BOUNDED on the N. by Crawford, E. by Houstoun and a part of Talbot, S. by a portion of Dooly and Sumter, W. by Marion, and named after the Hon. Nathaniel Macon.
The Flint River flows through the county, and has the following tributaries, viz.:---Beaver, Juniper, Horse, White Water, Bucks, Buck Head, and Spring.
On the Flint River are several mounds.
LANIER is the seat of justice, situated on the west side of the Flint River, 80 miles from Milledgeville. It was named after Clement Lanier, Esq.
Oglethorpe is one mile W. of Flint River, and fifty miles from Macon. The site of the town is high, dry, and sandy. It is so situated as to command the trade of a large portion of Southwestern Georgia. The place has rapidly improved. Mr. S. S. Boone built the first house.
Montezuma, on the east side of the Flint River, was founded by John T. Brown, Esq.
Cuyler is two miles west of Oglethorpe.
Marshallville, Winchester, and Marthasville, are on the Southwestern Railroad.
The face of the country is level. East of the Flint River the lands are mixed.
Extract from the Census of 1850.---Dwellings, 679; families, 679; white males, 2,091; white females, 1,999; 1 free coloured female. Total free population, 4,091; slaves, 2,961. Farms, 419. Value of real estate, $1,249,925; value of personal estate, $1,684,317.
Among the first settlers of this county were, WM. H. HOLLINGSHEAD, W. N. L. CROCKER, NEEDHAM MUSSEY, JAMES M. TAYLOR, WM. COLE, GEO. V. WHITEFIELD, JACOB DUNN, SAMUEL WILLIAMS, DAVID JONES, PHILIP BAILEY, ROBERT PEACOCK, R. SELLERS, JOHN STAPLER, WM. McDOWELL, EDWARD BROOKS, WALTER L. CAMPBELL, JOHN RUSHIN, ROBERT BROOKS, JOHN MOTT, HENRY TURNER, JOHN YOUNG, WM. MEASLES, JOHN PERRY, A. BRANHAM, E. ADAMS, JESSE ROUSE, JOHN MONK, ROBERT GREENE, D. WADLEY, M. WADLEY, D. MITCHELL, THOMAS BIVINS, GEO. BUCHANAN, JAMES KAIGLER, WM. UNDERWOOD, N. POWELL, R. SNELLING, L. THROWER, S. HILL, JOSHUA NEWSOME, WM. TOMPKINS, D. OWENS, R. STEWART, M. KEMP.
The first court was held at the house of Walter L. Campbell, Judge King presiding.
Upon the plantation now owned by Mr. L. Wyley was formerly a place known as Barnett's Reserve, on the east side of the Flint River.
WAS laid out from Oglethorpe, Clarke, Jackson, Franklin, and Elbert, in 1811. Part added from Clarke in 1813; part from Elbert and Franklin in 1819; part taken from Franklin in 1823; part from Clarke, 1829; part taken from Oglethorpe in 1831. It received its name from the illustrious James Madison. Length, 14 m.; breadth, 13 m.; area square miles, 182.
The Broad River is the chief stream.
Good lands are on Blue Stone Creek. The lands on the north fork of Broad River are very inferior. On the south fork the lands are productive. The northwest part of the county is poor. The productions are cotton, corn, &c.
The climate is pleasant and healthy.
There are several instances of longevity. Mr. JAMES PITTMAN, 93; Mrs. LETTUCE MILLIGAN, 89; Mr. STEPHEN GROVES was over 98; Mr. JAMES THOMPSON was over 80; Mr. JAMES CARUTH, over 80; Mr. JAMES SAUNDERS, 80; Captain ROBERT L. TATE, 80; Rev. TIMOTHY CARRINGTON died at 80; ALEXANDER HAMAN, at 80; Wm. CHEEK, at 89; CHARLES TUGLE, 87.
Among the early settlers were, SAMUEL LONG, JACOB EBERHART, SAMUEL WOODS, STEPHEN GROVES, General DANIEL.
DANIELSVILLE, named after General Allen Daniel, is the capital, distant from Milledgeville 87 miles.
