My name is John B. Ellis and I am the person responsible for Telfair County. If you would like to contribute your information to this page, please let me know. If you would like to host a county, contact Tim Stowell GeorgiaGenWeb State Coordinator.

John B. EllisCounty Coordinator

      
 

 

Telfair County, Georgia History

Telfair Co. , the 35^th county formed in Georgia, was created by act of 12-10-1807 from Wilkinson Co. Originally it contained parts of Coffee, Dodge, Jeff Davis, and Wheeler Counties. It was named for Gov. Edward Telfair (1735-1807). Born in Scotland, he settled in Savannah in 1766, was a staunch supporter of the American cause in the Revolution, was a member of the Council of Safety, a delegate to the Continental Congress, Gov. 1786-87 and 1790-93.

Eugene and HermanTalmadge, a father and son who each served as governor of Georgia, were from Telfair County. Herman Talmadge was also a U.S. senator.

The county has its own replica of the Statue of Liberty. Also located here is the old McRae fire bell, refurbished to look like the original Liberty Bell.

The world record for the largest large-mouth ever caught is held by George Perry of Telfair County, who caught a fish that weighed over 22 pounds in 1932.

First Officers of Telfair Co., commissioned 12/20/1808 were, Duncan Curry, Clerk of Superior and Inferior Courts, Cullen Edwards, Sheriff, Benjamin M. Griffin, Coroner.

Jacksonville, was settled in 1807, incorporated on December 14, 1815, and served as the county seat until it was moved to McRae in 1871. It was named for "Old Hickory", Andrew Jackson, who defeated the British at New Orleans in 1815, the same year this town was chartered.

McRae, was established as the county seat in 1870 and incorporated as a town on March 3, 1874. The first settlers came to the area in the early 1800's. They were Scottish Presbyterians from the Carolinas. The railroad station was built in 1870 and named in honor of the McRae clan or family. It was built on the plantation of Daniel M. McRae who, with William McRae, was among the first of the town's commissioners.

Helena, was incorporated as a city on December 27, 1890. Derivation of the name is uncertain.

Named due to the establishment of the largest sawmill in the south over 100 years ago, Lumber City, was incorporated as a town on September 3, 1889. The place was first known as Artesian City for the wells there.

Milan's boundaries fall in both Telfair and Dodge counties. It was incorporated as a town on October 21, 1891 and named after the large city in Northern Italy.

Scotland, lying in both Telfair and Wheeler counties, was incorporated as a town on August 19, 1911. The original name of the town was McVille, which was sometimes confused with McRae so, It was changed to the present name because of the predominance of early Scottish settlers.

Towns, Is a community on the Little Auchehatchee River in the eastern section of the county. It was named for Johnson C. Towns, one of the first settlers and the first postmaster.

Air Photographs of Telfair County
Wiregrass Genealogical Society
 

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Revolutionary War Resources

National Society, Sons of the American Revolution
Georgia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution
Daughters of the American Revolution - Georgia Organization
National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution
National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution- State and Chapter Sites- Georgia
Revolutionary War Flags
American Revolution.Org

United Daughters of the Confederacy
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Confederate Resource Page
Georgia Confederate Pension Applications

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Other Genealogical Links

RootsWeb Genealogical Data Cooperative
Cyndi's List of Genealogical Sites on the Internet
Genforum Surname Query Board
Internet FamilySearch
Census Online
Old Jacksonville, Ga.
Query Page at Ancestry.Com  (Old RootsWeb GenConnect Board)
Telfair Co. Resources at Rootsweb

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Events Calendar   If you have a family reunion or an event with genealogical or historical significance be sure and post them here. If you have any trouble with posting, email me .

 

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 John B. Ellis

This page was last updated on 4/8/2004

55880 accesses since October 11, 1999

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John B. Ellis

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