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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

American Civil War

Did Lincoln actually sign this document?

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My travels to Lincoln, Illinois, began with a column published in The Laker/Lutz News on July 11, regarding a document that had been passed down, from one generation — to the next, to the next.

From left, James M. Cornelius, John Paul and Norm Schmidt, examine Martha Fountain’s Lincoln Document, in downtown Springfield, Illinois. (Courtesy of Doug Sanders)

That column pondered: What would it be like to have a large document signed by Abraham Lincoln, and not know its value or its history — or if it really had been signed by the nation’s 16th president?

The document belongs to 84-year-old Martha M. Fountain, a lifelong resident of Zephyrhills.

It is an Executive Order, dated Dec. 15, 1864, and appears to be signed by President Abraham Lincoln, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and Assistant Adjutant Gen. E.D. Townsend.

The document originally belonged to Martha’s husband of 31 years, Guy Joseph Fountain Jr.

It had hung proudly in his office at Best Way Electric in Dade City.

When he died in 2016 it became Martha’s sole property, because the couple had no children.

Martha Fountain proudly holds her Lincoln document.

However, Martha had no knowledge of the document’s original history.

After months of research involving several military websites and the History Center at the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village, north of Dade City, I tracked down the history of Guy Fountain’s great-great uncle Samuel Warren Fountain, who was 15 years old at the outbreak of the American Civil War on April 12, 1861.

To recap some of that history, Samuel volunteered to join the Ohio National Guard, serving under Maj. Gen. David Hunter, during the Valley Campaigns of 1864. Hunter later achieved his own fame as part of the military commission trying the conspirators involved in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

Samuel’s military career also continued, involving at one point military campaigns against Geronimo and Sitting Bull.

In 1904, when Samuel was a lieutenant colonel, he directed security at the St. Louis World’s Fair.

President Abraham Lincoln’s signature remains legible after 154 years.

Ironically, Geronimo was also at the fair as a living exhibit intended as a “monument to the progress of civilization.”

Samuel was a brigadier general a year before the Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in the nation’s capital, and he gave a speech about Lincoln during an appearance before the Union League Club of Philadelphia on Feb. 9, 1921.

In part, Samuel said: “Other men have reunited a divided nation, or liberated an enslaved race, or carried to conclusion a fratricidal war, or swept immoral institutions from the earth by consummate statesmanship; but no man ever combined and carried through, chiefly by the clarity of his mind and the purity of his character, several such gigantic enterprises in half a decade.”

So, with Samuel’s accomplishments well-documented — and with the permission of Martha and her attorney, John Council, I set out with the document to the Land of Lincoln to see what I could find out about it.

Traveling to find some answers
The trip itself was quite an adventure.

In an attempt to outrun Hurricane Michael, in October, I barely missed a tornado — that was just a mile away in Jacksonville.

Then, I survived a hotel room without power, in Walterboro, South Carolina, and then spent an afternoon with the staff at a Cracker Barrel in Charlotte, because of heavy downpours in North Carolina.

Lincoln, Illinois, is the only town named by Lincoln himself. He was a young lawyer practicing there from 1847 to 1859.

Once I reached the home of Norm and Judi Schmidt, who live in Akron, Ohio, I soon would have a personal guide for the remainder of my trip.

Norm had learned about Martha’s Lincoln document through a copy of my column he received from Donna Swart, a former mayor of San Antonio and former curator of the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village in Dade City.

Donna also was a neighbor who grew up next door to Norm’s family farm in Illinois.

When Norm and I arrived in downtown Springfield, Illinois, on a cold Sunday afternoon, James M. Cornelius and John Paul were there to meet us.

Cornelius is the curator of the Lincoln Collection at the Lincoln Presidential Library, and Paul is a bookseller who owns Prairie Archives in downtown Springfield.

We asked Cornelius to assess the authenticity of the document.

He told us: “The signatures of Lincoln, Stanton and Townsend were engraved by someone using a real signature, so it could be reproduced over and over.

