The Native Americans of Henry County
Cultural Presentations
Abstract
Between the years 4-300 BC, the first natives arrived in the region we now know as Henry County. These native Americans would have seen a drastically different Henry County than what we see today. Most of the areas surrounding McDonough and Stockbridge were plains as far as the eye could see with few trees blocking the view of the old mounds and rock structures surrounding the area. The natives were a very agrarian group who depended on crops like corn, beans and squash for sustenance; it would be safe to say that fish and game were also an important part of the native diet since there was access to woodland areas and the rivers surrounding the borders of old Henry.
Governance and Society
"Creek spirituality encompasses awareness of spiritual beings, both good and bad." [1]
The Creek Culture was one of bloodlines and kinship. They believed in the bloodline of the mother of a child as being the main line; this was in contrast of patriarchal Europe who believed in the father's bloodline. The culture believed that the men were to fish and hunt and that the women were to farm and keep the infrastructure in these small villages. Most of these tribes elected "Councils" to rule over the village and to make important decisions for the community, these decisions could include making rulings in conflicts, making decisions on what crops to plant in the following season and act as diplomats with surrounding tribes. These councils appointed certain tribal members act as "Lawmenders", a type of police force who were ordered by higher Creek councils to apprehend and handle those who were considered criminals in the Creek nation.
[1]: Walker AC, Thompson T. Muscogee Creek spirituality and meaning of death. Omega (Westport). 2009;59(2):129-46.
Henry County Muscogee Connection
Expand Your Knowledge
Place Names
Discovery & Exploration
Cotton Indian Creek= PANALAHATCHEE
Comes from the Muskogean word for cotton river
Bear Creek
Comes from the prevalence of bears in the area in the days of the Native Americans.
Towaliga River
In Muskogean language Towaliga means "Scalp Place".
Tussahaw Creek
Means "River of Pain" in Muskogean.
Ocmulgee River
Means "Where the waters boil up.' in the Hichiti language.
Walnut Creek
Comes from the prevalence of walnut trees on the water way when the creek was discovered.
Wano
Previous name of the Ola community. Some scholars believe this was the name used by the Creeks before it was changed in the late 19th century.
Panola Road
Panola Road in Ellenwood used to be known as Strawn Road and served as an early trail for colonists and Native Americans
Location
More Than Just a History Lesson
Henry County sat in between upper and old trading paths in Georgia which meant there would have been some activity with settlers coming through the area along with native tribes migrating back and forth on these paths. This map included the trails that were documented by colonists in the late 1700s, we can only imagine the paths that were not documented, which probably numbered in the hundreds in and before this time period.
When settlers arrived in Henry County in the early 19th century, the Creek natives had begun to become more militant and resisting white settlers pouring into the community
The Creek War of 1813.
The Creek War of 1813 were conflicts that centered around Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Upon completion of the American Revolution American Settlers poured into Native American territories in mass numbers. This clash of cultures led to the start of conflicts between new settlers and Native American.