*NOTE - Allen G. Geddes (1888-1977) was farmer, teacher, historian and my grandfather. Barb in BC Speech at Fountain Green on 100th Anniversary of the Settlement of Hancock County February 1926 by Allen G. Geddes FOUNTAIN GREEN TOWNSHIP HISTORY One hundred years ago today the forests of Hancock County rang for the first time with the measured stroke of the white man's axe. The deer were startled by the first crack of the white man's rifle. The fox slunk to his den, never more to come out without fear. The Indian was called upon to yield to the white man the most western part of Illinois. This was the dawn of white man's dominion. Today the public schools of Hancock Country are asked to commemorate the 100th anniversary with appropriate programs. It is my purpose to give you a brief account of the settlement and achievements of the people of Fountain Green Township before 1870. The first permanent settler in this township was Ute Perkins who made his first home near the site of Allen's Store in what is now Webster in1826, and in the following year came John Brewer. In 1829 the John Days and the Lincolns moved in. The latter family were uncle, aunt and cousins of the president. These people came from Kentucky and Tennessee by pack horse and ox-teams over the Indian Trail then leading from Springfield to Warsaw, through what was later Beardstown, Rushville, Brooklyn, Fountain Green, and Carthage. This trail can be traced south of the Lesley Rhea's, north of Garland Springs, and east past the old Catholic Chapel. West of here it passed what is known as the Mart Yetter homestead. The Brewers settled a mile north of the Ute Perkins home of Webster on the McConnell brothers' farm; the Lincolns, north of the Wallace McCahough home on the west side of the road; and the Days on the M.H. Yetter farm across the road from the old Alton homestead. Upon their arrival, these earliest people found a trapper and fur trader by the name of Doc Garland who lived alone in his cabin beside the spring that bears his name. His nickname was Doc, and he claimed to have been there for four years. He moved west soon after these settlers moved in. To the south, on Crooked Creek, they found some of the Black Hawk's Indians, a tribe of the Sacs and Foxes. These Indians were friendly and visited their new neighbors and in return feasted them on wild turkey, venison, squirrel and prairie chicken, the last two having been boiled together with their insides left in. It isn't recorded that they ate heartily. In the next eight years, we find the names of many more of those who had much to do with the early settlement viz: Hobart, Beebe, Prentiss, Wright, Prion, Geddes, Ferris, Miller, McConnell, Alton, McClaurey, Tyler, White, Taylor, Andrews, Hopkins, Leach, Walker, Mudd, Hardey, Lionberger, and still later families by the name of Spangler, Duffy, Curr, Yeager, Huston, Dennison, Latherow, Parson, Callihan, Thompson, Brandon, Mesick, Yeager and others. With few exceptions these people came from the straight East, mostly from Pennsylvania, also from New York and Connecticut, making it a dominately Eastern settlement. Pennsylvania School was named after the state from which the people in that quarter came. This part of the state was in the Military Tract and veterans of the War of 1812 were given land for free. We have buried in the township five veterans of that war: Lt. Col. Francis McConnell, Lt. James McConnell, Stephen Tyler, John Brewer and John Elsie. In 1829, the first white child was born in this township. It was Thomas Brewer, the second was James Day, and the third child's name was Alexander Taylor. The first death was Mordecai Lincoln who perished in the big snow of December 29, 1830. The second death on September 15, 1834, was that of Pittillo Perkins, who died of a poison from a home-made herb medicine which he had taken for ague. In 1837 William Duff the third, died due to [being hit by] a falling limb. In 1833 Jabez Beebe became postmaster and remained so for 12 years. The office was on the northeast corner of the lot south of the park. Other postmasters were Matthew McClaurey and James McConnell. Later ones were C.C. Tyler and T. J. Latherow. Jabez Beebe and Setphen H. Tyler laid out Fountain Green in 1835 and they named the village. It had been called Lick Grove or Horse Grove, and the ditch that drains it today is still called the Horse Grove Branch. These early settlers found a clear, sparkling spring surrounded by green grass; from it they derived the name Fountain Green. This spot is east of the Will Jackson home. Several years ago, a well was dug and a pump was installed that marks the place so well known to our ancestors. These early pioneers settled along the streams and among the hills for there they found fuel, water, game, fruit, and nuts abundant. The soil was loose and easy to work when the timber was removed. The prairies were yet to be drained and that had to wait for the steel mouldboard to cut the tough sod. The problems of moving here were many. How was a man to move his family out here, build a home, clear land, put in a crop to feed himself and his family through the next winter? It was worth much to have a neighbor, and often a settler offered some friend or relative a cleared field and those here helped him build his home. My grandfather, Thomas Geddes, deeded a field of 20 cleared acres to his brother-in-law, Alex Walker, on condition that he buy and settle on the 160 acres west of it. Land in that day could be purchased for one dollar and 25 cents per acre. In 1836 the first store opened for business under the firm name of Hopkins and Tyler. It was called the Arcade. Martin Hopkins and Stephen H. Tyler were co-owners. They supplied the community with its every need and did an extensive business. They bought everything the farmers had to sell except cattle. These were driven to Beardstown or Fort Edwards. They bought and butchered hogs, dry-salted the hams, shoulders and sides, throwing the ribs, head, backbones, and