GILMER COUNTY. 265 



Name. — Georgia has named all of her civil divisions, with 

 the exception of the counties of Liberty, Union, Muscogee, 

 Coweta, Cherokee, and Chattooga, after distinguished men. 

 Messrs. Cass, Troup, Lumpkin, and Gilmer, are the only gentle- 

 men now living, whose names are thus commemorated. If unwa- 

 vering attachment to the principles of American liberty — if 

 incorruptible integrity — if long and faithful services to his na- 

 tive State — if strict adherence to justice and truth, at a period 

 when jealousy, prejudice, and ignorance united in denouncing 

 the judicial proceedings of Georgia " as unconstitutional, un- 

 just and wicked," be qualities, the possession of which gives a 

 citizen a claim to distinction, then is George R. Gilmer most 

 justly deserving a conspicuous place on the catalogue of Geor- 

 gia's worthy sons. Mr. Gilmer was born on the 11th of April, 

 1790, on the southern side of Broad river, about two miles 

 above the Fish Dam ford, then in the county of Wilkes, now 

 Oglethorpe. His ancestors were among the most respectable 

 citizens of Virginia, and many of his relatives acted a promi- 

 nent part in the Indian wars, and in the war of the Revolu- 

 tion. His father came from Augusta county, Virginia, to 

 Georgia, in 1785, and settled in Wilkes county. 



The company into which young Gilmer was thrown, was 

 of a character to inspire him with an aversion to tyranny^and 

 injustice. Many of the original settlers of Wilkes had been in 

 the Revolution, and some of them had occupied high stations 

 in the army. With these, Mr. Gilmer's father was upon the 

 most intimate terms, and they were accustomed to meet at 

 his house, where the incidents and men of '76 were frequently 

 the themes of conversation. Governor Matthews, Colonel 

 Taliafero, and others of the same stamp, would notice the deep 

 attention with which young Gilmer listened, and took much 

 pleasure in communicating to him many facts associated with 

 the Revolution, and the early history of Wilkes county, which 

 left a strong impression upon his mind, and which have been 

 treasured up to this day. Hence it is, that Mr. Gilmer now 

 surpasses any man in Georgia, in a knowledge of the men and 

 incidents of the revolutionary war, especially as it was con- 

 ducted in the upper part of Georgia. He went to several 

 schools, if schools they might be called, for it must be remem- 



