People of One Fire

Thornton, Richard. People of One Fire. Web. Georgia. 2010-2013. Digital Rights Copyright 2010-2013 by AccessGenealogy.com.

Native American History of Wilcox County, Georgia

Wilcox County is located in south-central Georgia. It is named after Major General Mark Willcox (1799 – 1852) – a general in the Georgia Militia, legislator and Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. The second “l” was dropped from General Willcox’s name when it was applied to Wilcox County. Its county seat is Abbeville. In 1818, Willcox was badly wounded in the head during the Battle of Breakfast Branch, which occurred in the future Wilcox County near the west bank of the Ocmulgee River. He was a Major General of the Georgia Militia during the Creek and Seminole Wars of … Read more

Native American History of White County, Georgia

White County is located in the northeastern tip of Georgia. The Blue Ridge Mountain Range runs along its northwestern corner. The famous poem by Sydney Lanier, “The Song of the Chattahoochee” opens with the phrase, “Out of the hills of Habersham, down through the valleys of Hall,” the river actually begins at Unicoi Gap, at the northern tip of the county. It then flows eastward through Helen, GA and the Nacoochee Valley before forming the boundary with Habersham County. The Soque River begins on Tray Mountain in northern White County then flows eastward to the vicinity of Clarkesville, GA, where … Read more

Native American History of Washington County, Florida

Washington County is located in northwestern Florida. It is named after President George Washington. Its northern boundary is the Holmes County, FL. Its northeastern boundary is Jackson County, FL. To the west is Walton County, FL and the south, is Bay County, FL. The Choctawhatchee River flows through the center of Washington County and flows southward into Bay County. Much of Washington County is in its drainage basin. The original Creek name of the Choctawhatchee River was probably, Chakato-hachi (=Chatot River,) but was misinterpreted by English-speaking settlers to be Choctawhatchee. Another major stream is Holmes Creek, which also flows out … Read more

Native American History of Walton County, Florida

Walton County is located in northwestern Florida and stretches between the Alabama State Line and Gulf of Mexico.   The county seat and largest city in the county is DeFuniak Springs.  Its northwestern boundary is Covington County, AL. Its northeastern boundary is Geneva County, AL.  To the east is Holmes and Washington Counties, FL; to the west is Okaloosa County, FL and the southeast, is Bay County, FL.  Walton County was created in 1824 by the territorial government. It was named for George Walton, Secretary of the Florida territory from 1821 to 1826.  Much of the southwestern portion of the county … Read more

Native American History of Wakulla County, Florida

Wakulla County is located in northwestern Florida. It was named after the Creek-Seminole pronunciation of a Native American word, Guacara, The county seat and largest city in the county is Crawfordville.  Its northern boundary is Leon County, FL. Its northern boundary is Leon County, FL.  To the east is Jefferson County, FL; to the west is Liberty County, FL and the southwest, is Franklin County, FL.  The Ochlockonee River forms much of the western boundary of the county. The meaning of Guacara is unknown.  Most texts suggest that it is an Arawak word, but this seems unlikely since the region … Read more

Native American History of Union County, Georgia

Union County is located in the north-central edge of Georgia. It northern boundary is Cherokee County, NC. On the east is Rabun County, GA. Its southern boundary is defined by Lumpkin and White Counties. On the west is Fannin County, GA. The county seat is Blairsville. Until the mid-20th century, Union County was very isolated from the remainder of Georgia, when a highway was improved over Neels Gap on Blood Mountain. Road access was greatly improved in the 1990s by the construction of the I-575-GA 515 controlled access highway that directly connected the county with the northwestern suburbs of metropolitan … Read more

Native American History of Twiggs County, Georgia

Twiggs County is located in central Georgia and is part of the Macon, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA.) It is named after General John Twiggs (1781 -1820) – a leader of the Georgia Militia during the American Revolution. Its county seat is Jeffersonville. Twiggs is bordered on the northeast side by Wilkinson County and the northwest by Bibb and Jones Counties. Laurens County forms its southeastern boundary. Bleckley County forms its southern boundary, while Houston County forms its southwestern boundary. One of the larger Native American town sites in Georgia is located in Twiggs County. Labeled today by archaeologists as … Read more

Native American History of Troup County, Georgia

Troup County is located in west central Georgia. It was named after George M. Troup, who was the 35th governor of Georgia, a member of the House of Representatives and a United States Senator. Troup and his first cousin, Creek Mekko (town leader) William McIntosh, played a critical role in the removal of Creeks Indians from western Georgia. Troup County is bounded on the northeast by Coweta County, GA. On the east, it adjoins Meriwether County, GA. On the south, it is bordered by Harris County, GA. The county’s western boundaries are formed by Chambers County, AL and Randolph County, … Read more

Native American History of Towns County, Georgia

The Hiwassee River Valley of Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee played very important roles in both Native American history and the Early Colonial Era. In 1562, Captain René Goulaine de Laudonnière led a party of French Huguenots up the Savannah River and then westward on the Unicoi Trail to the Nacoochee Valley and what is now, Towns County. The Frenchmen developed friendly relations with the Apalachee and Itsati Natives, who then occupied the region. He named the Appalachian Mountains after them. For the next 200 years, the majestic scene of the Nantahala Mountains overlooking the Hiwassee River graced French maps, … Read more

Native American History of Telfair County, Georgia

Telfair County is located in south-central Georgia. It is named after Edward Telfair, an important leader of Georgia during the Revolution and early days of statehood. He had just died when Telfair County was created from ceded Creek lands. The county seat is McRae. Edward Telfair was born in Scotland in 1735 and died in Georgia in 1807. After immigrating to Virginia to be an agent for a Scottish mercantile firm, Telfair first moved to North Carolina and then settled permanently in Georgia. He immediately began assembling large tracts of land in St. Paul’s Parish, what was to become Burke … Read more

