220 EARLY COUNTY. 



&c. Very little attention is paid to the cultivation of fruits. 

 Amount of cotton raised 3944 bales. 



ANTiauiTiEs. — Six miles north of Blakely, on Little Colo- 

 mokee creek, at the plantation of Judge JMercier, is a mound 

 52 feet high, with an embankment surrounding it, and a ditch 

 leading to the creek. Upon its summit are large trees. This 

 mound has recently been penetrated to the depth of 50 feet, 

 with the expectation of finding treasure, but nothing has been 

 found but bones. There are other mounds on Dry creek and 

 Chattahoochee river. 



Animals. — Deer are abundant. Wolves and panthers are 

 often killed. Wild turkeys are plentiful. 



Character of the People. — The people of this county 

 have a high reputation for good order, hospitality, &c. Persons 

 who have visited this part of the State are lavish in the praise 

 which they bestow upon the people. 



Amusements. — Game being abundant, much time is devo- 

 ted to the chase ; the other amusements are fishing and dan- 

 cing. 



Roads and Bridges. — The roads and bridges do not reflect 

 credit upon the inhabitants. 



Name. — This county is named in honour of Governor Peter 

 Early. This gentleman was born in Madison county, Virginia, 

 on the 20th of June, 1773, and came to Georgia about 1795 or 

 1796, and commenced the practice of the law in Wilkes county. 

 In 1802 he was elected to Congress by a large majority, and 

 soon became a leading member of that body. When the im- 

 peachment of Judge Chase was before Congress, he was asso- 

 ciated with Randolph, Rodney, Nicholson, Clark, Campbell, 

 and Boyle, in conducting the prosecution. His speech on this 

 occasion is said to have been the ablest that was delivered on 

 the side of the prosecution. He continued in Congress until 

 1807, when he was appointed by the Legislature, Judge of the 

 Superior Court in the Ocmulgee circuit. For this station he 

 seems to have been eminently qualified. Firm, independent, 

 and energetic, he administered justice without fear. In 1813 

 he was elected Governor of Georgia. This was a critical pe- 

 riod. Accumulated disasters had nearly broken the spirit of 

 the nation, and the howling tempest of war raged with vio- 



