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George County was formed in 1910. The first officers posed for a photo which has been dated May 1910. A copy of the photo was donated to the George County Courthouse by Mrs. M. M. Havard, daughter of David Clay (aka D. C.) Eubanks, the first president of the George County Board of Supervisors. It now hangs in the Board room at the counthouse in Lucedale.
The following articles from several 1910 issues of the "Greene County Herald" will provide you with further information about its creation.
March 4, 1910
EDITORAL
"The NEW COUNTY measure has found its way into the present Legislature. Gov. Noel a few days ago included it in a bunch of legislation that he recommended as suitable for the consideration of the lawmakers. A little later the Committee in the House which has charge of such affairs reported the Bill which provides for the creation of this New County to be called GEORGE and to have as its capital Lucedale and to be formed by taking portions from Greene and Jackson counties. We have not seen a draft of the bill but are informaed indirectly that it slices one row of townships off of the lower part of Greene and two rows of townships off north of Jackson counties. This New County movement has caused a world of bitterness in Greene County and has entered politics where perhaps it should not. We hope it may be finally settled one way or the other. We have been opposed to it and are yet, but desire to see it brushed out of the way if possible now and once for all time to come. That it how it has been squarely presented as an issue, to have it definitely disposed of all."
March 18, 1910
THE NEW COUNTY BILL PASSED
The passage of the NEW COUNTY bill or what is known as GEORGE COUNTY bill, as announced in our last issue as having been consummated in the house, means that the measure only likes (sic) the requisite amount of time to travel to the Executive desk for signature to become a full fledged law, as Gov. Noel is committed to signing it by his having recommended it as a fit subject for legislation.
The bill takes one row (of) the lowest row off of Greene County; the line will fall but a short distance above Merrill and does not take Leaf. Two township rows are taken off the North end of Jackson County. The final step toward making the NEW COUNTY a sure thing will be the ratification as provided for by the state constitution by the qualified electors within the proposed district by election, of the bill. In a short while we expect to be able to give fuller information as to the provisions of the bill. Lucedale is provided by the terms of the bill to be the capital. It remains for the voting citizens of the affected zone to decide finally upon their separation from the old counties. As they will have the burden to bear they should be allowed to make their decision after due consideration. We shall not interfere in this being done."
March 25, 1910
GEORGE COUNTY IN EMBRYO
"Tuesday comers to Leakesville were Messrs. L. G. Sellers, editor of the "Plaindealer" and J. C. Stevens, cashier of the Bank of Lucedale. They were looking after some data with reference to the holding of the election in the proposed George County. They inform us that this will take place sometime before the 16th of next month as the bill was signed by the Governor on March16th, and provided that such election should be held within thirty days after its passage. The political pot will boil down in that zone among the pro and cons within a short time. The officers for the New County will be appointed by the Governor if the people ratify the provisions of the Bill. Later will come a special election for such officers."
April 1, 1910
THAT NEW COUNTY ELECTION
"From a notice posted on the Court House door we notice the election for the New County is set for Thursday 14, 1910, which we assume is meant for that date in April. The fumes and fusses of that fight at present are something with which we are having nothing to do, but are mere onlookers and news-purveyors. If the citizenry down that way want to set up housekeeping for themselves, the parent counties will have to bid them God Speed and hope for the best for the new household in the estate of Mississippi counties. So little of Greene's territory is involved that it can't matter much to us one way or the other, and with Jackson which is longer than Greene, the comparative loss is about equal. The burdens of countyhood has its responsibilities as our friends will find out but they have a constitutional and Democratic right to assume them if they want to."
April 22, 1910
GEORGE COUNTY RATIFIED
VOTED IN BY SWEEPING MAJORITY
"The election held in the proposed New County zone Thursday, April 14, 1910, resulted in a very decisive vote by the people to ratify the bill whcih created said new county which is to bear the name of GEORGE in honor of Mississippi's late distinguished statesman.
The table below shows the returns as canvassed by the Special commissioners for the respective portions of the mother counties of Green(e) and Jackson, towit:--
VOTING PRECINCT FOR AGAINST
IN GREENE
Merrill 34 4
Lucedale 80 4
Rocky Creek 48 8
Majority in Greene 152 To 16
IN JACKSON
Wilkinson 9 23
Reeves 7 12
Ward 30 7
Helveston 51 13
Majority in Jackson 97 To 55
Total Majority (249) 178
The New County of GEORGE will become an effective integral in the organizaation of the State of Mississippi as quickly as Gov. Noel makes the declaration from the returns which have been transmitted to the archives at Jackson. The territorial limits of GEORGE county comprise 465 square miles, and as we have said before is formed by slicing off the southern tier of townships from GREENE and the two northern tiers of townships from Jackson counties, and the bill provides that Lucedale shall be the County seat."
April 29, 1910
GEORGE COUNTY'S FIRST OFFICERS
Proclamation was made by Gov. Noel last week that George County has been legally created and the following provisional officers were appointed: C. P. Eubanks, Sheriff & Tax Collector; L. G. Sellers, Chancery Clerk; Circuit Clerk, A. E. Dean; Assessor Wm. A. Steede; Treasurer, W. S. Cowart; County Superintendent of Education, W. A. Avera; Supervisors, D. C. Eubanks, J. C. Dorsett, J. B. Goff, C. F. Ward and F. G. McQuagge. These officers will qualify at Lucedale the first Monday in May, and it will be their duty to provide for the holding of an election, which will determine who will be the permanent officers of the New County. After such permanent officers are elected and qualified, then will come the final steps in the organization of George County and getting down to the regular business of countyhood."
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