Madison Springs are 20 miles N. E. of Athens. For forty years they have had a high reputation. The accommodations are of a superior character.
Extract from the Census of 1850.---Dwellings, 692; families, 692; white males, 1,848; white females, 1,919; 1 free coloured male; free coloured females, 2. Total free population, 3,670; slaves, 1,933. Deaths, 68. Farms, 404; manufacturing establishments, 3. Value of real estate, $927,844; value of personal estate, $1,134,308.
NAMED after General Francis Marion, and laid out from Muscogee and Lee in 1827; part added to Crawford in 1827; part added to Muscogee in 1829. Length, about 41 m.; breadth, 30 m.
There is great variety in the soil. In some parts the land is red and stiff, but the most of it is a lose, sandy soil, and very productive. Cotton, rice, corn, &c., are the productions.
There is no large river in this county. The creeks are the Kinchafoona, Pine Knot, Uchee, &c.
BUENA VISTA, made the county site in 1847, is situated 101 miles from Milledgeville.
Tazewell, formerly the county site, is about 25 miles from Flint River.
Pineville, in the western corner of the county, is 15 miles from Tazewell.
Glenalta is in the northern, and Poindexter in the southeast part.
Extract from the Census of 1850.---Dwellings, 1,101; families, 1,101; white males, 3,270; white females, 3,298; free coloured males, 3; free coloured females, 5. Total free population, 6,676; slaves, 3,604. Deaths, 72. Farms, 563; manufacturing establishments, 4. Value of real estate, $1,359,940; value of personal estate, $2,107,500.
Among the first settlers in this county were, THOMAS BIVINS, D. M. BURKHALTER, J. BURKHALTER, MORGAN KEMP, REUBEN KEMP, RANDALL STEWART, D. OWENS, R. SELLERS.
Laid out by the Lottery Act of 1821, and a part set off to Butts, 1825, and named after James Monroe, President of the United States. Length, 21 m.; breadth, 16 m.; area square miles, 336.
The Ocmulgee forms the eastern boundary. The Towaliga empties into the Ocmulgee. There are several creeks, viz., Tobesofkee, Crooked, Shoal, &c.
Extract from the Census of 1850. --- Dwellings, 1,194; families, 1,194; white males, 3,472; white females, 3,338; free coloured males, 2; free coloured females, 3. Total free population, 6,815; slaves, 10,170. Deaths, 210. Farms, 746; manufacturing establishments, 2. Value of real estate, $2,580,103; value of personal estate, $5,684,909.
The soil is various, combining the best and the worst. The lands on the water-courses are rich, dark, chocolate soil, well timbered, and admirably adapted to the cultivation of cotton. The mulatto and gray lands are tolerably productive.
FORSYTH is the county town, situated on a ridge dividing the waters of Rum and Tobesofkee creeks, 50 miles W N. W. of Milledgeville.
At this place is located the Forsyth Female Collegiate Institute. The wealthy and intelligent citizens of Forsyth, and Monroe County generally, having felt for some years the inconvenience and impolicy of sending their daughters far from home to obtain a suitable education, determined to change their course, and throw themselves upon their own resources.
Accordingly, the citizens of the county and village determined to establish a female school of high order. Au act, incorporating a college seminary at Forsyth, passed the State Legislature in 18t9, which was at once carried into effect by the Mends of the enterprise. The brick building known as the Monroe Railroad Bank, owned by the Masonic Fraternity, was repaired and enlarged with a Third story, at a cost of several thousand dollars so as to accommodate a school of seventy or eighty pupils.
The Board of Trustees chose the Rev. E. J. C. Thomas Principal during the year 1850. He was succeeded by the Rev. William C. Wilkes, who entered upon his duties with a determination to elevate the institution to a rank equal to any in the South. He well knew the difficulties to be encountered; but with prudence, en and a full board of efficient assistants, the College was soon p1aced in a position to secure confidence and command extensive patronage. The annual increase of pupils has been over twenty-five per cent.
In two years, under its present organization, the increase of pupils was so great, and the audiences which attended the commencement occasions were so large, that the Trustees were convinced other and more extensive arrangements should be made to meet the wants of the institution.