Dr. David Gerlach is president of Lincoln College in Lincoln, Illinois. It is the only institution of higher education named after President Lincoln during his lifetime.

“The fine eagle decoration at the top also began as an engraving,” he said. “Once the printing plate had been set with the text, and the decoration, and the blank lines to be filled in by hand, any number of copies could be run off of a press from that plate. The ink used is darker, more enduring than what would come directly out of a fountain pen.”

Families in Ohio would have more reason to hold onto the documents since the names were handwritten, Cornelius explained.

“Ohio had roughly 15 regiments of these 100-days men in 1864,” he said. “At 1,000 men per regiment, that’s 15,000 copies printed with the engraved signature of Lincoln, Stanton and Townsend.”

The document received by Samuel Warren Fountain is unique in one way, however, Cornelius said.

“Most of the Ohio men who did the 100 days in 1864 were ‘old’ for soldiering, usually 30 to 45 years of age.”

So, it turns out that while the document wasn’t originally signed by Lincoln, it isn’t a forgery.

Paul examined Martha’s document, to estimate a value.

As part of the Valley Campaigns of 1864, Samuel Warren Fountain served under Maj. Gen. David Hunter during the Civil War. Hunter later achieved fame as the president of the military commission trying the conspirators involved with the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. (Courtesy of Robert Massey (Great-great nephew of Samuel Fountain)

Paul said that Martha’s document dates back to the civil war period. He also noted “some marginal tears and one small marginal loss.”

Paul estimated the document’s value at $400.

“Our value is based largely on the history of this individual soldier, an underage volunteer, with a subsequently successful military career,” Paul explained.

Cornelius agreed that Fountain’s history is compelling. “Rarely would you get a story and career as interesting as Fountain’s from such service.”

Indeed, Fountain was photographed with Douglas MacArthur at West Point, and was good friends with John “Black Jack” Pershing, who later served as the commander of the American Expeditionary Force during World War 1.

After visiting Springfield, Norm and I traveled south to the city of Lincoln, Illinois, where the Lincoln Heritage Museum is located on the campus of Lincoln College.

It was here that an offer was made to display Martha’s document as part of 50,000 items of Lincoln memorabilia at the museum.

Martha and her attorney are delighted that the document will have a permanent home in Illinois.

“This seems to be a perfect place,” Martha said, smiling broadly.

Doug Sanders has a penchant for unearthing interesting stories about local history. His sleuthing skills have been developed through his experiences in newspaper and government work. If you have an idea for a future history column, contact Doug at .

Published December 26, 2018 

Exploring Tampa’s Jewish history

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Tampa’s Jewish population today numbers more than 25,000 members involved in  more than a dozen synagogues, day schools, and multiple community centers and related organizations.

The of history Tampa’s Jewish community likewise runs deep — dating back more than 170 years.

More than 80 Jewish stores and buildings were in Ybor City during the first half of the 20th century. Max Argintar Menswear was the last Jewish business to survive in Ybor. It opened in 1908 and closed in 2004. (Courtesy of Tampa Bay History Center)

The Tampa Bay History Center, in partnership with the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, recently had a presentation documenting the history of Tampa’s Jewish settlers.

The Oct. 26 event was led by Dr. Carl Zeilonka, archives chair at Congregation Schaarai Zedek, who is also a docent at the history center.

He outlined the history of Tampa’s Jewish population, the economic role of Jewish-owned businesses and the role of Jewish residents in politics, during an hour-long interactive discussion that drew dozens of attendees.

Tampa’s first documented Jewish settler is Emaline Quentz Miley, who arrived in 1844 via South Carolina.

Miley and her husband, Bill, settled in the Odessa area, Zeilonka said.

Interestingly, they are believed to have planted Hillsborough County’s first citrus trees.

More Jews, mainly of Eastern European descent, began immigrating to Tampa during the American Civil War, as the Florida frontier became attractive to merchants and businessman. Many operated produce businesses, dry goods stores, oyster bars and lumber mills.

