Early County, an original county, was created by act of Dec. 15, 1818, from Creek Cession of Aug. 9, 1814. At first it contained Decatur, Seminole, Baker, Mitchell, Calhoun, Miller, Dougherty, and parts of Clay, Grady, and Thomas Counties. It was named for Peter Early (1773-1817), judge, state senator, Governor, and Congressman. The first county officers, commissioned May 18, 1820, were Thomas Taylor, clerk of Superior Court; Otheniel Weaver, clerk of Inferior Court; Charles Thigpen, surveyor; Mark Cole, coroner; John Dill, tax receiver; and Jefferson Nichols, tax collector. John Brockman became sheriff in July, 1820.