Banks County
Homer, Banks County, Georgia
Marker Inscription
Banks County. Banks County was created by Act of Dec. 11, 1858 from Franklin and Habersham Counties. It was named for Dr. Richard Banks (1784-1850), whose reputation as physician and surgeon extended over north Ga. and S.C. Especially noted for treating Indians for smallpox, he practiced medicine in Gainesville from 1832 until his death. First officers of Banks County, commissioned March 19, 1859, were: William P. Richards, Sheriff; James Anderson, Clk. Sup. Ct.; William H. Means, Clk. Inf. Ct.; Archibald McDonald, Coroner; Pierce C. Key, Surveyor; Fountain G. Moss, Ord.; Thomas Ausburn, Tax Col.; Elijah Owens, Tax Rec. 006-7B GEORGIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 1956
Erected by Georgia Historical Commission
The Story
Banks County was created in 1858 from parts of Franklin and Habersham counties and named for Dr. Richard Banks, a physician whose skill was renowned across north Georgia and upcountry South Carolina. Practicing from Gainesville, Banks was especially noted for treating Cherokee and other Native people during smallpox outbreaks. The marker preserves the roster of the new county's first commissioned officers in 1859.
Why it matters
The county's namesake links the story of north Georgia settlement to the region's Cherokee population in the years surrounding removal.
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Related people
- · Dr. Richard Banks
Related events
- · Creation of Banks County
Themes & tags
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