Perry-Franklin-Washington County IL Archives Biographies.....Fountain, William H. 1811 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00001.html#0000031 March 1, 2008, 1:07 am

Author: Biographical Publishing Co. (1894)

WILLIAM H. FOUNTAIN, a retired merchant of Du Quoin, was born in North Carolina
February 22, 1811. His father, William Fountain, was born in the same state and
throughout life followed farming. His death occurred in 1816, when our subject
was only five years of age. The family has long been established in North
Carolina and was of English lineage. The mother of our subject bore the maiden
name of Martha Key. She was born in North Carolina and died in 1875, at the
advanced age of ninety years. William H. was their only son, but they had three
daughters, one of whom died in childhood. Mahala married and lived in North
Carolina until her death, which occurred in 1891. Nancy was married and removed
to Missouri, where she reared a large family. She was called to the home beyond
in 1892.

  The educational advantages which Mr. Fountain of this sketch received were
limited. In 1835 he removed to Tennessee, and in 1840 went to Washington County,
Ill., where he engaged in teaching school and carried on a small farm. Later he
went to Franklin County, and in 1852 embarked in merchandising in Benton, Ill.,
and also ran a hotel until 1862, when he came to Perry County, Ill. Three years
later he opened a mercantile store in Du Quoin and continued operations along
that line until 1876, when he retired to private life, having accumulated a
handsome property which enabled him to lay aside business cares.

  In 1831 Mr. Fountain was united in marriage with Penelope Pope, who died in
1851. To them were born ten children, but only two are now living, although
seven of the number grew to manhood and womanhood. Henry, a prominent merchant
of Du Quoin, died in 1867. Mary became the wife of Judge E. V. Pierce, and both
are now deceased. Martha became the wife of Aaron Neal and died in 1869. Melvina
E. was twice married, but is now a widow living in St. Louis. Penelope is the
wife of Henry W. Lever, of Du Quoin. T.T. was a soldier in the Civil War and
held the rank of Second Lieutenant. He was graduated from the Michigan
University of Ann Arbor and became a prominent attorney representing his.
district in the General Assembly. His death occurred October 6, 1892. D. W., the
next son, who was a soldier in the late war, was a graduate of the Michigan
State University and became a leading lawyer. He served as State's Attorney and
was for a time engaged in the banking business in South Dakota. His death
occurred in Du Quoin in October, 1891. For his second wife Mr. Fountain married
the daughter of ex-Governor Daugherty, of Illinois. She died in 1884.

  Mr. Fountain has been a member of the Methodist Church since 1836, and has
taken a very prominent part in its work. For many years he has been a Royal Arch
Mason, and was at one time Master of the blue lodge and a member of the Grand
Lodge of the state. In politics he has been a stanch Republican since Ft. Sumter
was fired upon, and has been true and faithful to every duty. He has now reached
the age of eighty-three years. His step is not as light and his hand is not as
steady as it was in the prime of manhood, but his eye is bright and his
intellect is as clear as it was a half-century ago. He is now living a quiet,
retired life in his pleasant home, surrounded by the comforts and luxuries which
he has been enabled to secure through the capital acquired by his own exertions.
He is indeed a self-made man and his honorable, upright life is well worthy of
emulation.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe
Counties, Illinois
Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the
Counties
Together with Biographies and Portraits of All the Presidents of the United
States and the Governors of the State of Illinois

Chicago: Biographical Publishing Co.
1894


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