The old Southern Botanic College building, a large and imposing edifice in an unfinished condition, was purchased and completed for a sum little less than $10,000, and is now an ornament to the town, and well suited to the purposes contemplated.
The principal and nearly all his assistants reside in the College. Connected with it are a good library, a well-selected chemical, philosophical, and astronomical apparatus, and a mineralogical cabinet, with some of the rarest and finest specimens.
Culloden is a quiet and pleasant village, 32 miles west of Macon. It was selected by gentlemen of wealth having large families to educate on account of its healthiness. It is named after Mr. William Culloden, one of the first settlers of the county. At this place there has been for several years an excellent seminary for young ladies.
Gulletsville, or New Market, is twelve miles north of Forsyth.
Russellville is eight miles northeast of Culloden.
Prattsville is nine miles from Forsyth.
On the Towaliga River are the falls known as the Towaliga Falls. In the "Illustrations of Georgia," by William C. Richards Esq., they are thus described :-" The pleasing impressions first received were continually enhanced by successive and varied views, which may be obtained at will. Indeed, so fine is the view afforded from many points, that it is difficult to decide which is the most attractive; and passing from rock to rock, the beholder is ever delighted with new features. This variety is the greatest charm of the scene. The river above the falls is about three hundred feet wide, flowing swiftly over a rocky shoal. At its first descent it is divided by a ledge of rock, and forms two precipitous falls for a distance of fifty feet. The falls are much broken by the uneven surface over which the water flows, and on reaching their rocky basin are shivered into foam and spray."
GEORGIA EPISCOPAL INSTITUTE. --- The Episcopal Church is chiefly indebted to the liberality of G. B. Lamar, Esq., formerly of the city of Savannah, now of the city of New-York, for this invaluable seminary. It is located at Montpelier, in this county, about seventeen miles from Macon, fourteen from Forsyth, and six from the Macon and Western Railroad. Its advantages are not surpassed by those of any school in the United States. Until the property was purchased by Mr. Lamar, it was a favourite resort for invalids, who were attracted by its medicinal springs, healthful climate, and delightful temperature. Its natural beauties, which are rarely equalled, have been improved with the finest taste. The visitor needs only to see its extensive lawn, majestic groves, shady walks, beautiful gardens, and spacious buildings, to be in love with the spot. The course of instruction is thorough and complete, embracing every item that can contribute to fit a lady for the first stations in society. Its teachers are persons of high character and first-rate abilities. It may be truly said that in this school true religion, useful learning, and polished refinement, are inseparably united.
Among the early settlers were, O. WOODWARD, B. ROGERS, P. LACY, Rev. O. ROGERS, JOB TAYLOR, T. HARPUE, A. PONDER, Mr. LESTER, WILLIAMSON MIMS, JOHN BROWN, E. BROWN, A. CHAPMAN, A. LOCKITT, A. REDDING, THOMAS HOLLAND, SIMON BROOKS, THOS. DEWBERRY, JOSIAH HORTON, A. DAVIS, JOSEPH DUNN, MOSES DUMAS, BENJ. DUMAS, D. PONDER, THOS. BATTLE, E. JACKSON, A. CHAPELL, W. P. HENRY, WILKINS HUNT, ANDREW WEST, Rev. G. CHRISTIAN, Dr. BROWN, Dr. E. W. JONES, DAVID McDADE, Dr. LAW, Geo. W. GORDON.
The following instances of remarkable longevity have come to our knowledge: ---
JESSE POWELL, 81; Mrs. SARAH WOODWARD died at 84; Mrs. BROOKS died between 80 and 90; JOHN CHAPELL at 80; JOHN KING, 84; Mrs. BLOUNT, 80; EDEN TAYLOR, between 80 and 90; W. A. WHEELER, over 83; JOHN WATSON, 86; AARON JORDON, 82; Benjamin HAYGOOD, 83. Three years ago there were living, Rev. RICHARD HOLMES, aged 80; Mrs. RICHARD HOLMES, 80; Mrs. JOINER, 80; PHILEMON LACY, 80; SIMON BROOKS, 90; Major SULLIVAN, 80; Mr. HARPUE, 90.
