Terrell County was created by act of the legislature on February 16, 1856, and was named for Dr. William Terrell, who died in 1855 and served in Congress from 1817 to 1821. Eight miles west of here, the Battle of Echo-wa-noth-away Swamp was fought in the Creek Indian War in 1836. Old Herod Town, an important Indian village, stood eight miles south. Among the first county officers were Sheriff Andrew I. Baldwin, Clerk of Superior Court Meyron Weston, Clerk of Inferior Court Daniel Lashley, Ordinary Ludwell M. Lennard, Tax Receiver Isaac Abbott, Tax Collector James W. Johnston, Coroner Bright W. Trewitt, and Surveyor Daniel Lawken.