Quitman County was created by act of the legislature on Dec. 10, 1858, and was named for Gen. John A. Quitman, a soldier in the Mexican War, Governor of Mississippi, and ardent advocate of States Rights. The county site was named for Georgetown, D.C. Among the first county officers were Sheriff James M. Cooper, Clerk of Superior Court John R. M. Neel, Clerk of Inferior Court Joel A. Crawford, Ordinary Joel E. J. Smith, Tax Receiver James M. Granberry, Tax Collector Owen G. Thomas, Treasurer Nicholas T. Christian, Surveyor William J. Brown, and Coroner Alden Hall.