| Georgia (Toombs County), Lyons — 138-1 — Toombs County | | | Toombs County was created by Act of Aug. 18, 1905 from Emanuel, Montgomery and Tattnall. It was named for Gen. Robert Augustus Toombs 1810-1885), of Wilkes County, Congressman and Senator. One of the chief organizers of the Confederate government, he was Secretary of State and Brig. Gen. Bitterly opposed to Reconstruction, he never took the oath of allegiance after the war. First County Officers, commissioned Oct. 9, 1905, were: R.F. Scarboro, Sheriff; D.T. Gibbs, Clk. Sup. Ct.; R.J. Partin, . . . — Map (db m18208) | | Georgia (Toombs County), Vidalia — 138-3 — Home of the Vidalia Sweet Onion | | | One of the first crops of Vidalia Onions was commercially grown near this site in 1931 by Moses Coleman, a local farmer. The onion is planted in a 20 county area from September through February and is harvested from late April through early-June. Vidalia Onions very low in pungency due to a combination of the native soils being low in sulfur and the growing in a mild climate. The onions, grown in this 20 county area, have developed an international reputation as the "world's sweetest onion." . . . — Map (db m18190) | | Georgia (Toombs County), Vidalia — 138-2 — Paul Anderson — 1932- 1994 — World's Strongest Man | | | Paul Anderson was born October 17, 1932 in Toccoa and attended Furman University where he began lifting weights. In 1955 he traveled as a goodwill ambassador from the United States to the Soviet Union and there his lifting surpassed many world records. Later that year he won the World Championships. He brought home the gold medal from the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. To date, he was the last American to win a gold medal in the super heavyweight division. On June 12, 1957, he lifted a . . . — Map (db m18180) |
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