Butts County GaArchives History .....Historical Collections of Georgia 1854
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Linda Blum-Barton http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00003.html#0000645 November 11, 2004, 5:41 pm

BUTTS COUNTY.

This county was laid out from Monroe and Henry in 1825.  Length, 17m.; 13 m. in 
breadth; area square miles, 221.  Named after Captain Samuel Butts, who lost 
his life in the battle of Chalibbee, on the 27th of January, 1814.

The Ocmulgee flows along the eastern borders of this county.  The small streams 
are Tussahaw, Yellow Water, Sandy Creek, &c.

The face of the country is level.  The gray lands prevail, and are admirably 
suited for cotton.

Jackson is the county site, 55 m. N.W. of Milledgeville.
Dublin is eight miles from Jackson.
Lofton's Store, 7 m. from Jackson.

The Indian Springs are situated upon the waters of Sandy Creek.  They have a 
high reputation, and are much resorted to.

Extract from the Census, 1850:--Dwellings, 642; families, 642; white males, 
1,888; white females, 1,792; free coloured males, 2; free coloured females, 1; 
total free population, 3,683; slaves, 2,805; deaths, 55; farms, 391; 
manufacturing establishments, 14; value of real estate, $717,112; value of 
personal estate, $1,588, 752.

The climate is salubrious.  Among the instances of longevity are, Mrs. 
McMichael, who died at 100; Mr. Butril, over 80; E. Price, a Revolutionary 
soldier, 79; Robert Grier, 80; Wm. Foster, 105.

Early settlers,--A. McClendon, Jesse Dolly, Samuel Clarke, Thos. Robinson, Col. 
Z. Phillips, John Terrell, Howell Andrews, Thos. Buford, A. Woodward, Wm. 
Barclay, James Harkness, Abner Bankston, John McMichael, *------  McCord, and 
others, mostly from South Carolina, and the upper counties of Georgia.

Planters' Factory is situated at the seven islands on the Ocmulgee River.  
Capital, $50,000.  Water power said to be unsurpassed by any in Georgia.
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Miscellaneous.

In 1826, Ludwell Watts was convicted of murder in this county, and was 
sentenced to death, but was twice respited by the Governor, to afford the 
Legislature an opportunity of considering his case.  A bill for his pardon was 
passed in the House, but rejected by the Senate.  The last respite extended to 
Friday, 14th December, 1826, on which day the Sheriff went to the jail to carry 
the prisoner to execution, but he having procured arms, defied the officer, 
threatened to kill him if he entered the jail, and it was not until three or 
four days afterwards that Watts gave up  and was hung.

On Major Ward's plantation there are three mounds, with embankments, running to 
the River Ocmulgee.  These mounds were excavated a few years ago, and a variety 
of Indian implements found.




Additional Comments:
Historical Collections of Georgia:

Compiled From Original Records and Official Documents.

Illustrated by Nearly One Hundred Engravings of Public Buildings, Relics of 
Antiquity, Historic Localities, Natural Scenery, Portraits of Distinguished 
Men, Etc., Etc.

By The Rev. George White, M. A., Author of the "Statistics of Georgia."
New-York: Pudney & Russell. Publishers.
No. 79 John Street.
1854

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