Mrs. HAYGOOD, aged 93, recently died in this county. "She was born on Christmas, married on Christmas, and baptized on Christmas." She was 69 years a member of the Baptist Church.
ANDERSON REDDING died on the 9th of February, 1843, in the 80th year of his age. No sooner had he arrived at the vigour and elasticity of manhood, than he was enrolled among those of the New World who determined to be free, and contended against the tyranny of British oppression. He served under his country's banner with a patriot's zeal and. devotion. He was present at the consummation of American liberty, the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. The recollections of that glorious day lingered long in his memory, a rehearsal of which often caused him to feel as though the ardour and buoyancy of earlier days were yet fresh upon him, while a big round tear would fall and. moisten the old man's cheek
Rev. ISAAC SMITH died in this county in 1834, aged 76 years. He was a soldier in the Revolution under Washington, and. was present at most of the principal actions which were fought by his distinguished leader, and although his term of service expired before the close of the war, yet he was present as a volunteer at the capturing of Cornwallis at Yorktown; after which he retired from military life, and was soon after, under the preaching of the Methodists, awakened and converted, and called of God to preach deliverance to the captives and the opening of the prison doors to those that were bound by the fetters of sin.
METEORIC STONE. --- On the 8th of May, 1828, a meteoric stone fell near Forsyth. About four o'clock a black cloud appeared south from Forsyth, from which two distinct explosions were heard in immediate succession, followed by a tremendous rumbling or whizzing noise, passing through the air, which lasted about four minutes. This uncommon noise was on the same evening accounted for by Mr. Sparks and Captain Postian, who were informed by some negroes working in a field one mile south of Forsyth, that they had seen a large stone descending through the air, weighing, as it was afterwards ascertained, thirty-six pounds. This stone was in the course of the evenings, or very early the next morning, recovered from the spot where it fell. It had penetrated the earth two feet and a half. The outside wore the appearance as if it had been in a furnace. It was covered about the thickness of a common knife-blade with a black substance, somewhat like lava that had been melted. On breaking the stone, it had a strong sulphureous smell, and exhibited a metallic substance resembling silver. A fine specimen of this aerolite may be seen in the cabinet of Franklin University.
The first Superior Court in Monroe County was held on the 3d day of June, 1822, at the house of H. H. Lumpkin, Esq., nine miles northwest of Forsyth, by the Hon. C. B STRONG and A. G. SAFFOLD, Esq., Judge and Solicitor of the Ocmulgee Circuit.
| GEORGE CABANISS, | DAVID DUMAS, | |
| ISAAC WELCH, | ROLAND PARHAM, | |
| ABNER LOCKETT, | WILLIAM SAUNDERS, | |
| JAMES D. LESTER, | JOHN HAMIL, | |
| HUGH W. ECTOR, | JAMES SLATTINGS, | |
| LEMUEL GRESHAM | JOSEPH YOUNGBLOOD, | |
| HENRY WIMBERLY, | WILLLIAM D. WRIGHT, | |
| JOHN C. WILLIS, | WILLIAM BELL | |
| THOMAS WYNN, | JESSE EVANS | |
| WOOD MORELAND. | ||
Laid out from Washington in 1793; part set off to Tattnall, 1801; part added to Laurens, 1811; parts taken from Telfair and Tattnall, 1811; part set off to Emanuel, 1812; part taken from Tattnall, 1814; parts from Telfair, 1820 and 1833. Named after General Richard Montgomery, an early martyr to the cause of American liberty. Length, 26 m.; breadth, 24 m.; area square miles, 624.
The Little Ocmulgee, or Auchee Hachee, and the Oconee, are the chief streams.
The creeks are Lott's, Limestone, Flat, Cypress, Red Bluff, Alligator, Tiger, Little, Okewalkee, Pendleton, and Swift.
MOUNT VERNON is the county site, one mile from the Oconee River. It is 87 miles from Milledgeville; 40 from Jacksonville; 40 from Reidsville; 38 from Swainsborough; 33 from Dublin; 100 from Savannah, and 110 from Augusta.
