-- Meriwether --  a county in the western part of Georgia, has an area of about 500 square miles. The Flint river forms its East boundary, and it is drained by White Oak, Red Oak, Beech, Cane, and Flat Shoal creeks. The surface is generally undulating. The Pine mountains rise W. from the Flint river, and afford much picturesque scenery. Good soil is found, particularly on Flint river. Cotton, Indian corn, wheat, oats, and sweet potatoes are the staples. In 1850 this county produced 12,862 bales of cotton; 594,601 bushels of corn; 98,050 of oats; and 116,791 of sweet potatoes. It contained 21 churches, 360 pupils attending public schools, and 134 attending other schools. Small quantities of gold are found in the N. part. This county is remarkable for its medicinal springs, namely, the Warm Springs, Sulphur Springs, Cold Springs, and Chalybeate Springs. The Warm Springs discharge 1400 gallons per minute, at the temperature of 90 degrees. Fine bathing houses have been erected at this place. Flat Shoal creek furnishes valuable water-power. Formed in 1827, and named in honor of David  Meriwether,  formerly a member of Congress from Georgia. Capital, Greenville. Population, 16,476, of whom 8483 were free, and 7993, slaves, page 689.                       

Baldwin, Thomas and J. Thomas, M.D. New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Grambo, & Co., 1854.

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DAVID MERIWETHER
General David Meriwether was born in Albemarle, Virginia, in 1755.  He received but an ordinary education; enough, however, to understand the rights of man; for when the British were oppressing us by unlawful taxation, he volunteered his service with others in the
noble but perilous struggle for liberty.

After serving some time, he received a Lieutenant's commission in the regular services.  He was with Washington's army during its maneuvers in New Jersey.  He was at Savannah in 1779, during the unsuccessful siege against that place by our troops.  After this he was
taken prisoner.

In 1785, he settled in Wilkes county, which he represented for a number of years in our Legislature, and as the Speaker of the House every year but the first after he entered.  In 1802, he was sent to Congress.  He sustained many offices of trust, and always discharged
the duties of them with faithfulness.  The last public act of importance which he performed, was that of procuring the cession of land from the Creeks, which lies between the Ocmulgee and Flint rivers, in 1821.

He died at his plantation, six miles west of Athens, in 1823, where he had lived since 1804, in the 68th year of his age, and his end was peace.  One of his sons has represented this State in our national councils.

Ref:  Sherwood, Adiel, A GAZETTEER OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA, 1837, Printed by P. Force, Washington City, pp.296-297.

MERIWETHER COUNTY, GEORGIA

Laid out from Troup, and organized in 1827.  Named after General David Meriwether.  The Flint River is the principal stream.

GREENVILLE, named in honour of Major-General Nathaniel Greene, is the seat of justice.  It is located nearly in the centre of the county, on a high ridge, on the waters of Walnut Creek, 108 miles west of Milledgeville.  Among the first settlers of this county were, Colonel
Wellborn, Marshal Martin, David Williams, Dr. Andrew Park, Abner Dunham, Freeman W. Blount, W. D. Alexander, William Harris, Henry Harris, Sen., Isaac Thrash, Allen Rowe, George C. Heard, Wm. Gill, Lewis Pyrom, John P. Thompson, J. Hodnet, E. Peavy, Simeon Petit, John Jones,
Charles B. Harris, C. Campbell, Major Kendall, John H. Jones, E. Bradley.

Reference Source:  White, Rev. George, M. A., HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF GEORGIA, 1854

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Laid out from Troup and organized in 1827.  Length, 26 m; breadth, 17 m.; area square miles, 442.  Named after General David Meriwether.

Flint River is the principal stream.

The surface of the county is undulating.  The Pine Mountains rise in this county W. of the Flint River, and afford a variety of picturesque scenery.

Good lakes are found, particularly on Flint River, and Red and White Oak creeks.

The climate is temperate, but subject to frequent changes.

Greeneville, named in honour of Major-General Nathaniel Greene, is the seat of justice.  It is located nearly in the centre of the county, on a high ridge, on the waters of Walnut Creek, 108 miles west of Milledgeville.

Sandtown is ten miles south of Greeneville.

Flat Shoals is twelve miles east of Greeneville.  The water-power is unimproved, although it presents inducements for manufacturing purposes unsurpassed by any in Georgia.

