I have lots of ancestors who settled in Fayette, Shelby and Effingham counties in the early 1800s and I think they were looking for free or cheap land. Some land, at the time, sold for $1.25 an acre. Then there were those who were entitled to warranty land. The government offered such land to former service men to speed up the movement to western states. I also think the slavery question, the Indian problems, and in some cases, religious freedom entered into it. Gayle