456 OGLETHORPE COUNTY. 



devotes his leisure moments to the study of the antiquities 

 and mineralogy of Oglethorpe county. His cabinet is filled 

 with the choicest specimens, and the walks of hi's garden 

 are ornamented with the beautiful amethystine quartz. 



Climate, Diseases, Longevity. — The climate is mild and 

 healthy. A few cases of fever occur in the fall. Mr. Daniel 

 Dupree, 80 years of age, and Mr. Jacob Eberhart, over 90, 

 are now living. Mr. Clifford Woodruff died over 104 years 

 of age ; Mrs. Taylor, over 90. Mr. Charles Strong, who was 

 at the taking of Cornwallis, died at the age of 84 ; his wife, 

 Mrs. Sarah Strong, is now living, over 80. 



Eminent Men. — This county boasts of having furnished 

 Georgia with several men who stand high on the list of her 

 sons, such as Judges Lumpkin and Cobb, Hon. Mr. Upson, 

 Gov. Gilmer, and Hon. W. H. Crawford. 



The celebrated George Matthews, formerly Governor of 

 the State, resided in this county. He was the son of John 

 Matthews, who emigrated to Virginia from Ireland, in 

 1737, and settled in Augusta county. From his youth he 

 was accustomed to danger. The Indians west of the 

 Ohio river, the most warlike of all the aborigines of Ame- 

 rica, made frequent incursions into western Virginia, from 

 1754 to 1774. In George Matthews they found a formi- 

 dable enemy. In 1761 a family not far from his father's resi- 

 dence was murdei'ed by the savages. He and two or three of 

 his relations, supposing from the firing that there was a shooting- 

 match among some of the neighbours, went to join in the 

 sport. On riding up to the place, they saw dead bodies lying 

 in the yard. Matthews immediately perceived their danger, 

 and wheeled his horse for flight ; the Indians rose from their 

 concealment and fired; Matthews, however, effected his escape, 

 collected as soon as possible twenty of his neighbours, pursued 

 the Indians, overtook and killed nine of them. Capt. Mat- 

 thews acted an important part in the battle which took place 

 on the 10th of October, 1774, at the junction of the 

 Ohio with the Kenawha, the greatest ever fought between 

 the Virginians and Indians. The fight commenced at 

 sunrise and continued until evening, when Capt. Matthews, 



