Special Annual Report Issue - AgGeorgia Farm Credit

Spotlight on Taylor CountyBy: Sybil WillinghamAn arrow head kicked up in a freshlyplowed field is a sudden reminderof the presence of the native peopleswho once lived on the land that is nowTaylor County. It is not hard to imagine thescenes that surrounded them. In some ways,it is much the same today. The fall line thatmarks with a sandy streak that was the seashore divides the county. The northern partis hilly with deep rock formations whilethe southern part is sandy with acrub oakand pine forests. Gopher tortoises burrowin the sand hills. Creeks feed into the FlintRiver and teem with fish. A rare inlandstand of eastern white cedar, exquisitepitcher plants and other rare and endangeredflora and fauna live along the banksof Whitewater Creek and Cedar Creek.When naturalist William Bartram exploredthe area in 1779 he noted the natives that heencountered as well as the plants, animalsand soils of the region.Colonel Benjamin Hawkins wasappointed by George Washington in 1796as Indian agent to all of the tribes east ofthe Mississippi River and South of the OhioRiver. He established a settlement on thenorth side of the Flint River. On the southside of the river was a fort. The combinedarea, called the Agency Reserve, totaled3000 acres and is still visible on the landlot maps as lines drawn at 45-degrees tothe usual land lot north-south orientation.The agency was self-sufficient, with foodplots, orchards, and animal feed lots. Skillsand trades were taught to the Indians. Here,Hawkins entertained travelers, missionariesand tribal leaders. In 1805, the federalgovernment began a road to connect thecities of the east coast with New Orleans.The route, which followed the Lower CreekTrading Path, came through Hawkins’This field of hay promises agood supply of winter feed.Photo by Nancy Payne.agency, crossed the river and headed west.It was called “the federal road” and later theWire Road, for the telegraph wire that wasstrung along the route. The road followspresent day Georgia Highway 208.With more traffic came the desire formore land. The Treaty of Indian Springsceded the area to the government. The Stateof Georgia distributed the newly surveyedland by lottery in 1827. The early settlers ofthe area established small family farms of202 acres. A few plantations later occupiedrich flood plains land along the river andother fertile areas.Churches were soon established bythe faithful. Antioch Baptist Church andCrowell Methodist Church on the northside of the county were founded in the1820s. Other early churches were Bethelneat Butler, and New Hope near Reynolds,and Hays Campground now Union MethodistChurch. Taylor County Camp Groundis the site of an old fashioned camp meetingevery summer. On the grounds are an openair tabernacle, cottages and facilities forthose who come for fellowship and revival.The coming of the railroads broughtmore settlers to the area. Taylor Countywas formed in 1852, taken from parts ofMacon, Marion and Talbot Counties. Itwas named for Mexican War hero PresidentZachary Taylor. Although Reynolds,in the eastern end of the county reservedspace for a county seat, Fifty Mile Stationwas chose because of its central location.It was soon renamed Butler. A fine brickcourthouse was constructed on the squarein the middle of town and served as the seatof local government until 1935 when a new,larger courthouse replaced it. The statelyGreek revival building is the main countyoffice building and courthouse.The residents of Taylor County sawno need to secede from the Union when thequestion came up in 1860. They voted forAgGeorgia..Winter 2007