Several Jewish women have been pioneers for their gender in the political realm. Helen Gordon Davis was first Jewish woman from Tampa elected to the Florida House of Representatives. She also served in the Florida Senate.

It led to Jews entering public service in Hillsborough County, beginning in 1871 with Charles Slager and Isidore Blumenthal.

Slager was first appointed as postmaster of Tampa. He later served as Hillsborough County’s sheriff and tax collector, and as a school board member.

Blumenthal, meanwhile, was appointed to the Hillsborough County Commission.

Many Jewish businesses had closed by the mid-1870s due to the presence of a yellow fever epidemic, Zielonka said.

Other factors were to blame, too, he said, including the Franco-Prussian War preventing the export of Cedar, and the cattle industry swelling in Fort Meade instead of Tampa.

“The 1870s were a real era of problems,” Zielonka said.

It wasn’t long until Jewish immigration picked up again, however.

Discoveries of phosphate reserves, a railroad system and cigar factories brought Jewish merchants back to Tampa in the 1880s, Zielonka explained.

“It opened up the community to tourism, to trade, to every type of commerce you can imagine. It really began the explosion of Tampa as a city,” Zielonka said.

Maas Brothers department store was one of the most successful Jewish-owned businesses in Tampa. Founded in 1886 by Abe and Isaac Maas, it grew from a small 23-by-90-foot store to a chain of 39 stores across Florida.

“It provided a lot of good opportunities for Jewish businessman to come in, and they came from all over, either directly of European immigrants or children of European immigrants.”

Two of the most successful merchants were Abe and Isaac Maas.

In 1886, they founded Maas Brothers department store. It grew from a small 23-by-90-foot store to a chain of 39 stores across Florida. The Maas Brothers brand went defunct in 1991 when it was merged into the Burdines department store chain, which later rebranded as Macy’s.

By 1890, there were more than 20 Jewish families living in Tampa.

That spurred the formation of the city’s first synagogue in 1894, Congregation Shaarai Zedek, which means “Gates of Righteousness.” The first standalone building, built in 1899, was located at 1209 N. Florida Ave.

The congregation steered the formation of Tampa’s first Jewish social organization, first Jewish women’s organization and first Jewish cemetery.

“What do we do best? We organize. And, it was time to organize,” Zielonka said of Tampa’s Jewish community in the 1890s.

The early 1900s were also noteworthy for Tampa’s Jewish community.

A second synagogue, Congregation Rodeph Sholom, was founded in 1902.

Tampa’s first synagogue, Congregation Shaarai Zedek, was founded in 1894. The temple is now located on West Swann Avenue.

The city’s first Jewish day school — The Hebrew School — was formed in 1915. The school shut down in 1917 after falling behind on mortgage payments, however.

And, the city’s first Jewish newspaper, Florida Jewish Weekly, was founded in 1924. It was the first of many Jewish newspapers formed over the years in Tampa.

Zielonka pointed out that Jews were very prominent in Ybor City around this timeframe.

He said than 80 Jewish stores and buildings sprouted up in Ybor City during the first half of the 20th century. “They were very common, all over the place.”

Max Argintar Menswear was the last Jewish business to survive in Ybor. It opened in 1908 and closed in 2004.

Fast-forward to the World War II period.

Hundreds of Jewish soldiers came to Tampa throughout the war, being stationed at one of the city’s three air force bases—MacDill, Henderson Field and Drew Field.

Moreover, 39 of the 65 families at Shaarai Zedek had someone who served in the war.

The congregation frequently sponsored Passover Seders at the old Hillsborough Hotel, an effort to support Jewish troops.

“The Jewish community embraced their soldiers that were here, and those that also served in the war,” Zielonka said.

The turn of the 21st century brought more Jewish families to south Tampa, creating the need for a second Jewish Community Center. The Bryan Glazer Family JCC opened in December 2016, at the site of the historic Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory building on North Howard Avenue.

Following the war, many Jewish servicemen settled in Tampa and established families, further strengthening the community.

