John Fontaine
John Fontaine (1792-1866) was an American plantation owner and politician. He served as the first Mayor of Columbus, Georgia from 1836 to 1837. He defended Columbus during the Creek War of 1836.
John Fontaine | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1792 |
| Died | 1866 |
| Occupation | Planter, politician |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Ann (Stewart) Fontaine |
Biography
Early life
John Fontaine was born in 1792.[1]
Career
He was a steamboat owner and cotton merchant.[1][2][3] He was also a large plantation owner.[4]
He served as the first Mayor of Columbus, Georgia from 1836 to 1837.[3][5][6][7] He defended the town during the Creek War of 1836, with the help of Governor William Schley.[2][7] He used Creek informants to spy and report on their planned attacks.[7]
Personal life
He married Mary Ann (Stewart) Fontaine (1808-1852).[6] They had six children:
- Henrietta Fontaine (1827-1857).
- Mary Elizabeth Fontaine (1835-unknown).
- Benjamin Bruton Fontaine (1838-1870).
- Theophilus Fontaine (1842-1896).
- Francis Fontaine (1844-1901).
- George H. Fontaine (1850-1904).
Death
He died in 1866.[1]
Legacy
- His son, Francis Fontaine, who inherited and managed his plantations, became a newspaper editor, poet and novelist.[4]
- His portrait, painted by Edward Ludlow Mooney (1813-1887), can be found at the Columbus Museum in Columbus, Georgia.[6]
References
- Fontaine family papers, University of Georgia Libraries: Hargrett Rare Books & Manuscript Library
- Letter, 1836 May 22, Milledgeville, Geo[rgia to] John Fontaine, Columbus, Georgia / William Schley, Governor of Georgia, Digital Library of Georgia
- Artists for Hire in Antebellum Columbus: March 18 - June 24, 2007 Archived July 28, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Traditional Fine Arts Association
- Hubert H. McAlexander, 'Francis Fontaine (1945-1901)', in The New Georgia Encyclopedia Companion to Georgia Literature , Hugh Ruppersburg (ed.), John C. Inscoe (ed.), Athens, Georgia: University of Georgia Press, 2011, pp. 145-146
- Mayors of Columbus, Georgia Archived 2012-08-29 at the Wayback Machine
- John Fontaine, (painting), Smithsonian Institution
- John T. Ellisor, The Second Creek War: Interethnic Conflict and Collusion on a Collapsing Frontier, Omaha, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press, 2010, p. 200
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