- Known as The FATHER of WOODVILLE - he left a lasting mark on Tararua as a road builder, postmaster, store owner and community leader in the late 19th century. He opened the town's first store in 1876 and built most of the earliest roads and bridges from Woodville to the Manawatu River.
Thomas was a of Thomas Francis & Jane Caroline Fountaine. In 1874, along with John Hodge Monteith, they took over the contract for road formation and bridges between Woodville and the Manawatu River. He acquired land, opened the first store and was the first Road Board chairman, a postmaster and a church warden.
He had no children when he died but became known as the Father of Woodville.
Born in Buckinghamshire, he arrived in New Zealand in 1871 and worked for some time in Hawke's Bay, on one of the stations of Hon. John Davies Ormond. He purchased Otawhao Farm at Kumeroa in 1888. The homestead built in 1898 is listed as a Historical Place.
In 1896 he donated two acres in the centre of Woodville for a park, which became Fountaine Square.
When he died with no wife or children, he left his farm at Otawhao near Kumeroa, to his cousin Charles Douglas Fountaine, who took over managing the property in 1927.
written 1908 ..
Thomas Francis Fountaine, J.P. Sheep-farmer, Kumeroa. Mr. Fountaine was born in Buckinghamshire, England in the year 1842 and is the son of Mr T. F. Fountaine, farmer, of Stoke-Hammond. He was educated at Banbury, Oxfordshire, and brought up to farming by his father. In 1861 he went to Queensland, by the ship "Wanatah," followed various occupations, and travelled the country from the Gulf of Carpentaria to Melbourne. In 1871 Mr. Fountaine came to New Zealand, landed in Wellington and worked for some time in Hawke's Bay, on one of the stations of the Hon. J. D. Ormond. Later on he went to Norsewood and worked on the main road opening up the bush district. In 1874, in conjunction with Mr. J. H. Monteith, he contracted for the construction of the road between Woodville and the Manawatu river. In March, 1876, they opened the first store in Woodville and continued in partnership until June 1884, when Mr Fountaine retired. In the following March he went Home for a twelve months' visit, on his return to New Zealand took up a run of 1,075 acres, at Otawhao and finally settled at Kumeroa. Mr Fountaine was chairman of the Woodville Road Board for many years, a member of the Waipawa County Council for three years, a member of the Kumeroa Road Board and has also served on other local bodies.
Thomas was a of Thomas Francis & Jane Caroline Fountaine. In 1874, along with John Hodge Monteith, they took over the contract for road formation and bridges between Woodville and the Manawatu River. He acquired land, opened the first store and was the first Road Board chairman, a postmaster and a church warden.
He had no children when he died but became known as the Father of Woodville.
Born in Buckinghamshire, he arrived in New Zealand in 1871 and worked for some time in Hawke's Bay, on one of the stations of Hon. John Davies Ormond. He purchased Otawhao Farm at Kumeroa in 1888. The homestead built in 1898 is listed as a Historical Place.
In 1896 he donated two acres in the centre of Woodville for a park, which became Fountaine Square.
When he died with no wife or children, he left his farm at Otawhao near Kumeroa, to his cousin Charles Douglas Fountaine, who took over managing the property in 1927.
written 1908 ..
Thomas Francis Fountaine, J.P. Sheep-farmer, Kumeroa. Mr. Fountaine was born in Buckinghamshire, England in the year 1842 and is the son of Mr T. F. Fountaine, farmer, of Stoke-Hammond. He was educated at Banbury, Oxfordshire, and brought up to farming by his father. In 1861 he went to Queensland, by the ship "Wanatah," followed various occupations, and travelled the country from the Gulf of Carpentaria to Melbourne. In 1871 Mr. Fountaine came to New Zealand, landed in Wellington and worked for some time in Hawke's Bay, on one of the stations of the Hon. J. D. Ormond. Later on he went to Norsewood and worked on the main road opening up the bush district. In 1874, in conjunction with Mr. J. H. Monteith, he contracted for the construction of the road between Woodville and the Manawatu river. In March, 1876, they opened the first store in Woodville and continued in partnership until June 1884, when Mr Fountaine retired. In the following March he went Home for a twelve months' visit, on his return to New Zealand took up a run of 1,075 acres, at Otawhao and finally settled at Kumeroa. Mr Fountaine was chairman of the Woodville Road Board for many years, a member of the Waipawa County Council for three years, a member of the Kumeroa Road Board and has also served on other local bodies.
