Page 21 - Thomason-McDuffie NCG 2025 2025

Thomas E. Watson 1767 1770 1773 1800
Voice for the People
Governor James Wrightsborough, Creek, Cherokee, Gold is discovered
Wright grants named for Gov. Shawnee, and Uchee along Little River.
12,000 acres to Wright, is formally tribes cede 2 million Gold mining
Pennsylvania and established acres to European becomes one of
North Carolina by Quakers. settlers. The land the first industries
Quakers as a buffer includes McDuffie, in the area, soon
between Augusta Columbia, Elbert, replaced by farming McDuffie County History
and the Creek and Green, Warren, Wilkes, valuable cotton.
Cherokee Indians. and other counties.
Before radio talk shows and social
media influencers, there was Thomas E.
Watson — lawyer, publisher, U.S. Senator, 2054 1830s
and one of Georgia’s most fiery political
figures, born and raised in Thomson, Future residents Georgia’s first railroad tracks were laid
Georgia. Watson made his name in will celebrate the in the mid-1830s on routes leading from
the late 1800s as a champion for rural Bicentennial of City Athens, Augusta, Macon, and Savannah.
farmers, advocating for public education, of Thomson.
free rural mail delivery, and the rights of 1854
the common man when elite interests
dominated much of the South. He was a 2021 City of Thomson is incorporated.
key player in the Populist Party and one of
the most influential voices in the political University Hospital
realignment of the early 20th century. becomes Piedmont McDuffie 1870
McDuffie.
You can still walk the grounds of County McDuffie County is
his beautifully preserved home, Hickory formed from parts of
Hill, in Thomson — a peaceful estate that 1997 Warren and Columbia
once buzzed with typewriters, telegrams, History counties. The county
and the conversations of a man who Augusta Technical College is named for George
stirred national debate. opens its Thomson campus. McDuffie, a native
Hickory Hill, 502 Hickory Hill Drive Georgia lawyer,
Thomson, GA 30824 | 706-595-7777 governor, and U.S.
hickory-hill.org 1993 Senator. Thomson is
named the county seat.
1st Blind Willie McTell Blues
Festival is held. 1910 1880
1952 Town of Dearing is Cotton production

Clarks Hill Lake is created when incorporated, named flourishes along with
the culture of enslaved
for William Dearing, a
the J. Strom Thurmond Dam is board member of the workers. By 1880, 64%
built on the Savannah River by Georgia Railroad and of the county’s residents
the U.S. Corps of Engineers. Banking Company. are African American.
Unearth more fascinating stories about McDuffie McDuffie Museum
County’s diverse history at the Thomson-McDuffie 121 Main Street, Thomson, GA 30824
Museum in downtown Thomson. 706-595-9923 | mcduffiemuseum.com

17
thomsonmcduffiechamber.com • 706-597-1000