In March 1813, John Conner laid out the town of Connersville on the north side of the west fork of the Whitewater River beside his fur trading post. The original plat contained 62 lots bounded by what are today Central Ave on the west, Water St. on the east, Third St. on the south, and Sixth St. on the north. The town’s first construction included a saw mill and grist mill north of town using water power, and a general store and distillery in town. Settlement came slowly, and as late as 1815 only four cabins stood there. After Fayette County’s boundary lines were established in Dec. 1818, Connersville became the county seat, and John Conner served briefly as sheriff of the newly organized county. In 1820 he helped plat the new capital of Indianapolis, and in 1822 he moved his fur trading business to Noblesville, north of Indianapolis. He also served as State Senator and Representative. He died in Indianapolis in April 1826 and was buried there.