Laurens County, Georgia was created December 10, 1807 from Wilkinson County. It was home of many slaves. The Negros were treated with kindness and generosity. They acted as servants in their master's homes. In 1845 the County had a population of 3,285 whites and 2,760 blacks. There was a large Negro population, but only a few slave owners who were mostly large plantation operators. They made up a great portion of the wealth of Laurens County in the early to mid 1800's.

In the History of Bill Yopp a relationship between the slave and slave owner is demonstrated. Bill Yopp was born on one of the largest plantations in Laurens County, which was owned by Jeremiah Yopp. He was the fourth of eight children. It was a custom on the plantations to choose the brighter boys and girls for the butlers, maids, and valets. When Bill was seven, he became the constant companion of Jeremiah's son, Thomas McCall Yopp. Bill accompanied Thomas everywhere, even fishing and hunting. As a boy, Bill, held the horses and acted as assistant cook. Bill had whatever his master had, venison, trout, coffee, bread, syrup and cakes. Over time the boys developed a closeness between them. Also, Thomas Yopp would visit the servant's cabins at night, usually accompanied by Bill, to check on their well being.

The religious education of the slaves was not neglected. The Yopp and adjoining plantations set aside a part of the neighborhood church for blacks. They were invited to attend every religious service. Other plantation owners built chapels and employed clergy for their slaves.

On January 16 1861, Jeremiah Yopp, attended the Convention of Secession at the capital in Milledgeville. The people of Laurens County agreed to side with the Cooperationists who wanted to remain in the Union. Another plantation owner, Dr. Nathan Tucker voted to remain in the Union. Yopp voted with the majority to secede from the Union.

The Blackshear Guards were the first company of Confederate Soldiers in Laurens County. They were organized on July 9, 1861. Later the company became a part of the 14th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Thomas Yopp was elected as the First Lieutenant, and nine days later he was promoted to Captain. Private Bill wanted to join Captain Yopp, so he enlisted in the Blackshear Guards as the company drummer. In those days, the drummer marched in front of the soldiers going into the battle. The troops went to Atlanta for training and then to Lynchburg, Virginia. They were sent to western Virginia in August where fought under the command of General John B. Floyd. General Robert E. Lee was in overall command of the West Virginia forces.

Bill was given the nickname "Ten Cent Bill", because he shined the shoes of the men in the Regiment and performed other duties for ten cents. He always charged that amount no matter what the duty was. Bill had more money than the other soldiers. He said they never spoke unkind words to him. The soldiers taught him to read and write and when he was sick, they took good care of him as was possible. When Bill became homesick, Thomas paid for his trip home. After a short stay at home, Bill realized his place was back in Virginia with Thomas Yopp. The company became part of the Army of Northern Virginia in the winter of 1861.

Bill stayed as near to Thomas Yopp, as he could. When Captain Yopp was wounded in the shoulder at Battle of Seven Pines in Virginia, Bill went with him to the hospital. They returned to Laurens County while Captain Yopp recovered from his injury. In the fall of 1862, they went back to join their troops. At Fredericksburg Captain Yopp was knocked unconscious when a shell burst over him. Bill stayed by his side again. He stayed at his side all through the war. When he recovered, Captain Yopp was reassigned to the Navy, and Bill was not allowed to go. Bill surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. When the war was over, Bill was sent home a free man.

Bill officially took the last name Yopp, though he was still known as "Ten Cent Bill". The days of reconstruction created hard times for both blacks and whites. Ten Cent Bill worked at the Yopp Plantation along with his brother. In 1870 Bill left Laurens County and went to Macon. He worked as a bellboy at the Brown House in Macon, a porter in an Albany Hotel in New York, was a servant to a family in California, and was a waiter on railroad dining cars. He served ten years as a porter on the private car of a railway president. Then he worked on a Navy collier and at Camp Wheeler. His varied career led him around the United States and the world.

In his later years, Bill returned to Georgia to find his former master Thomas McCall Yopp destitute and in poor health. Captain Yopp now over eighty years old was moving into the Confederate Soldier's Home near Atlanta. Bill Yopp visited the home often. He collected money to help the soldiers at Christmas. The Confederate Veterans were so appreciative of his help that they gathered money and awarded Bill a medal, which was presented to him in March 1920. Earlier that year in January, the board of trustees voted to allow Bill to stay at the Home for as long as he lived. At the death of Captain Yopp, 92, Bill made an address expressing his admiration of the kind and generous disposition of his old master and the respect of each other.

Bill died on June 3, 1936 and was buried in the Confederate Cemetery at Marietta, Georgia. His former master, Captain Thomas McCall Yopp was also buried there. The state of Georgia provided his gravestone, that reads: DRUMMER BILL YOPP, CO. H, 14TH GA.INF., C.S.A.