This county is celebrated for its valuable medicinal springs.

The Chalybeate Springs are 1, 600 feet above the level of the sea.  The waters are highly spoken of and the accommodations for visitors are excellent.

The Warm Springs are situated on a spur on the Pine Mountain, 36 miles from Columbus.  A fountain, gushing forth 1,400 gallons of water per minute, of 90 degrees temperature, is among the greatest wonders in Georgia.  The bathing houses are fine, and every arrangement is made to accommodate visitors.

The Cold Spring is three-quarters of a mile from the hotel, affording 4,000 gallons of water per minute.

There are some other springs in the county.

Extract from the Census of 1850.--Dwellings, 1,428; families, 1,428; white males, 4,269; white females, 4,212, 1 free coloured male; 1 free coloured female.  Total free population, 8,483; slaves, 7,993.  Deaths, 210.  Farms, 824.  Value of real estate, $2,125,747; value of personal real estate, $4,241,421.

Among the first settlers of this county were, Colonel Wellborn, Marshall Martin, David Williams, Dr. Andrew Park, Abner Dunham, Freeman W. Blount, W. D. Alexander, William Harris, Henry Harris, Sen., Isaac Thrash, Allen Rowe, George C. Heard, Wm. Gill, Lewis Pyrom, John P. Thompson, J. Hodnet, E. Peavy, Simeon Petit, John Jones, Charles B. Harris, C. Campbell, Major Kendall, John H. Jones, E. Bradley.

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History from "Historical Collections of Georgia by White"

Hon. Hiram Warner -- This gentleman was born in the State of Massachusetts, on the 29th of October, 1802.  When about seventeen years of age, he came to Georgia, and soon after visiting the upper parts of the State, was employed as an assistant teacher in the academy at Sparta, in Hancock County.  Fears were entertained that his youth and inexperience would disqualify him from discharging his duties; but during his entire connection with the academy, he was able to give general satisfaction.

Having determined to make the profession of the law his business,, as soon as he could qualify himself to enter upon its duties, he occupied the time not spent in school in legal studies.  In the fall of the year 1824, he was admitted to practice in the courts of Georgia, and shortly afterwards settled at Knoxville, Crawford county.  By unremitting attention to his duties, he soon secured an extensive practice.

In 1828 he was elected as representative to the State Legislature from Crawford County, and continued to be its representative until 1831.  Judge Warner's course as a legislature was also independent and liberal, and although generally acting with his political friends, his kind behavior to his opponents commanded their respect and good feeling.  Whilst a member of the Legislature, he introduced a bill to alter the Constitution, so as to abolish the property qualification of Senators and Representatives, contending, in a speech which he made in support of the measure, "that a man's capacity for making laws ought not to be estimated according to the amount of property he might posses."  The bill, however, was lost, but at a subsequent session was passed, and is now a law of land.

We have heard of an incident connected with this gentleman's political career which reflects great credit upon him, and which, we hazard nothing in saying, is not common at the present day with candidates for public favour. 

When a candidate before the people, he was opposed on the ground that he had refused to pledge himself to vote for some political officer, who was to be elected by the Legislature, who was to be elected by the Legislature, and whom a majority of his constituents, it was thought, preferred.  His opponent had pledged himself, if elected, to vote for the officer, and on the Saturday before the election, at a regimental muster in the county, whilst Judge Warner making a speech, the questions was put to him "whether he was willing to make a similar pledge?"  To which he indignantly replied:--"I may or I may not vote for that officer, but I will not degrade myself so much, nor those whose suffrages I seek, as to make a pledge in advance as to what I may or may not do as their representative.   If the people whose suffrages I seek have not, from their knowledge of my general character, sufficient confidence to believe that I will honestly and faithfully represent their wishes and interests, then vote against me; but if they have such confidence I should be extremely happy for them to manifest it at the ballet-box on Monday next."  This noble answer was appreciated by the people, for they elected him by an increased majority.

During the nullification controversy, Mr. Warner was directly opposed to that movement, not believing it to be either a peaceable or constitutional remedy for the alleged grievances, and was a delegate from the County of Crawford to the Anti-tariff Convention, which assembled at Milledgeville in 1832, and was one of the seceders from that body, with the late John Forsyth and others.

