Webster, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Webster, Illinois
|
|
|---|---|
 Webster, Illinois
Location in Illinois
Webster, Illinois
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Hancock County |
| Township | Fountain Green |
| Elevation | 623 ft (190 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Postal code |
62321
|
| Area code(s) | 217 |
Webster is a small place in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. It's called an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Instead, it's part of a larger area called Fountain Green Township. Webster was first known by a different name: Ramus.
Contents
Discovering Webster's Past
Early Settlers and the Perkins Family
The story of Webster began around 1826 when Ute and Sarah Perkins moved to the area. Their family became very important to the growing community. In fact, for a while, the place was even called Perkins Settlement!
Soon after, a group of Catholic families arrived from Kentucky. They were led by Mordecai Lincoln. In 1838, Lincoln helped establish the Catholic Church of St. Simon the Apostle there. This church was overseen by the diocese of St. Louis.
A New Community Forms: Ramus
In 1839, the Perkins family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were inspired by the teachings of Joel H. Johnson. The Perkins family continued to be at the heart of the community.
Joel H. Johnson himself moved to the area in February 1840. By July 1840, a special group called a "stake" of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was formed. This is when the settlement officially got the name Ramus.
Some of the Perkins family's land was bought to create a town. This new town was planned with 24 blocks. Joel H. Johnson worked hard to tell other members of his church about Ramus. He described it as a great place to live, with good farmland nearby and a community that was growing fast. In 1841, nine more blocks were added to the town.
Important Buildings and People
Around 1841, the Latter-day Saints built a meetinghouse in Ramus. Some people believe this was the very first meetinghouse built by members of their church. Others say it was used as a schoolhouse.
Another important person who lived in Ramus early on was Benjamin F. Johnson. He ran a store in the community, which would have been a central place for people to get supplies.
By the end of 1842, Ramus was quite busy! There were between 500 and 600 people living there.
Changing Names: From Ramus to Macedonia and Webster
In 1843, the town's name changed again. It was officially called Macedonia when the government of Illinois formally recognized it. However, by 1845, the number of people living there had decreased to 380.
Interestingly, two important sections from a book called Doctrine and Covenants come from things Joseph Smith said while he was in Ramus.
Today, the Webster Community Church stands where that early Latter-day Saint meetinghouse once was. This church was built in 1897.
