Submitted by Shirley Holland
Ben Hill, GA is located at the cross roads of Campbellton &
Fairburn Roads in Fulton County, Ga., about 9 miles SW of Atlanta,
GA.
The James Baker and Rev. John Smith family from Franklin County,
GA came to this area on 27 Nov 1822 They came to this area looking
for space to farm and room to raise their children. Here they
found fertile and a good water supply. Others that came with
them were the Fain, Barge, Holbrook, Cash,Ferguson,Oliver,Peacock,
Stone and Redwine families.
Rev. John Smith had swapped his land in Franklin County, GA
for about 1,000 acres in what was then DeKalb County, GA. This
property extended from Mt. Gilead Methodist Church, on Fairburn
Rd., S of Campbellton Rd., to the N of Campbellton Rd. on Fairburn
Rd. to Cascade Heights.
The crossing of the intersection at Campbellton Rd. and Fairburn
Rd., prior to 1882 was called Mt. Gilead Cross Roads.
In this area prior to 1824 there were not any churches just
the Indian Village near Cowart Lake.
The 1st church in Fulton County, GA was Mt. Gilead Methodist
Church and is located in Ben Hill. It was organized in 1824.
The village took the name of Mt Gilead Cross Roads from the
church. A school was began in this area, located at the church
called "Field School". The children went to school
when they were not working the fields. Mostly late fall and
early spring.
After the Civil War Mr. J. M. Baker and Mr. James Bryant decided
that Mt. Gilead Cross Roads needed a post office. The nearest
post office was at Cascade Road and Utoy Creek. This was about
2 1/2 miles and they had to carry the mail there. After getting
this accomplished the place needed a better name and they decided
to name it Ben Hill, after Benjamin Harvey Hill, the new Senator
for Georgia, from Troop County GA . He was a great orator of
his day. Using Senator Hills name the community name was changed.
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Shirley Holland-Information from Mr. Joe Suttles great grandson
of Rev. .J, M. Smith. He lives in Ben Hill on Fairburn Rd. in
this year of 2006. Still attends Mt. Gilead Methodist Church.