Native American History of Stewart County, Georgia

Stewart County is located in southwest Georgia, south of Columbus and Fort Benning. It was named after Brig. General Daniel Stewart, a commander in the Georgia Militia during the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Stewart was the great-grandfather of President Theodore Roosevelt. The county seat of Stewart County is the town of Lumpkin. Stewart County is bounded on the north by Chattahoochee County, GA. On the south, it is bordered by Randolph County, GA. The county’s western boundaries are formed by the Chattahoochee River, the Alabama State Line, Barbour County, AL and Russell County, AL. On the east, … Read more

Native American History of Seminole County, Georgia

Seminole County is named after the Seminole Indians. Its county seat is Donalsonville. It is located in the far southwestern corner of Georgia and adjoins both Alabama and Florida. Maps of the late 1700s and early 1800s labeled the Hitchiti-Creek Indians in Southwest Georgia, who were not members of the Muskogee-Creek Confederacy, as Seminoles. Some of these villages and farmsteads eventually moved to Alabama and joined the Creek Confederacy, while others moved southward into Florida, after 1721, when Florida became part of the United States. Up until around 1843 there were still substantial numbers of Creek and Yuchi Indians in … Read more

Native American History of Russell County, Alabama

This article discusses the history of Native Americans in Russell County, Alabama, with a focus on the Muscogee (Creek) people. The text covers their presence in the area from prehistoric times through European contact and forced removal. It highlights significant locations like Koweta, the last capital of the Creek Nation, and criticizes Alabama for its lack of protection for Native American historical sites compared to neighboring states. Additionally, it provides a timeline of Native American cultural periods in the region and translates Creek geographical names in Russell County.

Native American History of Rockdale County, Georgia

Rockdale County located in northern Georgia and is part of the Atlanta Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA.) It’s name honors the strata of granite that lays under the county. The county seat is Conyers. Rockdale County is bordered on the north by Gwinnett County. On the east is bordered by both Walton and Newton Counties. On the south it is bordered by Henry County and on the west by DeKalb County. Geology and hydrology Rockdale County was located in the Piedmont geological region, which is characterized by underlying rock strata of igneous and metamorphicized igneous rock. The Piedmont’s terrain generally … Read more

Native American History of Randolph County, Georgia

Randolph County is located in southwest Georgia. It was named after John Randolph of Virginia, a prominent Congressman and spokesman for states rights during the late 1700s and early 1800s. The county seat of Randolph County is the town of Cuthbert. Randolph County is bounded on the north by Stewart County, GA. On the southeast, it is bordered by County and southwest by Clay County. The county’s western boundaries are formed by the Quitman County. On the east it is bordered by Terrill County, GA. On the northeast, it is bordered by Webster County, GA Geology and hydrology Randolph County … Read more

Native American History of Quitman County, Georgia

Quitman County is named after General John A. Quitman, a U.S. Army officer in the Mexican War and governor of Mississippi. The county seat of Quitman County is the town of Georgetown. Quitman County is bounded on the north by Chattahoochee County, GA. On the south, it is bordered by Randolph County, GA. The county’s western boundaries are formed by the Chattahoochee River, the Alabama State Line, Barbour County, AL and Russell County, AL. On the east, it is bordered by Webster County, GA. Geology and hydrology Quitman County is located in the Upper Gulf Coastal Plain. In most areas … Read more

Native American History of Pulaski County, Georgia

Pulaski County is located in south-central Georgia. It is named after General Kazimierz Pulaski (1745 – 1780) – a lawyer and Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. Its county seat is Hawkinsville. Kazimierz Pulaski is considered one of the great heroes of the American Revolution. He was first an officer in a failed attempt to liberate Poland from Russia. He briefly fought on behalf of Turkey in the Russo-Turkish War. In 1777 he sailed to North America and joined the Continental Army. Soon thereafter he saved the life of General George Washington. With the blessings of Benjamin Franklin, the … Read more

Native American History of Polk County, Georgia

Polk County is located in northwest Georgia. It was named after James K. Polk, 11th president of the United States. The county seat is Cedartown. Polk County is bounded on the north by Floyd County, GA and on the northeast by Bartow County, GA. On the south it adjoins Haralson County, GA. On the west, it is bordered by Cherokee County, Alabama and on the southwest by Cleburne County, Alabama. Geology and hydrology Most of Polk County is located in the Ridge and Valley geological region, which is characterized by multiple strata of Paleozoic sedimentary rocks deposited when eastern North … Read more

Native American History of Pickens County, Georgia

Pickens County located in northern Georgia. It is part of the Atlanta Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA.) Its county seat is Jasper. It is named after Colonel Andrew Pickens, who commanded Patriot units in one of the last battles of the Revolutionary War, which was fought in Pickens county. Pickens County is bordered on the north by Gilmer County and the east by Dawson County. Gordon County adjoins Pickens on its western side. Cherokee County forms its southern boundary. Bartow County forms a relatively short section of Pickens’ southwest boundary. Geology and hydrology Pickens County contains sections of the Blue … Read more

Native American History of Paulding County, Georgia

Paulding County is located in west central Georgia and is part of the Atlanta Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA.) It was named after Revolutionary militiaman John Paulding (1758-1818) who led a party of three young farmers in the capture of Major John Andre. Andre was carrying secret papers to traitor, Gen. Benedict Arnold. Paulding refused a bribe from Andre and turned him into George Washington’s headquarters; thus saving Fortress West Point. The county seat of Paulding County is Dallas. Paulding County is bounded on the north by Bartow County. On the east, it adjoins Cobb County. On the southeast it … Read more