The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-01-10
az MN. q. sANaoRN

FOUNTAIN CITY. Ind, Jan. TO-
Let us admit right at the beginning
that there are larger towns than
Fountain City, in Indiana, and even
In Wayne county-several OF them In
deed.
But there is no town in Indiana
that Is more widely known, nor Oh
greater historic Importance, as relates
to its early history. Fountain. city, In
diana. is known to the older genera
ton in America, wherever books are
read and people think. And there are
members Of the Society OF FRIENDS
all over the world. who can tell you
more of interest in relation to Ola
Newport than the present generation
Of Wayne county people have ever
learned.
How many OF us have recalled that
a full century has elapsed since Oid
Newport" In New Garden township
was plotted as a town site.
Well, It has Scion Thomas and
REDEEM Chance plotted forty acres and
sold the first town lots In the summer
of 1918 in the town of ;ewport. But
1t was discovered sixty years later
that there were too many Newports
in Indiana--mails and express matter
continually went astray, so In 1879
the name of Fountain City was adopt
cd and the town incorporated. Well,
1879 is some distance in the past but
many of the old-timers still mourn
the change of name. because or the
fame of Newport, Indiana, as a CEN
ter of anti-slavery agitation and the
Headquarters of the Underground
Railroad" OF immortal memory in the
annals Of the development Of our free
institutions.
It will be observed, then, that Foun-
tain City is noted in the annals OF
America, not because of it's age, nor
for its commercial importance, or
because of vast population. 1t Is
famed because of it's people, living and
dead.
Pope, he of the immortal Essay on
Man." said: 1.-THE proper study of man
kind is man" Although not explicitly
stated. Pope embraced woman in that
comprehensive WORKMAN. He might
well have included the children-Fa-
Their. Mother, Child. the great trinity
OF all human happiness, endeavor ana
accomplishment. Certain 1t is tnat
in the stirring days preceding ana
during the war the women took nopie
part in all that has made this old town
Famous, anu no Cullu tIlat WI 90 W
a negro in any home ever betrayed the
secret, so far as known.
For instance, some 5000 slaves OF
all ages reached Newport to find safe
asylum and not one of these was ever
recaptured or turned over to those
who hunted them so persistently.
Well, Harriet Beecher Stowe, author
of Uncle Toms Cabin" learned OF
Newport long before the War of the
Rebellion and visited here for several
DAYS. Here she met the most noted
Abolitionists in the West-Newpor'
being known as the hotbed OF that
cult, in the days that tried mems souls
A Famous Old House.
The writer had the pleasure OF din
ing today in the most famous old
house in this part of the State-the
Underground Railway Hotel, the old
Levi Coffin home, built in 1887, anc
now ownd by Mrs. William Pegg who
rents the property to the parties now
running the house. This old building
has lcng been the shrine of many {
pilgrimage. Mr.. Coffin was the &C
credited president of the Underground
Railroad, and his home was especial!
planned to facilitate the hiding OF hi
colored passengers who made thel
dangerous and devious way to thi!
sanctuary of comfort and safety. Mrs
Stowe was entertained at this home
and Eliza Harris and her child, O
Uncle Tom fame. lived there TO
weeks. And this reminds me tina
William Lacey, the brother of Majo
NJ. Nj. Lacey, was one of the men wht
witnessed Fliza's crossing the Ohi'
with her child, over the ice foes. H:
was on the Indiana side and rendered
prompt assistance in getting her t.
safety at Newport, and into the CoffiI
home.
At Major N. N. Lacey's Home.
The writer was cordially welcomed
at the pleasant home of Major Lacey
one of the links connecting the yes
terday and today of this historic OLE
town. The Major is eightyfour year:
od-or shall we say young for he Il
one of the best preserved men of hi
age that we have met in yeas o
travel. The major is too we'll and ia
vorably know to this generation t.
need an introduction here, still few
words as to this veteran of the six
ties will not be amiss. Major Lace,
was born within two or three miles o
his present home, and is a descendant
of that John Lacey OF Revolutionar.
fame, who was turned out of tn
Friends church for enlisting in tn
Continental Army" as the Major put
II. Major Lacey first served in tn
Eighth Indiana as a captain, but late
recruited company in Richmond, 70
the SiXty.ninth Regiment, for whicl
two companies were recruited at tn
same time.