Webster
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.
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.
WEBSTER COMMUNITY CHURCH
Webster Community Church is near the site where Mormons built a brick church in Macedonia
in the early 1840's. The church was built just west of where the Old church is now standing.
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 bell was installed on the church. The orginal building is no longer there.
The old church building was erected in 1893 by the Free Methodist people.
Later, the bell was placed on the church in the belfry.
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.
Ministers of the Webster Community Church include Clarence J. Rediger, Dale Fosdyck, Hubert Louderman,
Fred Shipman, Leo Hanks, and Dale Eddington.
Robert Tillman, the present pastor, began ministering occasionally in 1999.
His first Sunday as pastor of the church was March 5, 2000.
The new Webster Community Church was built in 2004, with open house & dedication date set for April 2-3, 2005.
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.
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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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Click "Refresh" or "Reload" on your browser to see the latest update of this page.
Robert & Barbara Tillman
2632 E. County Road 1850
Carthage, IL 62321-9322
Phone: 217-654-2261
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.
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.
WEBSTER COMMUNITY CHURCH
Webster Community Church is near the site where Mormons built a brick church in Macedonia
in the early 1840's. The church was built just west of where the Old church is now standing.
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 bell was installed on the church. The orginal building is no longer there.
The old church building was erected in 1893 by the Free Methodist people. Later, the bell was placed on the church in the belfry. 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.
Ministers of the Webster Community Church include Clarence J. Rediger, Dale Fosdyck, Hubert Louderman, Fred Shipman, Leo Hanks, and Dale Eddington. Robert Tillman, the present pastor, began ministering occasionally in 1999. His first Sunday as pastor of the church was March 5, 2000.
The new Webster Community Church was built in 2004, with open house & dedication date set for April 2-3, 2005.
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.
Webster Cemetery is on the gravel road northwest of the Old Webster Store.
Click "Refresh" or "Reload" on your browser to see the latest update of this page.
History of Webster Information was taken from books:
Webster Sesquicentennial 1840-1990
Historic Sites and Structures of Hancock County, Illinois - published 1979
Robert & Barbara Tillman
2632 E. County Road 1850
Carthage, IL 62321-9322
Phone: 217-654-2261
