A thriving community when cotton was king, Laurens County has endured
the ravages of several wars, the Great Depression, and the devastation
of the boll weevil, and today retains the indomitable spirit of her
earliest settlers. Although no longer plagued by such hardships, Laurens
Countians are still bonded by the ideals and rights for which their
ancestors fought, and work equally hard to maintain a community of which
they and their children can be proud. Laurens County was created on
December 10, 1807, and named for Col. John Laurens, an aide to Gen.
George Washington during the American Revolution. The original county
seat was located at Sumpterville, about five miles west of Dublin near
the banks of Turkey Creek. The history of the county has been marked by
a thriving plantation system in the 19th century, an unyielding service
to her country in wartime, an economic boom with the coming of the
railroad, the establishment of successful local industries, the building
of numerous churches and schools, and participation in a wide variety of
sports and recreational activities. Many Laurens
Countians have achieved fame and celebrity, whether as courageous
soldiers on the battlefield or triumphant athletes on the playing field,
and they are highlighted in this volume along with local landmarks and
memorable community events.