Early Beginnings of Jasper County and Monticello

By John Harvey

Jasper County was created by the Legislature in 1807 from lands that were part of Baldwin County.  Originally the county was named for Virginia Governor John Randolph.  In 1812, because of disagreement with Randolph's stand on the war, the name was changed to honor Sgt. William Jasper, a Revolutionary hero.  Later another county in south Georgia was named for Randolph.

The land that makes up our county was a part of one of the tracts of land gained from the Creek Indians in the early 1800's.  Land was given out in the Lottery of 1807, this was next to the last lottery of this type held in Georgia.  In 1809, the Yazoo Fraud was to end this type of lottery.  The land lots laid out were 202 and 1/2 acre in size.  An interesting fact is that the land lines run in a northeast to southwest and southeast to northwest direction rather than the usual north-south-east-west direction. as in the counties to the north and west of us.  It was said that the surveyors did this to keep the sun out of their eyes.

Under the rules of the lottery, those who were eligible to draw land drew first then whatever land was left was sold to speculators.  Those who were eligible were war veterans, doctors, lawyers, ministers, and teachers.  This was done to attract the better settlers into the new territory, in most new counties a Militia officer was appointed to look out for the rights of the poor.  The Legislature wanted to be sure that even the poor had a chance to own a piece of land.  There are many interesting stories in the minutes of the county commissioners telling how the militia officer protected the rights of a poor man who had his eye on a piece of land that the speculators had their eyes on too.

The 1808, the County Commissioners bought land lot number 56 from Issac Weldon who had drawn it in the 1807 lottery, it is now known if he was a veteran or not, veterans often sold their tickets to draw to others when they needed money.  Issac Weldon was paid $913.12 and 1/2 cents for lot 56.  The town chartered was named Monticello for the home of Thomas Jefferson.  There had already begun some settlement, but most history of Monticello is dated from 1807.

Land lot 56 had an excellent spot in it's north corner for a town square, a series of small hills that gave good drainage.  Probably the deciding factor was the six free running year round springs less than 1/2 a mile from the Square.  These springs served Monticello's water needs well up into the 1830's.  The Gravel Spring, back of the present Courthouse, still puts out an exceptionally strong stream of water.  The other springs were located as follows off Flemming Street behind the Bobbin Mill, below Reese Hall, behind St. James Methodist Church and two springs within 25 feet of each other behind the present Mini Food store.  The Boys Academy had a contract with Reese Hall that allowed them to get water from their spring. 

Sources: Georgia Archives Department

Books: History of Georgia

County Records

Some of Monticello's older citizens over the years

Additional Comments:
Transcribed by Suzanne Forte (suzanneforte@bellsouth.net) April 2005,  from copies of articles contained in the Monticello News. There articles were prepared by Mr. 
John Harvey and published in this newspaper during the 1970's and 1980's time frame. Some were under the title "Jasper Reflections", others "Bicentennial Bits".
Permission has been granted by Mr. Harvey for use of these very valuable and informative articles.

Copies of articles provided by Benny Hawthorne.