Madison in Morgan County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
William Tappan Thompson
Photographed By David Seibert, July 12, 2008
1. William Tappan Thompson Marker
William Tappan Thompson, famous Georgia journalist and author, was born in Ohio in 1812. Moving to Augusta in 1835, he became associated with Augustus Baldwin Longstreet in the publication of the State Rights Sentinel. In 1838 he founded a literary journal, the Mirror, which in 1842 was merged with a Macon periodical, the Family Companion, to become the Family Companion and Ladies’ Mirror. The first Major Jones letter appeared in one of the last issues of this journal.
In 1843 Thompson took over the editorial direction of the Southern Miscellany, a Madison publication. In the pages of the Miscellany he printed more of the Major Jones letters, using the people and incidents of Madison as a basis for many of his sketches. These letters met with such success that Thompson published them in book form in 1843 as Major Jones’s Courtship.
Thompson left the Miscellany in 1845 and continued his career as journalist and author. In 1850 he founded the Savannah Morning News, which he edited until his death in 1882, building it into one of the state’s most powerful newspapers.
Erected 1963 by Georgia Historical Commission. (Marker Number 104-11.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music
this page online
Location. 33° 35.748′ N, 83° 28.008′ W. Marker is in Madison, Georgia, in Morgan County. Marker is at the intersection of East Jefferson Street and Hancock Street, on the right when traveling north on East Jefferson Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 139 East Jefferson Street, Madison GA 30650, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Civic Advancement (a few steps from this marker); In Memory of the Boys from Morgan County, Georgia (a few steps from this marker); Morgan County (within shouting distance of this marker); Oliver Hardy, Genius of Comedy (within shouting distance of this marker); The Town Square (within shouting distance of this marker); Community Settlement (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Banking Institutions (about 300 feet away); Lodging Establishments (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Madison.
Also see . . . William Tappan Thompson 1812-1882. New Georgia Encyclopedia website entry (Submitted on February 25, 2009, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia.)
Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, September 25, 2022
2. William Tappan Thompson Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on September 25, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 25, 2009, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,149 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 25, 2009, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 2. submitted on September 25, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
