Walton County, created by acts of the legislature on Dec. 15 and 19, 1818, was named for George Walton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Born in Va. in 1749, Walton came to Savannah at age 20 to study law. Elected Secretary of the first Provincial Congress of Ga. in ’75, he was also President of the Council of Safety. He served in the Continental Congress from Jan. ’76 until Oct. ’81. As a Col. of militia, he was wounded and captured at the Battle of Savannah. He was Governor in ’79 and ’80, and again in ’89 and ’90, and U.S. Senator in ’95 and ’96. He died Feb. 2, 1804.