
it is difficult to conceive of more lovely
spot. When to this, too, is superadded
the perfect salubrty OF the climate,
its pure water, freedom from mosquitoes,
its refined society, educational advantages
and rich back country, no higher induce
ments can he offered to capitalists seek
ing good investments, or the deniZens of
the low country on the lookout for sum-
mer resorts or permanent homes where
they may dwell the year round and rear
their families with all the advantages of
town and country than to come here.
RAILROADS.
In a few weeks also another impetus
will be given to the growth OF the town
by the completion OF the branch of the
Augusta and Knoxville and Greenville,
| Laurens and Spartanburg railroad TO
Greenville, fiOurishing city of 1000 in
habitants. This, too, Is the work of Mr.
! Raoui and the Central railroad, with the
assistance of $3.50, 600 raised by local tax
alton. To the people Of Greenville it will
prove bonanza by opening up a new and
| more direct route 10 the sea, and assuring
competitive through freight rates from
the Clyde and Central systems. Real
estate on the line of the new road in that
hitherto undeveloped but delightful region
will likewise advance almost indefinitely.
STATISTICS OF THE CITY.
Laurens, or "Laurens Court House, az
it is usually styled, contains population
of ever LOO souls, and a larger number
OF substantial mercantile houses to the
size Of the place cannot be found in the
State. They are forty in number, and
display numerous stocks of goods, which
would do no discredt to Savannah or At
lanta. Let us enumerate some of the
principal merchants, all Of whom read
and subscribe 10 the MORNING NEWS.
In the line OF general merchandise we
find the name of John d. Sheahan. II son
of Georgia, VINO gives his whole patronage
and influence to the road when unites
with links Ofsteel tne Palmetto State and
her sister over the river. Next. in the |
same department, come J. Q. G. Fleming
d. Co.. ". A. Watts, l.. q. Bale IL CO.. |
Todd, Simpson Il Co, w. II. Garrett,