feet in the ditch north of town. This was told to me by C.C. Tyler, at one time a clerk and later partner. This cured pork was shipped to St. Louis or New Orleans if not sold at Fort Edward. Dry goods, groceries, and tools were brought back to sell. Other towns nearby were: Franklin (now LaHarpe); Job's Settlement (now Blandinsville); Joe Duncan, a town laid out by merchant Robert Miller where the school now stands. Ramus, (later Macedonia) was laid out by Wightman in Morman times and grew to an incorporated town of 600 people. Ramus is now called Webster. The first private school, a log one room building on the northwest corner of the lot south of the park, was taught by Susan Alton. In this building on November 27, 1840, the Presbyterian Church was organized. Col. Thomas Geddes and James McConnell were made elders and twelve members enrolled. They continued having services at the school until 1851 when a church was built facing the park on the northeast corner of this same lot. The ministers were: Rev. Chase, Steward, Ralph, and Walker. In 1841 the first public school was built on the main road south of the T.J. Latherow home, and John M. Ferris was the teacher. He was later a county judge. I will now give you a list of the early business establishments that furnished many needs and services in the early times: 1. Cooper Shop made wooden barrels, kegs and buckets. Fabun] 2. Blacksmith and plow maker. Fred Albright 3. Millinery and dry goods store. Ann Kelly Miller and Kate Miller 4. Grocery. Thomas Campbell, Fred Mesick, Andrew Henry. 5. General Store. Tyler & Hopkins, C.C. Tyler, John Evert 6. Barbers. Henry Coats, later Bruce Murtland 7. Tailor Shop, Jake Emerick 8. Shoe Shop. Wm. Henry Gebbert, Chamberlin, & later Hiram Shilling 10. Tin Shop & Hardware. Forford 11. Butcher Shop. E.E. Harris, Geo. Hamrick 12. Brooms. J.A. Mull 13. Painter. Howard Harris, Ralph and Fred Hesick 14. Doctors. A.J. Griffith, Maurice Crump, L.T. and Chas. Ferris, J.A. Barr, later S.M. Parr and Albert Bouseman 15. Stock Buyers. S. H. Tyler, Lewis Yetter 16. Harness. Marion Robinson and Hiram Shilling 17. Fountain Green Milling Co. John Frank, Mgr. 18. Drugs. Drs. Crump, Ferris, Law 19. Casket and Furniture. David Funk, John Mesick With the exception of the Black Hawk War which caused only slight worry to this region, these people lived in peace and prosperity, un-interrupted until the coming of the Mormons in 1839-46. The ordinance of 1787 excluded slavery from the Northwest Territory. The laws provided amply for education, and these people came here because of this guarantee. They were men of culture and refinement or they would not have cared for education. They were men of fine moral fiber or they would not have moved away from slavery. Were such people going to allow their children to grow up under the influence of polygamy, a way of life not acceptable to any civilized society. As well, they felt that their lives and property were no longer safe [with the arrival of the Mormons]. It soon became apparent that one of the other of these opposing forces must go. Anti-Mormons from Hancock and surrounding counties became alarmed and organized to drive them out. Gov. Ford, who came to Carthage to investigate the situation told Col. Thomas Geddes, who had charge of the troops there, that our people were justified in driving the Mormons out and that no state troops would be sent in until this was done. (See Geddes Statement Gregg's History, p.372.) Dissension and discord broke out among the leaders of the Mormon Church. The well-equipped Nauvoo Legion became inefficient after the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, who were thought to have been killed by the Missouri mob. The Mormons put up no fight, though they had the guns and manpower. They were so thoroughly demoralized and their practice so thoroughly exposed, that they broke into several factions, each with a different leader. Many did not know what was going on and the Mormon church seems to have since reformed. The next great issues that confronted our sires were those leading to the Civil War: Slavery, nullification, secession, squatter rights, sovereignty, emancipation, Wilmont Provie, Dred Scott Decision, fugitive slave laws, interstate slave trade. These and dozens of other important questions were thrashed out down at the old Arcade. The hotter the argument, the thicker the shavings [as the men whittled]. We can see today, however, that the mistaken stand taken on these issues in many localities was not made by ours. The same vision and foresight that brought them here led them to see clearly their duty and give them courage to send their sons to make sure no stars should fall from our flag. One hundred sixty sons went from Fountain Green Township to the Union Army. In 1863 a home guard was organized to hold the home front when the Golden Circle became so bold. Fountain Green boys fought and died at Fort Donelson, Henry, Shiloh, Champion Hills, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, and Chicamaugua. They stormed Missionary Ridge and struggled in the battle above the clouds. They marched with Sherman to the sea and took part in the Grand Parade. Many were killed in battle and some died of disease or languished in the prison at Andersonville. Of all of these, only three remained of my acquaintance: Capt. Cyrus Geddes of El Dorado, Kansas; Duncan Williams of Tennessee, Illinois; and Daniel Ebert who is the only living Civil War veteran living in this township. (1926) As we review the local and national crises through which these early settlers passed, may we not say that the representative people of this township have always been on the right side of every issue, ready with no sacrifice too great for the common good. May the children of this generation be as willing to perpetuate the institutions founded by their forefathers as they continue to build them and as willing to protect the memory of these pioneers as they are to protect our future.