ELBERT COUNTY. 229 



Religious Sects, Education. — Missionary Baptists, Me- 

 thodists, Presbyterians, Ciiristians, and a few Episcopalians. 

 There are 18 or 20 churches in the county. A deep inter- 

 est is felt in the cause of education. 



Character of the People, Amusements. — Were we called 

 upon to name the section of Georgia in which the citizens dis- 

 play the most kindness and hospitality, we should feel a strong 

 inclination to say it is in Elbert county. The inhabitants are 

 patriotic and intelligent, simple in their manners, and devoted 

 in their attachment to Georgia. Fox-hunting is a favourite 

 amusement. 



Climate, Diseases, Longevity. — The climate is pleasant. 

 The lower part is subject to bilious fevers and chills. The up- 

 per part is as healthy as any region in the United States. The 

 instances of longevity are uncommonly numerous. There are 

 now living — Mrs. Sarah Harbin, aged 95 ; Mrs. Murray, over 

 94; Mr. Wm. Gaines, 91; William Ward, 92; Mrs. Teasley, 

 over 85 ; Barbary, a negro woman belonging to Mr. Colson, is 

 now living, over 100; Mrs. Heard, the widow of the Hon. 

 Stephen Heard, died at the age of 83. 



Mineral Springs. — There is a sulphur spring one mile 

 from Ruckersville, on the road to Petersburg. Near Mr. 

 Rucker's plantation is a spring which formerly had considera- 

 ble reputation. The Big and Little Holly springs are celebra- 

 ted for the excellency of the water. 



Early Settlers. — Among the early settlers were the Al- 

 iens, Heards, Ruckers, Banks, Olivers, Whites, Tates, Wat- 

 kins, Baileys, Blackwells, and others. 



Antiquities. — There is a mound in this county which is 

 worthy of notice. It is situated on the Savannah river, about 

 three miles above Petersburg, on the plantation of Captain 

 Rembert. Bartram, the celebrated botanist, who travelled 

 through Georgia, visited this mound, and thus describes it: 

 " These wonderful labours of the ancients stand in a level 

 plain, very near the bank of the river, now 20 or 30 yards 

 from it. They consist of conical mounts of earth, and four 

 square terraces. The great mount is in the form of a cone, 

 40 or 50 feet high, and the circumference of its base two or 

 three hundred yards, entirely composed of the loamy rich 



