History of Webster & surrounding area in Fountain Green Township of Hancock County: Webster (Ramus or Macedonia) is in Fountain Green Township, which is located in the second tier of townships in Hancock County. The east side of Fountain Green township borders on the west side of McDonough County. Webster was a Mormon settlement. In 1826 the first permanent settler, Ute Perkins, built a cabin near the present town of Webster. In 1827 John Brewer came, followed by the Lincoln family in 1829. The town was named Ramus and was surveyed and recorded in 1840. On March 3, 1843, the Illinois Legislature passed an act incorporating the town as Macedonia, later named Webster. By 1845 it was the third largest town in the county with a population over 600.
Fountain Green Township received its name from the town of Fountain Green within its borders. Fountain Green was first known as Horse Lick, then Horse Lick Grove.
In 1835 it was named Fountain Green because of a free-flowing spring at the north edge of town.
Fountain Green Township was known as Lincoln country because of the Mordecai Lincoln family which had located within its borders, Mr. Lincoln being an uncle of the future president, Abraham Lincoln.
Many of these Lincolns are buried in a cemetery, known as the Lincoln cemetery, southeast of Fountain Green.
Its correct name is St. Simon Cemetery, named for a Catholic chapel that once stood nearby.
History of the church:
Pastors of the Webster Community Church include:
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Fountain Green Township
Hancock County
Illinois
U.S.A.
Webster, Illinois is located in Hancock County
between Carthage and LaHarpe
on the blacktop road between Route 136 and Route 9.
WEBSTER COMMUNITY CHURCH
The old Webster Community Church was built near the site where Mormons built a brick church in Macedonia
(now Webster) in the early 1840's. After the Mormons left, newcomers organized a Baptist church
using the same brick building.
In 1855 the building was purchased, repaired, and called the United Brethren Church.
A wood structure was erected in 1893 by the Free Methodist people.
In the late 1920's and early 1930's Mrs. Brewington held two or three week revivals once a year.
In the 1930's a Free Methodist minister came once a month to deliver a sermon. In the mid 1930's services had stopped.
Mrs. Mary Reed and Clarence J. Rediger were instrumental in reopening the church.
Rev. Rediger and other ministers began preaching services. Because Rev.
Rediger saw the need of reopening closed churches,he started the Rural Home Missionary Association.
The RHMA has headquarters in Morton, Illinois.
NEW CHURCH CONSTRUCTION (36' X 80" building with 24' X 18" carport)
April 22, 2004, digging began for the foundation of the new Church building. The cement floor was poured May 4.
In June, parking gravel was put around south of the church site. Building construction was underway in July.
By the end of July most of the outside work on the building was complete. Electric, plumbing, and insulation began in August.
The cross was installed on the north side of the building September 7.
At the end of September and October, more volunteer workers came to help with drywall, doors, trim and other inside work.
The steeple was installed October 16.
Floor covering was completed November 16, 2004.
November 28, 2004 was the first Sunday service in the new building. New chairs arrived the first week of January, 2005.
The kitchen and restrooms were finished in March, 2005. The sound system was installed in March, 2005.
Open house and dedication of the new building was April 2-3, 2005. Landscaping was done in June 2005. The sign was put up in July 2005.
Clarence J. Rediger 1941-1943, Hubert Louderman 1943-1945, Fred Shipman 1945-1950, Hubert Louderman 1950-1956,
Dale Fosdyck 1956-1960, Clarence J. Rediger 1960-1965, Leo Hanks 1965-1970, George Potts 1970-1974,
Dale Eddington 1974-1999, Robert Tillman 2000-2009.
OLD WEBSTER STORE
Webster's Old General Store building still stands as a landmark. Lewis L. Allen began a general merchandise business. Albert Allen, son of L. L. Allen, and his wife Myrtie took possession of the store in 1940. The Allens sold the store to Marshall & Bess Hopping 1975. It was closed in 1983. Robert & Barbara Tillman owned the building, before selling it to Wilbur & Carlene Scheuermann.
Webster Park
Webster Park, on the old Webster square, has a playground and shelter house with tables near the church, where local residents enjoy fellowship.
Webster Cemetery
Perkins stone, 1st settler, is burried here.
Webster Cemetery is on the gravel road northwest of the Old Webster Store.
History of Webster Information was taken from books:
Webster Sesquicentennial 1840-1990
Historic Sites and Structures of Hancock County, Illinois - published 1979
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