McDuffie County, Georgia Genealogy and History - Presented by Genealogy Trails History Group

McDuffie County was created from Warren and Columbia in October (illegible) and was named for Senator McDuffie, of South Carolina. It is situated in the eastern part of the state and is bounded on the north by Lincoln and Wilkes counties, on the east by Columbia, on the south by Richmond, Jefferson and Warren, and to the west by Warren and Wilkes. It is well watered by the tributaries of the Savannah river. The land, which was once very fertile, has been exhausted by injudicious cultivation. Within the last few years, scientific methods have been introduced in many services of the county and are restoring to the soil its former productiveness. Peanuts, peas, sugar-cane, sorghum and the cereals are the principal productions. The cultivation of vegetables, fruits, berries and melons is attracting much attention, especially along the lines of the Georgia railway, which traverses the county from west to east establishing quick connections with Augusta, where the McDuffie watermelon is greatly prized for its size and flavor. The timber consists of the various hard-wood varieties, and much of it is cut into lumber each year. Gold is found in the county in paying quantities, and mines are operated at Talahu, Partu and Williams. Thomson, the county seat, is near the center of the county, and is a trade center for the surrounding district. Dearing, Boneville and Wrightsboro are the other towns of importance. The population of the county in 1900 was 9,804, a gain of 1,015 since 1890.
[Source: Georgia Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Vol 2, Publ 1906. Transcribed by Renae Donaldson]