During the session of the Legislature of the year 1833, a new circuit was formed, called the Coweta Circuit, and of which he was elected judge.  In 1836, he was re-elected by nearly a unanimous vote, and continued to discharge its duties until 1840, when he was removed, for no other reason, it is supposed, but that he did not vote the Harrison ticket.  He then returned to the practice of law with his usual energy, and it is affirmed that he realized at least ten thousand dollars by his practice for the year 1841.  In December, 1845, the Supreme Court of Georgia was organized, and he was elected on the judges for the term of four years, and in 1849, was relected for the term of six years, by almost a unanimous vote.  He resides upon his plantation, in Meriwether County, near Greeneville.  To agriculatural pursuits, he is much devoted, and, unlike most professional men, makes good crops.

Of Judge Warner it may be truly said, that he has been the architect of his own fortune, and that is the only aristocracy which ought to be acknowledged in a republican government.  He has always been remarkable for great energy and perseverance.  In 1849, he stated to a gentleman, that during the seven years he was on the bench of the Superior Court, he never failed to hold a court at the time prescribed by law, either in his own circuit or for some judge with whom he exchanged circuits, and that during the five years from 1840 to 1845, he was never absent from any term of the court, both regular and adjourned, which was held in the circuit; that during the four years he had been on the bench of the Supreme Court, he always presented himself at every term which had been held in the State, making in the aggregate, a period of sixteen years, within which time he was punctual in his attendance upon every term of the courts to which business called him.

There are some incidents connected with Judge Warner's administration of the laws that have not generally been known, and a recital of which we believe will be interesting to our readers.

Soon after the organization of Murray County, there were two parties, called the Bishop and the Anti-Bishop parties, among which there was great excitement.  Owing to some prejudice that exited Bishop and his friends were unwilling that the then presiding judge of the Cherokee Circuit should hold the court for the trial of the causes in which they were interested, and therefore the judge of that circuit proposed to exchange courts with Judge Warner, so that the latter might preside at the trials in Murray.  An eye-witness says:  "Judge Warner arrived at Spring Place, the county site, early in the morning of the day the court was to be held, and found the little village nearly surrounded by a company of United States soldiers.  The judge, having ordered breakfast, was shaving, when a communication in writing was handed to him by the late General Steelman.  Upon opening the letter, he found it to be from Colonel Buffington, of the army, informing him that, by the order of Colonel Lindsey, of the United States Army, stationed in Tennessee, he had repaired to Spring Place, for the purpose of enabling the Judge of the Superior Court to execute the laws of Georgia, and tendering to him his own services and that of his command.  The judge, immediately calling for pen, ink and paper, replied to Captain Buffington's communication:  assuring him that however highly he might appreciate the motives which induced Colonel Lindsey to order Captain Buffington and his command to that place, to enable the Judge of the Superior Court to execute the laws of Georgia, he was not aware there existed any necessity for his services, or that of his command; that Georgia was abundantly able to execute her own laws; and that so far as that duty devolved upon him, on that occasion he expected to have no difficulty in doing it," without his assistance.  In less than thirty minutes after the receipt of the communication the soldier's tents were struck, and Captain Buffington and his command were on their march to their quarters in Tennessee.  Several of the Anti-Bishop party implored the judge not to send the soldiers away; the women cried, and said they would all be killed, the court could not be held, &C.

When the time arrived for opening the court, the Sheriff was reluctant to go to the court-house, saying he was certain he would be killed before the trials were over.  The judge assured him that he should be protected--took him by the arm, walked to the court house, opened court, and during the term tried Bishop and other important criminal causes, growing out of the Murray difficulties, without the least disturbance.  Judge Warner's conduct on this occasion was the theme of admiration.

Of the legal qualifications of this gentleman it is scarcely necessary to speak, as the evidences of their high order have been already exhibited in the positions to which he has been so repeatedly elevated.  The characteristic feature of his mind is its remarkable logical force.  His efforts at the bar and his decisions on the bench alike disclose this feature.  His style is free from ornament, and with an unusual directness, he approaches and discusses the question controlling every case-- not one redundant word, not one of repetition, and yet complete.  His language, with perfect accuracy, conveys precisely the idea intended. 

Transcribed by:  Brenda Pierce from Historical Collections of Georgia by White (book in my possession).

(C) 2005 All Rights Reserved.

History Concerning General David Meriwether

 

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This history page transcribed and additional information put together by Brenda Pierce
- All Rights Reserved. - 2005. 
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