Carroll County, GA Biographies

ADAMSON, William Charles, a Representative from Georgia; born in Bowdon, Carroll County, Ga., August 13, 1854; attended the common schools; was graduated from Bowdon College in 1874; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1876 and commenced practice in Carrollton, Carroll County, Ga.; judge of the city court of Carrollton 1885-1889; attorney for the city of Carrollton for a number of years; delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1892; elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-fifth and to the ten succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1897, until December 18, 1917, when he resigned; chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce (Sixty-second through Sixty-fifth Congresses); appointed on December 17, 1917, a member of the Board of United States General Appraisers (now the United States Customs Court) and served until January 20, 1928, when he resigned; resumed the practice of law in Carrollton, Ga.; died while on a visit in New York City, January 3, 1929; interment in City Cemetery, Carrollton, Ga. [Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present - Contributed by A. Newell]

GENERAL WILLIAM McINTOSH, a half-breed of the Muscogee or Creek Indian nation, and a member of the Coweta tribe of that nation, was a son of Captain William Mclntosh, a Scotchman who spent years of his life on the western frontier of Georgia. A sister of Captain William Mclntosh married the father of Governor George M. Troup, so that Governor Troup was a first cousin of the celebrated Indian chief. The mother of William Mclntosh was an Indian woman of unmixed blood. He was born about 1780. Of his early life little is known beyond the fact that he was a tall, well-formed, handsome man, of graceful manners, intelligent and brave. He had acquired a moderate education and by constant intercourse with the whites became a polished man. He steadily gained influence in his tribe and cultivated friendship with the neighboring whites until the outbreak of the War of 1812, by which time he was the principal man in his section of the Creek nation. When the War of 1812 broke out and the majority of the Creek nation was influenced to take sides with the British, Mclntosh threw in his lot with the Americans and became next in rank to Colonel Benjamin Hawkins in organizing a regiment of friendly Creeks. He served under General Floyd at the Battle of Autossee and under General Jackson at the battle of the Horseshoe. In both of these engagements he distinguished himself, and in the Florida campaign was credited with numerous acts of gallantry. In that campaign he led two thousand warriors. So great were his services to the Americans that finally he was rewarded with the rank of brigadier-general and came to be the recognized chief of the Cowetas. He was a lifetime friend of his cousin, Governor Troup, and cooperated with him in the efforts to secure from the Creeks the cession of their lands and their consent to remove to the West. There were long years of trouble and strife on the borders of Georgia and Alabama between the Indiana and whites, and in February, 1825, there was a great meeting of the chiefs at Indian Springs, Ga., for the purpose of negotiating with the whites a new treaty. By this time McIntosh had incurred the bitter hostility of the conservative element in the Creek nation, but believing that he was acting in the best interests of his people, he went ahead with the negotiations, and on the twelfth of February the McIntosh party signed the treaty with the commissioners. This treaty was ratified at Washington, March 3, 1825. When it was known that the treaty was ratified, there was an immense excitement among the Indians. McIntosh with other chiefs went to Milledgeville, interviewed Governor Troup, expressed their fears of hostility from the other faction of the tribe, and craved protection. That protection was promised, but it must be confessed was not given.

On the 29th of April, 1825, a party of Indians from Ocfuskee and Tookabatcha, two Creek towns, variously estimated at from 170 to 400, after a hurried march, attacked General McIntosh at his home. Upon the discovery of the assailants, General Mclntosh barricaded his door, and when it was forced met them courageously with his gun. There was with him in the house at the time Etomme Tustenugee, his son-in-law Hawkins, his son, Chilly McIntosh, and a peddler. Tustenugee fell at the first discharge after the door was forced. McIntosh retreated to the second story and with four guns under his hands fought with great courage. The Indians set fire to the house and he came down to the first floor. Wounded in many places, he was dragged out in the yard, but to the very last he raised himself on one arm and looked defiance at his murderers. An Ocfuskee Indian then stabbed him to the heart, and after destroying the house and much other property, the Indians departed. His son-in-law Hawkins also was slain, his son Chilly McIntosh escaped, while the peddler and women were spared.

William McIntosh was a man of very considerable ability, sound judgment, much more far-seeing than the other Indian chiefs with whom he was associated. He tried to serve his nation faithfully. It was his misfortune to be at the head of a turbulent people who could not understand the strength of that white movement which was pressing forward from the east. Mclntosh was a devoted friend of the American people, and at every period of his life rendered them such service as his opportunity and strength permitted.
Source: "Men of Mark in Georgia: a complete and elaborate history..." Volume 2 By William J. Northen - submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer

Note: There is an historical marker at Pine Harbor (McIntosh County), GA for the burial spot of Capt. William McIntosh (father of the above General Wm. McIntosh) which states:

“In this plot under the “Great Oak at Mallow Plantation,” Captain William McIntosh, father of the Indian chief, General William McIntosh, was buried in 1794. Captain McIntosh, an officer in the British army, when stationed in the Creek country, married two Indian women and their sons, William and Roderick, became chiefs among the Creeks.
Gen. William McIntosh was killed by his own people on May 1, 1825, for signing the Treaty of Indian Springs. Later his sons and his half-brother Roderick (Roley) led the great Creek trek to Old Indian Territory. They and their descendants have been distinguished lawyers, ministers, statesmen, artists, soldiers – noted leaders in the building of the West.
095-3 Georgia Historical Commission 1955”