Gone with the Wind

Margaret Mitchell’s great-grandfather, Philip Fitzgerald, was an early settler in Jonesboro making his home just south of Jonesboro. He was the richest planter in Clayton County before the War. Mr. Fitzgerald immigrated to America from Ireland; he was said to "not be a handsome man but a man whose face showed a good deal of character and strength." He died in 1880. His daughter, Annie, was Margaret Mitchell’s grandmother. Margaret’s favorite story about the Battle of Jonesboro was how her grandmother reacted afterwards. Annie didn’t feel safe any longer so she marched right through the Federal Camp to the headquarters and requested a guard of Union soldiers to protect the Fitzgerald Plantation.

Soon after the War, Annie and her husband moved to Atlanta. Their daughter Isabelle, known as "May Belle", is Margaret Mitchell’s mother. The Fitzgeralds were a close family and returned many times to visit the plantation which they all referred to as "Rural Home." May Belle was one of Mr. Fitzgerald’s favorite grandchildren, and she dearly loved to hear her grandparents tell stories of what happened in Jonesboro during the War.

Margaret Mitchell often made long summer visits to Rural Home as a young girl. Hearing her family stories created an interest in writing a book about the War. Tara never really existed except in the author's thoughts. She is said to have described Tara using many of the homes she saw in Clayton County.

Clayton County and Jonesboro have been given the right to be known as "Home of Gone With the Wind" first by Margaret Mitchell’s brother, Stephens Mitchell, then by the State Legislature in 1986.

Little did she ever suspect that her novel would have such an impact on the world or sell more copies than any book except the Bible. It has been printed in over 26 languages. Just read her novel and you'll see many references to Clayton County and Jonesboro.