Early History & Settlers
Written by Stephanie Harrison ( conquestmusic@comcast.net ) 

Columbia County is situated to the north and west of Augusta, Georgia. The 1820 U.S. census reports Columbia County as being 
"41 miles long on the stage road by 30 wide...great part by actual measurement." Columbia County was formed from Richmond 
County in 1790. The eastern edge of the county is bordered by the Savannah River which acts to separate Georgia from South 
Carolina. Columbia County ran to the west, at least , as faras Thomson, Georgia. However, the 1870 State legislature narrowed
Columbia County by making the town of Thomson the county seat for a new McDuffie County. To the south of Columbia County is 
Richmond County and to the north Lincoln County.

Beginning in the 1770's numerous people begin crossing the Savannah River and migrating into Columbia County. Frequently, 
the settlers were from Virginia, North and South Carolina, Maryland or simply the older colonies. Some of the original 
settlers acquired their lands by "headrights" or "bounty" land grants. After February 17, 1783, State legislation was passed 
which provided each head of the household "headrights" or "bounty" land grants. After February 17, 1783, State
legislation was passed which provided each head of the household "headrights". A married man could obtain 200 acres, plus 50 
additional acres for each member of his family and each slave at a cost of from one to four shillings per acre. "Bounty" land 
grants were made to veterans of the Revolutionary War in lieu of monetary compensation for military service. Grants were limited 
to 1,000 acres and the applicant was required to live on the land for at least a year and cultivate a minimum of 3% of the total 
acreage. The individual could then apply to the Governor's office for the grant and pay all necessary fees. The grant would then be 
issued and recorded.

During the late 1700's or early 1800's , what appears to be a very popular location to catch the ferry from South Carolina over 
to Georgia was a place located in the northeast corner of Columbia County just below Keg Creek or just below what is known 
today as Clark's Hill Lake. The road leading from the ferry down to the "Village of Appling", the present county seat, was called 
Scott's Ferry Road. Today the road continues to maintain the name or be referred to as Interstate Highway 221. Since Samuel C Scott 
owned the Georgia land at the ferry crossing, as late as 1806, and because the ferry was known as "Scott's Ferry"; it
is probable the road was named after him. After arriving in Georgia by ferry and traveling west along Scott's Ferry Road, the 
first major road intersecting Scott's Ferry Road and running north to south would be a road named Petersburg Road. Petersburg 
Road virtually led down to Augusta. Only two small sections of Petersburg Road remain today.....the northern tip extending from 
Clarks Hill Lake to Scott's Ferry Road and the southern tip located on the outskirts of Augusta, the remainder having been 
vacated by the timber industry.

The area surrounding Scott's Ferry Road and Petersburg Road was a very popular place to settle in the early 1800's. The original 
settlers were not only neighbors and friends, but their children often married each other. Consequently, people would often be 
related to their neighbor in some form or fashion. In some instances, families arrived from the same State and county to 
settle in Georgia, ie: Lamkins and Evans families were from Mecklenberg County, Va., so it is probable that they were
following friends, neighbors or possibly relatives to the area.

In 1820, the area east of Petersburg Road and towards the Savannah River was known as District No 2. Captain James Walker 
was in charge of District No. 2. Families listed in the district 
at that time were:
Thomas Benning, Benjamin Berry, John Garnett, Joshua Foster, 
William Pulliam, Reuben Luke, Michael Reid, Ezkiel Reid, Thomas 
Luke, John Avery, Humphrey Evans, John Lyon, William Merriwether, 
Edmond Lyon, Pleasant Benning, James Toole, Joseph Germany, James 
Alexander, Reuben Willingham, John Eubank, Alexander Pearre, and 
Thomas Lyon. 

The area around the intersection of Scott's Ferry Road and Petersburg Road and west of District No 2 was known as District 
No 3. Captain of District No 3 was Samuel Payne. The families in 
his district were:
James Lamkin, Asa Avery, Jane Reed, James Luke, Cabal Eubank, 
John Foster, Ann Lamkin, Archer Avery, James Boyd, William 
Eubank, Leonard Peek (Peak), John Gray, Rebecca Garnett, Nancy 
Garnett, Isaac Willingham, Richard Merriwether, Jacob Dunn and 
Robert Pollard. 

District No 3 was noted by Dr H. R. Casey in the book Our Heritage, compiled by Janette S. Kelly, 1983, as being "famous" 
in the "flush times" of Columbia County and certainly stopping at "Lukes Store" in District No 3 for a little "fun and frolic" 
must have been the thing to do in those days.

On the west side of District No 3, was of course District No 4 which is estimated to be the area surrounding and to the west of 
what is today called Pollard's Corner. Pollard's Corner is the intersection of Scott's Ferry Road and Washington Road. 

Later, these three districts became known as the 135th Georgia 
Militia District (GMD).