Colquitt and Boxville are small places.
The face of the country is level, the soil sandy, and in some places fertile. The productions are cotton, sugar-cane, corn, wheat, oats, &c. Between 500 and 600 bales of cotton are annually produced. Land sells at from 25 cts. to $3 per acre.
Extract from the Census of 1850.---Dwellings, 236; families, 236; white males, 819; white females, 722. Total free population, 1,541; slaves, 613. Deaths, 22. Farms, 168. Value of real estate, $120,693; value of personal estate, $384,008.
Among the first settlers were, the CONNORs, ALSTONs, McMILLANs, McCRANIEs, McLEODs, McINTYREs, ADAMSes, WALLS, &c.
This section lies within the primary formation, and was laid out from Baldwin in 1807. Length, 17 m.; breadth, 16 m.; area square miles, 272. It was named after General Daniel Morgan.
The face of the country is undulating. The lands of the best kind are embraced in a section of country commencing a few miles below Madison, and extending across the county, from east to west, on the waters of Little Oconee and Appalachee rivers, and Indian and Sugar Creeks.
Cotton, corn, wheat, rye, oats, barley, &c., are the principal productions. Orchards do not appear to thrive. From 12,000 to 14,000 bags of cotton are produced in one year.
This was formerly regarded an unhealthy county; but it has very much improved within a few years, and the bills of mortality will compare with those of any section in the same latitude.
MADISON is the county town, situated on a ridge surrounded by a fertile country. It is 43 miles N. N. W. of Milledgeville. It was incorporated and made the county site in 1809.
Here is located the Madison Female College, an institution of a recent date, numbering, according to the last catalogue, 171 pupils. It is well supplied with philosophical and chemical instruments. Board, including fuel, washing, and lights, may be had in private families at from $10 to $12 per month. The course of study embraces every useful and ornamental branch.
The Georgia Female College is also situated in Madison, numbering, according to the last catalogue, 156 pupils. The trustees have authorized the formation of a Normal class, for the benefit of those graduates who may desire to receive instruction in the theory and practice of teaching. No charge is made for their tuition. The apparatus is of the most recent and approved construction. Board from $10 to $12 per month.
MADISON STEAM MILL COMPANY.---This mill is located at Madison. The Company have a capital of $69,280; number of spindles, 2,016; looms, 26; operatives, 75; number of yards of cloth made per day, 1,040; amount of cotton used per day, 1,600 pounds. This establishment manufactures stripes, tickings, rope, &c., and has in the course of erection machinery to spin wool and make kerseys. Attention is paid to the religious instruction of the operatives, and the proprietors speak highly of their conduct.
Winship's Cotton Gin Factory is situated ten mlies (sic) south of Madison; machinery moved by water-power; capital, $20,000; from fifteen to twenty hands employed.
High Shoals Factory, on Appalachee River, manufactures domestics and yarns.
Wellington, Rehobothville, and Buck Head are small places.
According to the census of 1850, there were in the county 621 dwelling-houses; 621 families; 1,862 white males; 1,772 white females; 11 free coloured males; 5 free coloured females. Total free population, 3,650; slaves, 7,094; 216 deaths; 336 farms; 31 manufacturing establishments. Value of personal estate, $3,930,583; value of real estate, $1,648,414.
Among the early settlers were, HENRY CARLTON, BEDNEY FRANKLIN, WILLIAM BROWN, JESSE and CHARLES MATTHEWS, Dr. WILLIAM JOHNSON, LANCELOT JOHNSON, ADAM G. SAFFOLD, REUBEN MANN, Dr. JOHN WINGFIELD, D. W. PORTER, ISHAM and JEPTHA FANNING.
Macon, Madison and Marion counties transcribed by Tim Stowell - November, 2006
Monroe County transcribed by Liz Robertson - November, 2003.
Montgomery County transcribed by Don McHugh - November, 2005
Morgan County transcribed by Don McHugh - November, 2005
First put online 28 Feb 2004.
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