The timeframe also marked the early days of Tampa Jews becoming influential political figures.

Zielonka mentioned Judge Harry N. Sandler, who was speaker of the Florida House of Representatives from 1932 to 1935. Sandler is responsible for many laws related to worker’s compensation.

The speaker noted several Jewish women, too, later became pioneers for their gender in the political realm.

Cecile Waterman Essrig was the first Jewish woman elected to political office in Hillsborough County, becoming a school board member in 1967.

Helen Gordon Davis was another, becoming the first Jewish Hillsborough County woman elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1974. She also served in the Florida Senate.

Sandy Warshaw Freedman was the first Jewish woman elected as Mayor of Tampa, in 1986.

Meanwhile, the Jewish community has seen other developments within the last 40 years.

The TOP (Tampa, Orlando, Pinellas) Jewish Foundation was formed in 1980.

The Jewish Press of Tampa was formed in 1988. The popular paper, started by Jim and Karen Dawkins, still publishes today.

The Hillel Academy, which formed in 1970 at Rodeph Sholom, relocated to a 10-acre campus on Fletcher Avenue in 1992.

The Weinberg Village Assisted Living Facility, too, was established in 1995, in Citrus Park.

The Jewish community most recently celebrated the opening of the Bryan Glazer Family JCC in December 2016.

Located at the site of the historic Fort Homer W. Hesterly Armory building on North Howard Avenue, it now totals more than 4,400 members. “It’s a busy place,” Zielonka said.

The turn of the 21st century saw more Jewish families moving to south Tampa, creating a need for another Jewish Community Center, he explained.

“The demographics of Tampa are very different than they were 20 years ago,” Zielonka said.

“The Jewish community is 50 percent in the south — and growing. New people moving to town want to live in south Tampa because it’s close to where the action is.”

Published November 1, 2017

Thrasher’s impacts felt, from Atlanta to Dade City

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While he doesn’t have the name recognition of other famed railroad builders, John James Thrasher played a role in bringing the first railroad to Dade City, thus helping to develop the future county seat of Pasco County.

Little is known about his life before he reached the age of 21.

He was born on Feb. 14, 1818, as the second oldest in a family of 14 children.

From left, John J. Thrasher, George W. Collier and George W. Adair. (Courtesy of The Atlanta History Center)
From left, John J. Thrasher, George W. Collier and George W. Adair.
(Courtesy of The Atlanta History Center)

He would go on to be credited for his efforts to rebuild Atlanta after the American Civil War, and would become a prominent citizen of Georgia.

During a family reunion earlier this summer at the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village in Dade City, David Sumner described Thrasher as “a railroad builder, entrepreneur, merchant and politician.”

Sumner is the great-great grandson of Thrasher, and a 1964 graduate of Pasco High School.

Thrasher — known as “Cousin John” to his many friends and family — was hired in 1839 to do work on the terminus of the Western and Atlantic Railroad in an area near present-day downtown Atlanta.

The Georgia General Assembly had authorized the railroad construction project as a northward link to Chattanooga and the Midwest.

In early 1861, Thrasher was Fulton County’s state representative when Georgia joined the Confederate States of America.

Major battles against Union armies would take place at Chickamauga in 1863, and Kennesaw Mountain in 1864.

When Union troops under the command of William Tecumseh Sherman drew near during the Atlanta campaign, much of the population had fled the city, including Thrasher, his wife, and four sons and three daughters.

This rapid exodus reduced Atlanta’s population from around 22,000 to less than 3,000.

John J. Thrasher lived the last 15 years of his life in Dade City and is buried next to his wife, Bethuel Scaife Thrasher. According to records of the Dade City Cemetery, there are 25 family descendants also interred here. (Doug Sanders/Photo)
John J. Thrasher lived the last 15 years of his life in Dade City and is buried next to his wife, Bethuel Scaife Thrasher. According to records of the Dade City Cemetery, there are 25 family descendants also interred here.
(Doug Sanders/Photo)

On Sept. 2, 1864, James M. Calhoun, the 16th Mayor of Atlanta, surrendered to Sherman, writing, “Sir: The fortune of war has placed Atlanta in your hands.”

