History of Clay County GA

GEORGIA
1776

This County created by Act of the Legislature
Feb. 16, 1854, is named for Henry Clay famous
statesman who died in 1852. Near Fort Gaines,
the County Site, stood the actual Fort built
in 1816 for defense in the Creek Indian
Wars and named for Gen. Edmond P. Gaines
who ordered its construction. Among the first
County Officers were: Sheriff George R.
Holloway. Clerk of the Superior & Inferior
Courts Warren Sutton. Ordinary John H. Jones.
Tax Receiver John H. Gilbert. Tax Collector
Peter Lee. County Surveyor Bennett H. Thorn-
ton and Coroner Churchill Patrick.

THE HISTORY
OF
CLAY COUNTY

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This book is dedicated to the One person in
Clay County who conceived the idea for the
publication of such a book for our people. She
has given many hours researching facts and
assembling and organizing materials which
are presented in this Bicentennial Edition

of

The History of Clay County

The Clay County Library Board gives
credit where credit is due to

Mrs. Donald (Priscilla Neves) Todd,
Librarian
1976

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This book was compiled at the Clay County Library,

Fort Gaines, Georgia

Clay County Library Board

Mrs. Herbert R. Ingram, Chairman

Mrs. S. T. Crapps, Treasurer

Mrs. W. H. Knighton

Mrs. Raymond H. Morris

Mrs. Robert A. Fowler

Mrs. Ruth C. Bakes

Mrs. Hoke Lindsey, Sr.

Mr. John P. Graham

Mrs. J. T. Killingsworth

Clay County Library Staff

Mrs. Donald Todd, Librarian

Mrs. S. T. Crapps, Asst. Librarian

Mr. John Shelton, Adult Services

Kinchafoonee Regional Library

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PREFACE

     A preface is usually written by one who is intimately acquainted with the subject matter that follows. This is both customary and reasonable. This preface, for better or worse does not have that merit.

     Instead it brings forth the viewpoint of an outsider, a newcomer. I am neither from Clay County nor am I a long time resident of South Georgia. I know little of Clay County people and less of its history. However my occupation involves frequent visits to ten rural Georgia counties including Clay County and the counties to the immediate north and east. I have had frequent but brief contacts with a variety of children and adults in each of these counties.

     Statistically the counties appear alike. Clay County, like its neighbors, is sparsely populated with a decreasing population. The vast majority of its residents are far from wealthy; its industries are few; its economic prospects are not considered bright; it has few natural resources of great value. Its list of negative attributes could be lengthened but the generality is already valid. Clay County, like its neighbors, if viewed from a statistical analysis might be considered a good place to be from.

     But statistics alone are misleading. In contrast to most of the surrounding counties, many of which are far wealthier, Clay County residents have a spirit, a tradition, a character, that is not easily stated without seeming to be bragging. Its people do not have the beaten look that I see in many places. Favorable events in the community are caused to happen, whether they be social festivals or new public buildings. People do things. It has a small but good school system. It has a library that is the best in the region and one of the best small county libraries I have ever seen. It has active and forceful community organizations that cooperate with each other and outside agencies. People seem to care that the community survives. Young people seem less inclined to leave and more inclined to return.

     It is difficult if not impossible to determine why Clay County is different. But to me it is. I have asked several long time residents if they agree that it is different and if so why. No one denied that Clay County is unusual, but no one satisfactorily explained why it is different either. Perhaps this brief history will help define the undefinable.

     Individual credit for the enormous amount of work involved in this compilation will be stated throughout the text and its appendices, but a few people are central to the creation of this history and record of Clay County.

     Mrs. John H. (Verner Ingram) McKissack is the primary compiler. Her recollections were essential to the creation of the main text, which is largely in her own words. Other contributors to the text include the late Colonel E. A. Green, the late R. E. L. Majors, the late Willis S. Cox, Mrs. B. C. Brown and Miss Brooksie Brown.

     Mrs. Donald (Priscilla Neves) Todd, the Clay County Librarian, spent many hours editing, researching, organizing and typing prior to completing the finished manuscript for publication. She was aided by Mrs. S. T. Crapps, Asst. Librarian, Mrs. Herbert R. Ingram of the Clay County Library Board, Miss Marianne Morris, Grammarian and myself.

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THE HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY GA