Macon County History

This information courtesy of "The State of Georgia"

Macon County was created from Houston and Marion counties on Dec. 14, 1837 by an act of the General Assembly (Ga. Laws 1837, p. 66). According to that legislation, the new county's boundaries were defined as:

Beginning on Flint river, at the corner of Houston and Dooly counties, running thence East, on the line between Houston and Dooly, to the corners of the 14th and 15th Districts of Houston county; thence due North on the line between the 14th and 15th Districts, and between the 8th and 9th Districts of Houston county, to the let of land in the 8th District, whereon James A. Everett, Esq. now resides; thence around the Southern, Western and Northern boundary of said lot of land, to the said dividing line, between the said 8th and 9th Districts; thence due North again along said line, to the line between Houston and Crawford counties; thence South-westwardly along said county line, to Flint river; thence across said river and up the same to the line between Marion and Talbot counties; thence westwardly along said line, to the second East meridian of the 13th District, of originally Muscogee, now Marion county; thence due South along said meridian line, to the line dividing the counties of Sumter and Marion; thence Eastwardly on said line, between Sumter and Marion, to the Flint river; and thence up and along said river, to the beginning.

Georgia's 91st county was named for North Carolina politician Nathaniel Macon (1757-1837), who served in both houses of Congress (including six years as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives). Six months after his death, the Georgia legislature named a new county in his honor. Portions of Macon County were used to create Taylor County (1852) and Peach County (1924).

The act creating Macon County authorized the justices of the county's inferior court to select the site for the county seat, purchase land, lay the site out into town lots, sell lots, and use the proceeds to construct a courthouse and jail. Until this was done, county business was to take place at the house of Walter L. Campbell. The inferior court selected the town of Lanier to serve as county seat, and on Dec. 29, 1838, the General Assembly designed Lanier as permanent county seat and incorporated it as a town (Ga. Laws 1838, p. 121). Reportedly, Lanier was named for Clement S. Lanier. In the early 1850s, the Central of Georgia Railroad was built through Macon County. Its route missed Lanier but went through the town of Oglethorpe six miles to the south. As a result, many of Lanier's residents moved to Oglethorpe to be near the railroad. Subsequently, a number of Macon County residents began a campaign to have Oglethorpe declared county seat. In Feb. 1854, the General Assembly passed legislation calling for a referendum on removal of the county seat (Ga. Laws 1853-54, p. 341). Either the election failed or never was held, for on Feb. 28, 1856, the legislature passed another act calling for a referendum on removal of the county seat (Ga. Laws 1855-56, p. 416). Apparently, this election was held and resulted in Oglethorpe being designated the new county seat. First settled around 1840, Oglethorpe was named for Georgia founder James Oglethorpe and incorporated as a town on Dec. 14, 1849 (Ga. Laws 1849-50, p. 92).

Francis Marion

General Francis Marion was born in Charleston, in 1732. He was a Major in Col. Moultrie's regiment, when the attack was made on Sullivan's Island, in 1776. He was appointed Brigadier General in 1780. He was with General Greene at the battle of Eufaw Springs, and received the thanks of Congress for his intrepid bravery. He seldom failed capturing an enemy, when he went on the errand, and always did it by surprise. He died in 1795, having been eminently useful to the Southern States during the war.

Ref: Sherwood, Adiel, A GAZETTEER OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA, 1837, Printed by P. Force, 1837, Washington City, pp. 295-296.

Marion County, Georgia

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.

BUENA VISTA, made the county side in 1847, is situated 101 miles from Milledgeville. Tazewell, formerly the county site, is about 25 miles from the Flint River.

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.

Ref: White, Rev. George, HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF GEORGIA, 1854, Pudney & Russell, Publishers, New York, p. 35. [Reprinted 1968, Heritage Papers, Danielsville, GA)

Note: Adiel Sherwood, A GAZETTEER OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA, Washington City, Printed by P. Force, 1837, pp. 255-256. APPENDIX: BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES "The author conceived that a short biographical sketch of the individuals after whom the several counties were named, would furnish an instructive and pleasing appendage to his topographical work... Acquainted with the intimate friends of some of the 'venerable dead,' he has been furnished with sufficient materials to enlarge on their character... There are in the State ninety counties (book printed in 1837, presently in 2001, there are 159 counties)..."

John Houston

Hon. John Houston was one of the five individuals who called the first meeting of the friends of liberty in Savannah in 1774. He was a member of Congress in 1775 and Governor of Georgia from ’87 to ’85. Died at Savannah, in 1796.

Ref: Sherwood, Adiel, A GAZETTEER OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA, 1837, Printed by P. Force, Washington City, p. 286.

The British Invade Georgia

Georgia was in a very critical position. Of all the colonies, no other was so poorly prepared to wage war with the mother country. On the south the British threatened invasion from Florida; on the coast the enemy’s vessels had hardly any oppositon; on the north and west countless tribes of savages hovered around the borders, ready at any moment, in spite of their promises of peace, to descend upon the white settlements.

When the legislature me, January 17, 1778, John Houston was elected governor, as the successor of Governor Treutlen. Governor Houston was very anxious to drive the British from East Florida. Major-General Robert Howe, commander of the American army in the Southern States, had his headquarters at Savannah. He was won over to Governor Houston’s plans and organized an expedition to capture East Florida. He marched the Georgia brigade to the St. Marys River and waited for other troops to arrive by sea. Hearing that a force of British were within fourteen miles of his camp, General Howe resolved to attack them without waiting for the other forces. The attack failed, however, and nothing came of the expedition.

Ref: Evans, Lawton B., A. M., FIRST LESSONS IN GEORGIA HISTORY, 1913, American Book Co., New York, p. 136.

Houston County, Georgia

This county was organized in 1821. A part set off to Bibb and Crawford in 1822; a part to Pulaski in 1828; and a part to Crawford in 1830. Named after John Houston, formerly Governor of Georgia.

PERRY is the county town, situated upon the waters of Big Indian Creek, sixty-seven miles from Milledgeville.

Among the first settlers in this county were, Abner Wimberly, James and David Clark, Allen Sutton, Allen Williams, Meredith Joiner, Thos. Gilbert, J. M. Kelly, Colonel Howell Cobb, Lewis Hunt, Daniel Dupree, Jacob Little, James Everitt, Rev. Daniel McKenzie, Thomas Scott, David W. Mann, Henry W. Kaly, Jesse Pollock, Amos Wingate, James Duncan and F. Patillo.

Ref: White, Rev. George, M. A., HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF GEORGIA, 1854, Pudney & Russell, Publishers, New York, pp. 496-498. (Reprinted 1968, Heritage Papers, Danielsville, GA)

Note: Adiel Sherwood, A GAZETTEER OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA, Washington City, Printed by P. Force, 1837, pp. 255-256. APPENDIX: BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES "The author conceived that a short biographical sketch of the individuals after whom the several counties were named, would furnish an instructive and pleasing appendage to his topographical work... Acquainted with the intimate friends of some of the 'venerable dead,' he has been furnished with sufficient materials to enlarge on their character... There are in the State ninety counties (book printed in 1837, presently in 2001, there are 159 counties)..."