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  In 1782 the western frontier of Georgia was the Ogeechee River.  Just a few years later, in 1790, the western frontier of Georgia was the Oconee River by 1803 the

frontier was the Ocmulgee River.  In 1821 it was the Flint River and in 1827 the Chattahoochee.  Migration was swift. 

The land between the Flint and Chattahoochee Rivers was occupied by about 7,000-8,000 Creek Indians. William McIntosh was a General and Chief of the Lower Creek

Indians, a man born of Scots father and Creek mother.  He realized that it would be in the best interests of the Creeks to sell their land to the whites and move to a

Western reservation.  Most of the Creek Nation lived in Alabama, and were against selling out to the whites.  The Creek had a law that no part of the Creek Nation could

sell their lands without the entire Creek Nation agreeing.  By 1824 it was quite clear that Gov Troup and the settlers in Georgia were going to keep moving west and that the Creek should give up the lands and move father west.  President Munroe got involved and in Feb 1825 summoned all of the chiefs of the Creek Nation to meet at Indian Spring to consider terms for selling all of their territory between the Flint and the Chattahoochee.  There were nearly 400 Creek leaders at the meeting.  The dissenters left the meeting, leaving those in favor to vote the next morning.  The terms were that the US Government would give them land of the same quality and quantity that they had in Georgia, it would be beyond the Mississippi River and the US was to pay them $5,000,000 in cash for improvements that they had made to the Georgia lands and to help pay for the move.  They were to have 18 months to make the move. McIntosh was killed by the Creek who were against the sale.  Great fear rose of an Indian uprising. 

The President was now John Quincy Adams, who proposed a change in the treaty signed by McIntosh by giving back part of those lands in Georgia.  Gov Troup declined and

continued on the basis of the Indian Springs Treaty.  He ordered the land to be surveyed.  When Adams told him to stop and that he would use military force to stop the surveying, Troup told him he would meet force with force.  The state troops were called up immediately to the cry "Troup and Treaty".    Meanwhile another meeting og Creek Chiegs was called at the Creek Agency, and the Indians consented to abide by the Indian Springs treaty.  In short order they moved to the Western lands and opened up more land for settlement.

New settlers came to Marion County between 1827 and 1829 by the hundreds in a variety of methods.  They came by large covered wagons, two horse wagons, ox carts, on

horseback and on foot.  First they needed to find water n their land, then put up a tent or a one room cabin until they were able to build something more.  When a home was built, the land was cleared and fences built.  Lands lying on the creeks and rivers were considered the most fertile and those were quickly taken.  Cotton gins, grist mills and saw mills were constructed on the creeks which furnished power to run the mills.  By 1830 census the total population of Marion County was 1327 white people and 109 slaves.

Initially Marion was laid out in four militia districts. The first courthouse was at Horry from 1827 to 1838, but its location is unknown.  Horry is no longer a town.  Because of the expanding population in 1832 there were five militia districts and in 1836 there were six.  In 1832 land was annexed from Marion to Talbot Co and in 1830 it established a line between Marion and Sumter Co.

Many farmers grew cotton, many of them selling it at Columbus.  It usually sold from ten to twelve cents per pound which was quite a profit.  There was a sharp increase

in the number of slaves during this period as well as settlers.  In 1838 the county seat was moved to Tazewell which was built on lot 230 in the 4th Dist where

it remained until 1850.  Due to a rapid increase in settlers, the militia districts were raised to eight in 1838.  New court house and jail were raised in 1839.  The courthouse

 burned 3 Nov 1845, burning most of the records.  It was rebuilt by 1848 by L W Wall and that building is still standing.  It was later sold to the Tazewell Masonic Lodge.

People arriving in Marion County continued to increase.  By 1840 census there were 3,742 free inhabitants and slaves rose to 1,070.  The largest town at that time was

Tazewell which had a few stores, a mill, two churches and an academy.  In 1847 part of Stewart County known as Draneville was added to Marion County.  Most people lived

on their farms.   

Court house was moved to Buena Vista to lot 110 in the 4th Dist in 1850. Buena Vista was called Pea Ridge originally.  About a mile from the town of

Pea Ridge/Buena Vista was the original Kings Town - which was the home of the Uchee chiefs.  The Indian village was on the "Uchee Trail" which was a trail that went

through various Creek towns in Alabama, and on up to Savannah where the Indians carried their good for trade to the English.  D N Burkhalter donated 100 acres to the county for the land that Buena Now stands in January 1849.  Part of this was used for the square in the middle of town, and the other portions for town lots which were sold and the proceeds used to pay for the building of the Court House.  Enock Williams established a brick yard near Buena Vista and he made the brick for the court house. 

By 1850 the population soared to 6,676 free inhabitants and 3,604 slaves.  A large quantity of cotton was grown, making it necessary to build more cotton gins as only 5 or

6 bales could be ginned in a day.  Buena Vista had two hotels, several stores, three churches, an academy and many homes in no time.  In 1849 a part of Muscogee

was given to Marion.  Part of Marion was transferred to Talbot and part to Taylor. 

With the start of the new decade came the Civil War.  Many men (over 1,000) from Marion County went to war, many died.  Instead of growing cotton the home farms

grew provisions  for the soldiers.  With so many men gone to fight, the woman worked in poverty.  Times were rough.  Children stopped going to school so they could

help at home.  Reconstruction stuck the state hard, including Marion County.  By 1870 things were turning around for the county.

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