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

MILLER COUNTY HISTORY

Miller County was formed in 1856 from Early and Baker, and was named in honor of Andrew J. Miller, who had frequently served in the State legislature, and as President of the Senate had been noted for his ability and the fairness with which he treated each party.
Miller is bounded by the following counties: Baker and Early on the north, Baker on the east, Decatur on the south and Early on the west
Spring creek, running from north to south through the center of the county, is the principal stream. It abounds in fish of the varieties gen•erally found in Georgia streams. This creek has tributary creeks from the east and west.
Almost the entire surface of the county is level. The soil is light with a heavy growth of pine timber.
The lands yield to the acre: corn, 15 bushels; oats, 10; sweet potatoes, 150; ground-peas, 15; seed cotton, 800 pounds; sugar-cane syrup, 250 gallons. Vegetables and melons do well.
The fine pasturage afforded by the native grasses causes the farmers to pay no attention to hay. Their stock seem to take care of themselves entirely.
By the census of 1890 there were in this county 5,804 sheep, with a wool-clip of 12,963 pounds; 8,776 cattle, 330 working oxen, 3,005 milchcows, but a production of only 144,730 gallons of milk and 1,770 pounds of butter. There were also 727 horses, 311 mules, 2 donkeys, 12,938 swine and 24,583 of all kinds of domestic fowls. The production of eggs was 50,028 dozens and of honey 820 pounds.
Rosin, turpentine and lumber are the chief articles of trade.
According to the United States census of 1900 there were ginned in this county 2,025 bales of upland and 50 of sea-island cotton during the season of 1899-1900.
Colquitt is the county site. It is on the Georgia Pine Railway which connects Bainbridge, in Decatur county, on the Savannah, Florida and "Western of the Plant System with Arlington, in Calhoun county, on one of the arms of the Central of Georgia system.
In the towns and county are churches of the leading Christian denominations. Methodists and Baptists predominate.
Other postoffices are Bait, Horn's Cross Koads, Mayhaw, Pond Town,. Spooner and Twilight.
The schools of the county belong to the public school system of Georgia and are in good condition. The average attendance is 510 in the 23 schools for white pupils, and 195 in the 11 schools for negroes.
The area of Miller county is 275 square miles, or 176,000 acres.
Population in 1900, 6,319, an increase of 2,044 since 1890; school fund, $3,976.11.
By the Comptroller-General's report for 1900 there are: acres of improved land, 145,875; of wild land, 28,307; average value per acre of improved land, $2.25; of wild land, $1.97; city property, $31,480; money, etc., $81,693; value of merchandise, $31,870; stocks and bonds,. $500; household furniture, $42,441; farm and other animals, $113,569; plantation and mechanical tools, $20,346; watches, jewelry, etc., $1,056; value of all other property, $67,043; real estate, $516,279; personal estate, $351,697; aggregate value of property, $777,976.
Returns of property by colored taxpayers: Number of acres, 4,962; value, $10,239; city property, $330; money, etc., $142; household furniture, $4,982; watches, etc., $37; farm and other animals, $912; plantation and mechanical tools, $1,688; value of all other property, $570; aggregate value of property, $27,100.
The tax returns of 1901 show a gain in the value of all property over the returns of 1900 amounting to $61,935.
Population of Miller county by sex and color, according to the census of 1900: white males, 1,837; white females, 1,774; total white, 3,611; colored males, 1,436; colored females, 1,272; total colored, 2,708.
Domestic animals in barns and inclosures, not on farms or ranges, June 1, 1900: 56 calves, 36 steers, 14 bulls, 92 dairy cows, 47 horses, 111 mules, 3,100 sheep, 660 swine

Miller County was formed in 1856 from Early and Baker and was named for Andrew J. Miller. It is in the southwestern part of the state, and is bounded on the north by Baker and Early counties, on the east by Baker, on the south by Decatur, and on the west by Early. Spring creek and its tributaries drain the land and supply an abundance of fish. The surface is level and the soil is light. Much of the land is covered with the original pine timber and rosin, turpentine and lumber are the principal articles of trade. Cotton, corn, sugar-cane, and sweet potatoes are raised, and vegetables and melons do well. Colquitt is the county seat. Bait, Horn's Cross Roads, Mahaw, Pond Town, Spooner and Twilight are other settlements. The Georgia, Florida & Alabama railroad passes through the center of the county from north to south. The population in 1900 was 6,319, an increase of 2,6.39 in ten years.
[Source: Georgia Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Vol 2, Publ 1906. Transcribed by Tracy McAllister]