Today's Texas State Flag and popular nickname, The Lone Star State, had its beginning along the Federal Highway in Crawford County, Georgia. Col. William Ward and the Georgia Battalion camped in the vicinity of Hiram Troutman's inn in Knoxville, (then Crawford County seat) while on the way to join in the fight for Texas independence.

Ward had earlier communicated with Troutman, telling him of his intention to stop at the inn with his battalion on his way to Texas. Joanna Troutman, Hiram's daughter, designed and created the Lone Star flag as a gift to the Georgians traveling west.