JONES COUNTY   Towns - Clinton

Copied with permission from 
“History of Jones Co., GA by  Carolyn White Williams

Typed by Barbara S.

CLINTON

Clinton, which was first called Albany was the county seat and is situated near the center of the 
county 22 miles southwest of the capital of Milledgeville, 14 miles from Macon, 25 miles from 
Forsyth, 23 miles from Monticello, 28 miles from Irwinton and 28 from Marion.  It had a 
courthouse, a jail, a Methodist and Baptist church, male and female academies, three taverns, 
several boardinghouses, stores, a tannery and mechanics shops.  The town was healthy and was 
incorporated in 1816.  The town was named for Gov. DeWitt CLINTON of New York, who 
figured prominently in politics at that time and who probably came to Clinton in company with 
Gen. LaFayette at the time of his well remembered visit there. 

Unlike other small towns, Clinton did not grow in a haphazard manner.  The village was laid out 
in 1811 with a square upon which the courthouse was built.  The town grew up around it with the 
whole laid off in lots in a neat manner.  The lot of land on which Clinton was built containing 
202-1/2 acres was bought from Thomas JOHNSON by the Judges of the Inferior Court and the 
sale of lots paid for the courthouse.

To a sturdy band of pioneers and settlers who back in 1807 came into a wilderness of Indian 
country to build up a civilization and a peaceful agricultural life, we owe much.  Clinton was 
designated in 1809 as the capital of the county, however the large brick courthouse was not 
finished until 1818.  The contractors for the building were called “undertakers” and Robert and 
John ALLEN were paid for this work.  Robert HUTCHINGS and James SMITH were selected to 
secure plans.  The Judges at that time were Robert CUNNINGHAM, Joseph DUCKWORTH, 
J.W. RAY, G. W. ROSS.

This courthouse was an interesting part of  Clinton’s history.  Clinton was the trading center for 
miles around for as many as 16,000 people when Macon was in swaddling clothes in 1821.  
Clinton had four springs of freely flowing water that not only supplied the people, horses, and 
travelers, but was used for manufacturing purposes.  It was a good place for settlers to make a 
home, and they did.

Among the early comers to Clinton were two Yankees who were to set their mark upon Georgia. 
Samuel GRISWOLD and Daniel PRATT, both skilled carpenters and mechanics.  GRISWOLD 
came from Connecticut and PRATT from New Hampshire.  The first frame dwelling was built 
by Sam GRISWOLD near the brick courthouse and for several years GRISWOLD and his family 
used it for a store and a swelling.  GRISWOLD prospered and soon built a handsome house on 
Bonner’s Hill.  Near his home he built a gin factory and with Daniel PRATT as an assistant he 
made gin saws and other equipment and the business grew, so that Daniel PRATT moved to 
Alabama where he founded the town of Prattsville and started a gin factory of his own.  In 1839 
because of no railroad facilities, GRISWOLD moved his factory and home to Griswoldville.

The curcuit rider preached in Clinton and rode to the small town of Macon to preach at what is 
now Mulberry Methodist church. The ladies of Macon drove to Clinton in their carriages to 
purchase crinolines, silks and brocades for their Sunday frocks.  Charles HUTCHINGS had a 
fine store and a trip was made to New York each year to procure the latest materials.  He had a 
two-story frame building on the north side of the square.  Diagonally across from the 
HUTCHINGS store, east of the square stood the handsome two-story structure which was to 
serve as the Clinton Hotel.  Here came many notables to attend balls, to stop over night and to 
enjoy the sumptuous fare at the tables and drink at the famous bar which was provided with the 
best brandies at 50 cents a quart.

Not only business flourished there in Clinton, but it was becoming the seat of culture and 
learning.  On the hillside back of Lowther Hall and south toward Macon was the Academy 
operated by Thomas Bog SLADE.  Here came girls to be taught Latin, Greek, music, voice and 
all the things that enabled a young lade to be “finished,” when she graduated.  SLADE later went 
to the infant female college in Macon, Wesleyan and was one of the first instructors.

As early as 1821 Macon, then Fort Hawkins, was drawing the businessmen from Clinton.  About 
1822-25 a huge slice of Jones County was taken by the legislature to make Bibb County.  Many 
families were moving into Macon.  The coming of the railroad to Macon, as well as Wesleyan 
and the river boat trade all attracted men who were ambitious.

Further loss came to Clinton when the railroad in 1886 was run two miles away and the town of 
Gray started.  After the courthouse was rebuilt at Gray the old historic one at Clinton was 
allowed to deteriorate and the rooms where Ben HILL, Aleck STEPHENS, L.Q.C. LAMAR and 
Robert TOOMBS had practiced law were gone forever.

Though Clinton became a lost town, the glories which were once hers will not die in Georgia’s 
history. After 150 years, a few of the fine old houses still stand, some are gray with neglect and 
falling into decay, others are well-kept and freshly painted standing proudly as they did over a 
century ago, hauntingly reminiscent of a past era.


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