"This County, created by Act of the Legislature Dec. 24, 1821, is named for Sergeant John Newton, Revolutionary soldier & companion of Sergeant Jasper for whom Jasper County is named. The County Site is named for Gen. Covington. G.C. Adams, County School Commissioner, in 1893 inaugurated the first free transportation for public school pupils in the nation. He later founded the first 4-H Club. Nearby is located the famous Methodist College, Emory at Oxford, chartered in 1836, named for Bishop John Emory and now a part of Emory University."
