Quitman County GaArchives History .....Georgetown From  "The Quitman Echo" 
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Donna Eldridge DonnaEldrid@aol.com July 15, 2004, 7:48 pm

                        GEORGETOWN


     In 1836 Georgetown, first being known as Tobanna, changed its name, taking 
the name of Georgetown from an old town in Maryland, now a section of 
Washington, D.C.

     In 1859, the Inferior Court proceeded to lay off streets and lots.  One 
street was named Harrison, (he originally owned the site of the town) one was 
named Florence, for the town in Stewart County where the Indian uprising took 
place.  Broad, Main, Middle, Cuthbert, Church, High, South, Court and Back were 
other street names.

     Robert G. Morris, the first representative to the legislature from Quitman 
County, introduced a bill for the incorporation of Georgetown.  This became a 
law on December 9, 1859.  The first town government was composed of five 
commissioners, Nicholas T. Christian, Edgar C. Ellington, Delaware Morris, John 
E. Riordon and Luther C. A. Warren.

     In 1860 the Southwestern Railroad was completed as far as Georgetown.  
Until 1868, when the railroad bridge was completed across the river, Georgetown 
was a terminal point.  The first depot was destroyed by fire about 1900 and the 
second was torn down in 1958.  From 1860 until the end of 1950 when mail and 
messenger service was discontinued, the arrival and departure of the trains 
were an essential part of Georgetown's daily routine.  For many years an 
express office and a telegraph office were maintained at the Georgetown depot.

     In the 1870's Dr. J. W. Mercer became a friend of Alexander Graham Bell, 
the inventor of the telephone.  Dr. Mercer, who amassed a fortune, wanted to 
keep in touch with cotton and stock markets and with the help of Dr. Bell 
inaugurated telephone services between Georgetown and Eufaula.  This was about 
1877 and it has been said that this was the beginning of long distance 
telephone service.  Later, when the Eufaula telephone exchange was set up, Dr. 
Mercer was the first Georgetown subscriber.

     The Georgetown Echo newspaper began publishing in the 1870's.  The 
publisher was W. T. Alexander.  Plumen Gilbert edited a newspaper during the 
1890's and H. J. Cross edited the Georgetown Tribune in 1903 and 1904.

     Between the years of 1890 and 1910, Georgetown saw its most active and 
flourishing years.  There were three doctors and two lawyers.  There was a drug 
store, a Farmers and Merchants Bank and a furniture store.  The doctors were: 
Dr. F. M. Bledsoe, Dr. W. T. Carter and Dr. S. A. Crumbley.  Dave Jackson 
worked for one of the doctors and is believed to have purchased a set of 
medical books.  Reading, observing, and the doctor teaching as they served the 
people in the community, enabled him to have his own practice although he did 
not have a license.  He was able to treat simple diseases, write some 
prescriptions and carry a black bag.  He was called Dr. Jackson by many people 
in the county.

     Two of the old buildings were yet in use, Dr. Crumbley's office is now the 
post office and the county agent's office was once the Farmers and Merchants 
Bank.  The S. H. Barnett store became H. L. Balkcom & Son.  These two old 
buildings share a common wall although they were owned by different people.


"The Quitman Echo - Quitman County, Georgia" - Jacquelyn Shepard
(page 13) 

Additional Comments:
Transcribed and submitted by Donna Eldridge with permission from Jacquelyn 
Shepard

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/quitman/history/other/gms61georgeto.txt

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