Union soldiers occupied Atlanta for the next two months and burned most of it to the ground on Nov. 15, 1864.

In an article published by The Pasco News in 1999, Sumner described Thrasher at 46 years of age with no possessions left in a city that was “a burned waste of destruction.”

The elegant Thrasher home on Ashby Street had been the headquarters of Confederate Gen. John B. Hood. The Atlanta Constitution reported that Union troops did not destroy it, but they carried off the marble mantels, melted the outside ornamental ironwork and converted the library into a blacksmith’s shop.

After the war, Thrasher was one of 12 charter members of the Atlanta Street Railway Company — formed to operate the city’s first streetcars in 1866 according to the Atlanta History Center.

As Atlanta’s first merchant on Marietta Street, a state historical marker currently designates the site as “Thrasherville—Where Atlanta Began,” Sumner says.

He explains that Thrasher “physically and economically laid the foundations for modern-day Atlanta.”

According to the Thrasher Family papers at Emory University and the University of Georgia, Thrasher helped to build a school and supervised the construction of the new Fulton County Jail in 1865.

“The building is neither gorgeous nor picturesque,” reported the Atlanta Intelligencer, “but it is substantial, and it will answer its purpose.”

Within four years, Georgia became the last Confederate state restored to the Union.

It was during this period that Thrasher moved north of Atlanta along the Richmond and Danville Railroad, and founded a town he named after a good friend, Jonathan Norcross, who was the fourth mayor of Atlanta.

In the 1880s, Thrasher and his wife followed two of their sons to Dade City.

The elder Thrasher planted orange trees, while one son, David, became county judge in 1887, the third superintendent of schools in 1896, and was elected mayor of Dade City on Feb. 6, 1905.

Spending the rest of his life in Dade City, the elder Thrasher gave speeches and was instrumental in bringing the first railroad to town.

In 1885, the Florida Southern Railroad (later a part of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad) was built 40 feet from the present-day Dade City Cemetery, heading toward Lakeland.

This would transform the town’s economic growth.

The existing Atlantic Coast Line Depot along the U.S 98 Bypass is one of four historic depots that have served the local area.

In October 1887—23 years after Sherman set fire to Atlanta—President Grover Cleveland addressed a crowd of approximately 50,000 people attending the Piedmont Exposition.

As a showcase for the city’s reconstruction since the Civil War, The Atlanta Constitution reported that “Cousin John J. Thrasher” was at the exposition “as one of the best known and most popular men who ever lived in Atlanta.”

He died in Dade City on Nov. 14, 1899, when he was 81. In part, his obituary read: “…and now his death carries away next to the last of the three famous pioneers who were here before any of the people making this their home had ever heard of the place.”

Adding to the family legacy is Robert Woodruff, a great-grandson of Caroline Thrasher, who herself was a first cousin of (John J.) Thrasher.

Woodruff was an influential head of the Coca-Cola Company for nearly 60 years and a famous Atlanta philanthropist.

“I have spent the last 20 years researching the life of John Thrasher,” Sumner recalled during the family reunion in Dade City. “More than his accomplishments, I am touched by his character—his love, generosity, and kindness toward others. That’s why everyone called him ‘Cousin John.’”

Demand to Evacuate Atlanta
“Now you must go, and take with you the old and feeble, feed and nurse them, and build for them, in more quiet places, proper habitations to shield them against the weather until the mad passions of men cool down, and allow the Union and peace once more to settle over your old homes in Atlanta.” — William T. Sherman

Source: “Memoirs of General William T. Sherman” (Second Edition; New York. D. Appleton and Company, 1904).

Doug Sanders has a penchant for unearthing interesting stories about local history. His sleuthing skills have been developed through his experiences in newspaper and government work. If you have an idea for a future history column, contact Doug at .

Published June 29, 2016