Clay-Early County GaArchives History .....History Of Early County And Fort Gaines 1850
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
REBECCA STEWART RSTEWART@ENERVEST.NET February 10, 2012, 1:25 pm

Note:  Clay County was not formed until 1851.  This was written prior to the 
formation of Clay County when this area was part of Early County.

EARLY.
Boundaries, Extent.
	This county is bounded N by Randolph, E. by Baker, S. by Decatur, and 
W. by Alabama. Laid out in 1818, and a part added to Decatur in 1823, and a 
part
to Baker in 1825. Length 37 miles, and breadth 25 miles.

Rivers and Creeks.
	The Chattahoochee river is the principal stream. Spring creek, which 
is a considerable stream, rises in this county and empties into the Flint 
river. Colomokee, Harrods, Sowahachee and Big creeks empty into the 
Chattahoochee.  Some other streams have their origin in this county, and 
discharge their waters into the Ichawaynochaway.

Population, Taxes, Representation.
	 In 1845 the population was 6,009; of these 3,001 were whites, and 
3,908 blacks, showing a greater equality in the number of whites and blacks 
than any county in the State. Amount of tax returned for 1849, $2,366 08. 
Sends one representative to the Legislature.

Post Offices.
	Blakely, Fort Gaines, Pachitla.

Towns.
	Blakely is the capital. It is a small but pleasantly located village, 
named after Capt. Blakely of the navy, who distinguished himself in the war of 
1812. It contains about 25 or 30 families, court-house, jail, school, two 
stores, two hotels, one church, &c. The place is considered healthy, and the 
water tolerable. It is 180 miles from Milledgeville, 40 miles N. of 
Bainbridge, 30 S. of Cuthbert, 42 W. of Newton. Business to the amount of 
$40,000 is annually transacted. Made the county seat in 1826. 
	Fort Gaines is on a beautiful bluff of the Chattahoochee, 160 feet 
above common water-mark. It contains two churches, one school, two taverns, & 
a Population 400.  More than $150,000 worth of goods annually sold. It is 25 
miles from Cuthbert, 20 from Blakely, 35 from Porter’s Ferry, and 55 from 
Newton.

Climate, Diseases, Longevity
	This section of our State, except in the lime-land valleys, is 
decidedly healthy. There are no diseases peculiar to the county. Pneumonia 
sometimes occurs, but no cases of consumption have ever been known.
	Among the oldest inhabitants were Mrs. Roberts, who is said to have 
been over 100 at the time of her death; Mr. Dill, Mr. Z. Cowart, and Mrs. 
Rebecca Collier, over 80 ; there are now living Mr. and Mrs. Golding, both 
near 90; and Mr. and Mrs. Yeldell, both over 90.

Early Settlers
	Benjamin Collier, the Sheffields, Judge Bush, Joseph and Richard 
Grimsley, the Hayes family, Jesse Brown, Alsey Harris, Robert Jackson, the 
Porter family, and others.

Face of the Country, Nature of the Soil
	The face of the country is gently undulating, almost without an 
elevation worthy of being called a hill, and two-thirds covered with forests 
of the tallest long-leaf pine. The surface is not a white sand, but is largely 
mixed with oxyde of iron underlain by red clay. 
	On the Chattahoochee river, and several large creeks which drain the 
country, there are tracts of rich lands with oak and hickory growth, the 
product of which in cotton may be estimated from 800 to 1,200 lbs. per acre, 
in corn from 16 to 35 bushels, wheat 6 to 12 bushels, and the production in 
oats is equal probably to any lands in Georgia. There are some excellent pine 
lands.

Religious Sects, Education
	The Baptists are the most numerous. There are Episcopal and Reformed 
Methodists.
	Education has recently engaged more attention than formerly, although 
the number of schools is still small.

Mills
	Saw-mills 6 , grist-mills 11 .

Mineral Springs
	On the Chattahoochee, on the plantation of Mrs. Glenn, there is a 
spring impregnated with the properties of sulfur.

Minerals, Rocks
	No primitive rocks are found. Concretions of iron, fossils, marl, and 
such other formations as belong to southwestern Georgia.

