John Fontaine (1792-1866) was an American plantation owner and politician. He served as the first Mayor of
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a consolidated city-county located on the west-central border of the U.S. state of Georgia. Columbus lies on the Chattahoochee River directly across from Phenix City, Alabama. It is the county seat of Muscogee County, with which it ...
from 1836 to 1837. He defended Columbus during the Creek War of 1836.
Biography
Early life
John Fontaine was born in 1792.Fontaine family papers
University of Georgia
, mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things."
, establ ...
He was a steamboat owner and cotton merchant.Letter, 1836 May 22, Milledgeville, Geo[rgia to] John Fontaine, Columbus, Georgia / William Schley, Governor of Georgia Digital Library of GeorgiaArtists for Hire in Antebellum Columbus: March 18 - June 24, 2007 , Traditional Fine Arts Association He was also a large plantation owner.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. 145-14 /ref>
He served as the first Mayor of
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a consolidated city-county located on the west-central border of the U.S. state of Georgia. Columbus lies on the Chattahoochee River directly across from Phenix City, Alabama. It is the county seat of Muscogee County, with which it ...
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...
John T. Ellisor, ''The Second Creek War: Interethnic Conflict and Collusion on a Collapsing Frontier'', Omaha, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press, 2010, p. 20 /ref> He defended the town during the Creek War of 1836, with the help of Governor
William Schley
William Schley (December 15, 1786 – November 20, 1858) was an American lawyer, jurist, and politician.
Biography
Schley was born on December 15 (some sources say December 10), 1786 in Frederick, Maryland, the original locus and domicile of t ...
. He used Creek informants to spy and report on their planned attacks.
Personal life
He married Mary Ann (Stewart) Fontaine (1808-1852). They had six children:
*Henrietta Fontaine (1827-1857).
*Mary Elizabeth Fontaine (1835-unknown).
*Benjamin Bruton Fontaine (1838-1870).
*Theophilus Fontaine (1842-1896).
*
Francis Fontaine
Francis Fontaine (May 7, 1845 – May 3, 1901) was an American Confederate soldier, plantation owner, newspaper editor, poet and novelist from the state of Georgia.
Early life
Francis Fontaine was born on May 7, 1845, in Columbus, Georgia. In 1 ...
(1844-1901).
*George H. Fontaine (1850-1904).
Death
He died in 1866.
Legacy
*His son,
Francis Fontaine
Francis Fontaine (May 7, 1845 – May 3, 1901) was an American Confederate soldier, plantation owner, newspaper editor, poet and novelist from the state of Georgia.
Early life
Francis Fontaine was born on May 7, 1845, in Columbus, Georgia. In 1 ...
, who inherited and managed his plantations, became a newspaper editor, poet and novelist.
*His portrait, painted by Edward Ludlow Mooney (1813-1887), can be found at the
Columbus Museum
The Columbus Museum in Columbus, Georgia was founded in 1953. It contains many artifacts on both American art and regional history, displayed in both its permanent collection as well as temporary exhibitions.