Old Van Wert was the county seat of Paulding when that county was created in 1832 and was incorporated in 1838. It was named for Isaac Van Wert and John Paulding, two of the captors of Major Andre. Polk County was organized in 1851 from parts of Floyd and Paulding, placing Van Wert in Polk County, while Dallas became the county seat of Paulding and Cedartown that of Polk. On May 25, 1864, Davis's 2d Division, 14th A.C. [U.S.], having camped the night before at Peek’s Spring, 4.5 miles north, turned east here and marched to Dallas in Paulding County.