GILMER COUNTY. 263 



and Tumbling. Many of these afford excellent situations for 

 mills. 



Population, Taxes, Representation. — According to the 

 census of 1845, the population was 4,558 whites, 149 blacks ; 

 total, 4,707. The tax as returned for 1848, is $871 68. Sends 

 one representative to the Legislature. 



Post Offices. — Ellijay, Prince Edward, Tacoa, Talking 

 Rock, Blue Ridge. 



Towns. — Ellijay is the capital of the county, situated on 

 the northwest bank of the Ellijay river, 171 miles N. W. of 

 Milledgeville, 40 miles S. W. of Blairsville, 35 miles N. W. of 

 Dahlonega, 40 miles N. of Canton, 28 miles E. of Spring 

 Place, and 43 miles from Murphy, North Carolina. Popula- 

 tion 150. It has a court-house, jail, five stores, &c. The place 

 is said to be healthy. Public buildings located here in 1834. 



Climate, Diseases, Longevity. — This county may be 

 said to have a healthy climate, although in certain sections there 

 is considerable sickness. The diseases are pneumonia, pleu- 

 risies, &c. Cancers are common, and we have heard of a 

 gentleman in the county who cures them by certain charms, 

 and in whose skill many place entire confidence. Several 

 cases of longevity have come to our knowledge. Among 

 them are Mr. Underwood, over 80, enjoying fine health ; 

 James Kell, over 90; Mr. Smith, 90; Mrs. Ellis, 90; Mrs. 

 Carroll, 84 ; George Brock and wife, over 80 ; Mrs. Cox, 84 ; 

 Mrs. Lucy Harris and Mrs. Ringcaird, over 85. 



Mills, Distilleries, Rifles. — In the county are 22 grist- 

 mills, 9 saw-mills, 1 jug factory, 4 distilleries. One and three 

 quarters of a mile from Ellijay is Wood & Jones's rifle manu- 

 factory. Price of rifles from fifteen to forty dollars, and are 

 said to be superior articles. 



Face of the Country, Nature of the Soil, Value of 

 Land. — The face of the country is broken by mountains, the 

 principal of which are Cohuttah, Frog, Coal, Bald, Long 

 Swamp, Amacolola, Turnip Town, Tallona, and Sharp Top. 

 The best lands are in the valleys and on the water-courses ; 

 inclined to be of a black sandy soil, adapted to corn, oa^ and 

 rye. Wheat does not succeed so well. The broken lands 

 having a growth of post oak, walnut and hickory, in the 

 opinion of many are better suited to wheat than the lands on 



