WILLIAM FOUNTAIN. In a history of the prominent and influential citizens of Madison County, William Fountain is eminently deserving of extended mention, for his well spent life, his agricultural ability, his loyalty to public duty and his fidelity in private life have all gained him a place among the leading residents of the community, Although he has passed the seventy-fifth milestone in life’s journey, an age when most men would consider it their privilege to retire from activities, he still continues to discharge the daily routine of duties and to show a commendable interest in all that affects his Township or its people, Mr. Fountain was born March 3, 1838, near old Moss Island, just west of Anderson, Indiana, and is a son of George E. and Mary (Dodds) Fountain, His parents, natives of Queen Anne County, Maryland, came to Madison County and entered land in 1835, and here spent the remainder of their lives in making a home, They were the parents of eight children: Hester, Elizabeth and Edward, who are deceased; William; James; Washington and Matthew, who are deceased; and John, who was a Union Soldier in an Indiana volunteer infantry regiment and lost his life at Vicksburg during the Civil war.
William Fountain acquired his educational training in the schools of Anderson, dividing his boyhood between the school room and the home farm. He continued to assist his father until he attained his majority, at which time he embarked upon a career of his own, and in 1875 bought 140 acres of land in Anderson Township, to which he has since added, now being the owner of 164 acres, He has made this one of the most valuable farms in the Township, has erected substantial buildings, and is justly considered one of the representative men of his community.
On October 3, 1862, Mr. Fountain was married to Miss Susan Thompson, daughter of Lorenzo Thompson, and she died December 19, 1886, and was laid to rest at the Mooresville Cemetery, Five children were born to this union, as follows: Alonzo, educated in the old Pence schoolhouse, and formerly engaged in farming, but for the past twenty years engaged in bridge contracting, lives in Petersburg, Ill,; Florence, who married Ira Ball, a Nebraska farmer, and has three children-Ora, Lottie and Fairy; Sylvia, deceased, who was the wife of Mellin Harrison, and had one child; Lutha, who married Fred Noble and has one child, Nancy V.; Omie, who became the wife of Dolph Fuller, and has three children-Laura, Helena and Gordon; Walter, who was educated in Anderson Township, and here married March 20, 1901, Nancy Odessie Noble, daughter of Andrew J. and Adeline (Nelise) Noble, and has three children-Leslie, Ethel and Effie.
With his family, Mr. Fountain attends the Christian church, in the work of which he has ever taken a prominent part. A life-long Democrat, he has served as supervisor of his Township, and continues to manifest an interest in the success of his party, His life has been a long and useful, one, and no citizen of his Township stands higher in public esteem and confidence.