Butts County Georgia Genealogy and History

BUTTS COUNTY.
This county was laid out from Monroe and Henry in 1825. Length, 17 m.; 13 m. in breadth ; area square miles, 221. Named after Captain Samuel Butts, who lost his life in the battle of Chalibbee, on the 27th of January, 1814.

The Ocmulgee flows along the eastern borders of this county. The small streams are Tussahaw, Yellow Water, Sandy Creek, &c.

The face of the country is level. The gray lands prevail, and are admirably suited for cotton.

Jackson is the county site, 55 m. N. W. of Milledgeville.
Dublin is eight miles from Jackson.
Lofton's Store, 7 m. from Jackson.

The Indian Springs are situated upon the waters of Sandy Creek. They have a high reputation, and are much resorted to.

Extract from the Census, 1850: — Dwellings, 642; families, 642; white males, 1,888; white females, 1,792; free coloured males, 2; free coloured females, 1; total free population, 3,683; slaves, 2,805; deaths, 55 ; farms, 391 ; manufacturing establishments, 14; value of real estate, $717,112; value of personal estate, $1,588,752.

The climate is salubrious. Among the instances of longevity are, Mrs. McMichael, who died at 100 ; Mr. Butril, over 80; E. Price, a Revolutionary soldier, 79; Robert Grier, 80; Wm. Foster, 105.

Early settlers — A. Mcclendon, Jesse Dolly, Samuel Clarke, Thos. Robinson, Col.Z.Phillips, John Terrell, Howell Andrews, Thos. Buford, A. Woodward, Wm. Barclay, James Harkness, Abner Bankston, John McMichael, McCord, and others, mostly from South Carolina, and the upper counties of Georgia.

Planters' Factory is situated at the seven islands on the Ocmulgee River. Capital, $50,000. Water power said to be unsurpassed by any in Georgia.

In 1826, Ledwell Watts was convicted of murder in this county, and was sentenced to death, but was twice respited by the Governor, to afford the Legislature an opportunity of considering his case. A bill for his pardon was passed in the House, but rejected by the Senate. The last respite extended to Friday, 14th December, 1826, on which day the Sheriff went to the jail to carry the prisoner to execution, but he having procured arms, defied the officer, threatened to kill him if he entered the jail, and it was not until three or four days afterwards that Watts gave up and was hung.

On Major Ward's plantation there are three mounds, with embankments, running to the River Ocmulgee. These mounds were excavated a few years ago, and a variety of Indian implements found.

Source: "Historical Collections Of Georgia", by George White, 1855
Transcribed by Submitted by Brenda Wiesner