602 WASHINGTON COUNTY. 



habited by a generous and high-minded people. Love for 

 their State is a predominant feeling with them. 



Mineral Spring. — On a branch leading into Williamson's 

 swamp, there is a spring containing mineral properties. 



Rocks, Minerals. — Fine burr stone is abundant in this 

 county. Near Saundersville are five or six lime-sinks, or caves, 

 as many of them may be properly called, in which fossil teeth, 

 ribs, and shells of endless variety are gathered in almost any 

 quantity. Cypleasters, silicified oyster shells, and coprolites are 

 also abundant. Recently, opal has been discovered in this 

 neighbourhood ; also hornstone, jasper, chalcedony, agate, &c. 

 The compiler of this work has frequently visited the neighbour- 

 hood of Saundersville, and can safely say, that in his judgment, 

 a more interesting geological locality is not to be found in our 

 country. It is very strange that so little should be known of 

 these " medals of creation." Persons have resided near the 

 spot for years, and yet have not had the curiosity to visit these 

 caves. The friends of science have reasons to regret that Sir 

 Charles Lyell, when in Georgia, and who passed within three 

 miles of Saundersville, did not visit this interesting locality. 



Shells. — The streams of this county abound with rare 

 muscles. Many of them have been collected and sent to Eu- 

 rope and the Northern States, to adorn the cabinets of the cu- 

 rious. The stream near Brantley's mill-pond is rich in these 

 beautiful shells. 



Religious Sects, Education. — The Methodists and Bap- 

 tists are the most numerous. There are several incorporated 

 academies, but they are not now in operation. The census' of 

 1840 gives 882 persons over 20 years of age, in this county, 

 who could not read or write. Surely the citizens should endea- 

 vour to adopt some system, by which the means of education 

 can be brought to every man's door. 



Number of poor children 387. Educational fund, $335 60. 



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

 In some settlements, particularly on water-courses, fevers and 

 chills prevail. The instances of longevity are the following : 

 William Rachel died at the age of 118 years; Mr. Bedgood 

 at 112 ; Mr. A. Peacock at 85 ; Moses Cox over 80. 



Original Settlers. — John Stokes, Mr. Saunders, John 



