CLINCH COUNTY, GEORGIA
HISTORY

The new County of Clinch was named in honor of General Duncan L. Clinch, who had just died at his home in Macon. He had been a brave soldier in the War of 1812, and in the Indian wars in Florida during 1836-8, he served as brigadier-general. In the campaign of 1847 he was a strong candidate for governor, but was defeated by Governor George W. Towns, who afterwards by a coincidence, signed the bill creating a new county in honor of his opponent. General Clinch was born in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, in 1784, and died in Macon in 1849. For several years he lived in Camden County where he was an extensive farmer. Ex-Governor Duncan C. Heyward, of South Carolina, is a grandson of General Clinch.

Among those back of the movement to create a new county might be mentioned James W. Staten, Elijah Mattox, John Tomlinson, Jr., and Benjamin Sirmans. Some of the most influential men of Ware and Lowndes Counties were in favor of it.

In the Legislature of 1849-50, William A. McDonald was Ware's representative, and George Carter from Lowndes County. A bill was introduced at this session to create Clinch County, and was passed by a small majority on Monday, February 4th, 1850, the vote standing 53 yeas and 49 nays in the House. The records do not show the vote in the Senate, but it was passed and subsequently approved by the governor on February 14th, 1850.


Source: History of Clinch County Georgia, Compiled and Edited by Folks Huxford, The J. W. Burke Company, Macon, Georgia, 1916

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