Productions
	Cotton, corn, sugar-cane, sweet potatoes, &c. Very little attention is 
paid to the cultivation of fruits.  Amount of cotton raised 3944 bales.

Antiquities
	Six miles north of Blakely, on Little Colomokee creek, at the 
plantation of Judge Mercier, is a mound 52 feet high, with an embankment 
surrounding it, and a ditch leading to the creek. Upon its summit are large 
trees. This mound has recently been penetrated to the depth of 50 feet, with 
the expectation of finding treasure, but nothing has been found but bones. 
There are other mounds on Dry creek and Chattahoochee river.

Animals
	Deer are abundant. Wolves and panthers are often killed. Wild turkeys 
are plentiful.

Character of the People
	The people of this county have a high reputation for good order, 
hospitality, &c. Persons who have visited this part of the State are lavish in 
the praise which they bestow upon the people.

Amusements
	Game being abundant, much time is devoted to the chase; the other 
amusements are fishing and dancing.

Roads and Bridges
	The roads and bridges do not reflect credit upon the inhabitants.

Name
	This county is named in honor of Governor Peter Early. This gentleman 
was born in Madison county, Virginia, on the 20th of June, 1773, and came to 
Georgia about 1795 or1796, and commenced the practice of the law in Wilkes 
county.  In 1802 he was elected to Congress by a large majority, and soon 
became a leading member of that body. When the impeachment of Judge Chase was 
before Congress, he was associated with Randolph, Rodney, Nicholson, Clark, 
Campbell, and Boyle, in conducting the prosecution. His speech on this 
occasion is said to have been the ablest that was delivered on the side of the 
prosecution. He continued in Congress until 1807, when he was appointed by the 
Legislature, Judge of the Superior Court in the Ocmulgee circuit. For this 
station he seems to have been eminently qualified. Firm, independent, and 
energetic, he administered justice without fear. In 1813 he was elected 
Governor of Georgia. This was a critical period. Accumulated disasters had 
nearly broken the spirit of the nation, and the howling tempest of war raged 
with violence. Whilst the stoutest hearts trembled for the safety of the 
country, the resolute mind of Governor Early beheld the threatened storm 
without dismay, and boldly prepared to avert its fury. With incredible 
dispatch he organized the militia of the State, and gave to our menaced 
frontiers an imposing attitude of defense. His military arrangements were in 
the main extremely judicious; and his administration of the government, from 
beginning to end, was most able and patriotic. Uninfluenced by the selfish 
conduct which characterized some of the States, he cheerfully rendered the 
National Government every assistance in his power towards carrying on the war 
with vigour and effect. The following fact will speak for itself:  An officer 
in the service of the United States being destitute of funds, and unable to 
procure a further supply, in consequence of the embarrassed state of the 
national finances, applied to Governor Early for a loan of $80,000, and 
pledged for its payment the faith of the General Government. Rather than the 
operations of the army should languish, the request was readily granted, and a 
warrant for the amount drawn upon the treasury of the State. It was suggested 
by a gentleman who happened, to be present, that as the union of the States 
might not be of very long duration, in which case each member of the 
confederacy must defend itself, that it wouId be well to husband our 
resources. To this hint Governor Early magnanimously replied, that he hoped 
such a thing would never happen, but if it should, he had no wish that Georgia 
should survive the general wreck ; he wanted to swim or sink together. In 
1814, a majority of the Legislature desired to continue what was called the 
Alleviating Law. 	Governor Early considered its continuance inexpedient 
and unconstitutional, and vetoed it, and on this account was not re-elected 
Governor. Some circumstances connected with this event gave him such a disgust 
to public life that he resolved to abandon it altogether, and never again 
meddle in political affairs; but this determination he was compelled to 
relinquish. His countrymen, to convince the world that their confidence in him 
was undiminished, and perhaps to soothe his feelings for the harsh and 
unmerited treatment he had received, elected him by common consent to the 
senatorial branch of the ensuing Legislature, in which capacity he agreed to 
serve, because, to use his own words, he felt bound to comply with the wishes 
of his constituents, as they had always shown a correspondent disposition to 
oblige him. 
	He died on the 15th of August, 1817, in Greene county, and the people 
of Georgia felt that a distinguished statesman, jurist, and patriot had 
descended to the tomb.


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