White County was created by act of December 22, 1857, from parts of Habersham and Lumpkin Counties. Wm. H. Shelton, representative from Habersham, tried twice during the session to have the county formed but failed. Representative David T. White of Newton County backed the bill, and it passed. In gratitude, Shelton had the county named for White. The first county officers were Isaac Bowen, sheriff; Wm. L. Sumpter, clerk of superior court; Wm. R. Kimsey, clerk of inferior court; Willis A. England, coroner; Wm. Burke, tax receiver; Champion Ferguson, tax collector; Vincent F. Sears, surveyor; Wilkes T. Leonard, ordinary; and J. Cicero Bell, treasurer.