- Known as The FATHER of WOODVILLE - he left a lasting mark on Tararua as a road builder, postmaster, store owner and community leader in the late 19th century. He opened the town's first store in 1876 and built most of the earliest roads and bridges from Woodville to the Manawatu River.
Thomas was a of Thomas Francis & Jane Caroline Fountaine. In 1874, along with John Hodge Monteith, they took over the contract for road formation and bridges between Woodville and the Manawatu River. He acquired land, opened the first store and was the first Road Board chairman, a postmaster and a church warden.
He had no children when he died but became known as the Father of Woodville.
Born in Buckinghamshire, he arrived in New Zealand in 1871 and worked for some time in Hawke's Bay, on one of the stations of Hon. John Davies Ormond. He purchased Otawhao Farm at Kumeroa in 1888. The homestead built in 1898 is listed as a Historical Place.
In 1896 he donated two acres in the centre of Woodville for a park, which became Fountaine Square.
When he died with no wife or children, he left his farm at Otawhao near Kumeroa, to his cousin Charles Douglas Fountaine, who took over managing the property in 1927.
written 1908 ..
Thomas Francis Fountaine, J.P. Sheep-farmer, Kumeroa. Mr. Fountaine was born in Buckinghamshire, England in the year 1842 and is the son of Mr T. F. Fountaine, farmer, of Stoke-Hammond. He was educated at Banbury, Oxfordshire, and brought up to farming by his father. In 1861 he went to Queensland, by the ship "Wanatah," followed various occupations, and travelled the country from the Gulf of Carpentaria to Melbourne. In 1871 Mr. Fountaine came to New Zealand, landed in Wellington and worked for some time in Hawke's Bay, on one of the stations of the Hon. J. D. Ormond. Later on he went to Norsewood and worked on the main road opening up the bush district. In 1874, in conjunction with Mr. J. H. Monteith, he contracted for the construction of the road between Woodville and the Manawatu river. In March, 1876, they opened the first store in Woodville and continued in partnership until June 1884, when Mr Fountaine retired. In the following March he went Home for a twelve months' visit, on his return to New Zealand took up a run of 1,075 acres, at Otawhao and finally settled at Kumeroa. Mr Fountaine was chairman of the Woodville Road Board for many years, a member of the Waipawa County Council for three years, a member of the Kumeroa Road Board and has also served on other local bodies.
Thomas was a of Thomas Francis & Jane Caroline Fountaine. In 1874, along with John Hodge Monteith, they took over the contract for road formation and bridges between Woodville and the Manawatu River. He acquired land, opened the first store and was the first Road Board chairman, a postmaster and a church warden.
He had no children when he died but became known as the Father of Woodville.
Born in Buckinghamshire, he arrived in New Zealand in 1871 and worked for some time in Hawke's Bay, on one of the stations of Hon. John Davies Ormond. He purchased Otawhao Farm at Kumeroa in 1888. The homestead built in 1898 is listed as a Historical Place.
In 1896 he donated two acres in the centre of Woodville for a park, which became Fountaine Square.
When he died with no wife or children, he left his farm at Otawhao near Kumeroa, to his cousin Charles Douglas Fountaine, who took over managing the property in 1927.
written 1908 ..
Thomas Francis Fountaine, J.P. Sheep-farmer, Kumeroa. Mr. Fountaine was born in Buckinghamshire, England in the year 1842 and is the son of Mr T. F. Fountaine, farmer, of Stoke-Hammond. He was educated at Banbury, Oxfordshire, and brought up to farming by his father. In 1861 he went to Queensland, by the ship "Wanatah," followed various occupations, and travelled the country from the Gulf of Carpentaria to Melbourne. In 1871 Mr. Fountaine came to New Zealand, landed in Wellington and worked for some time in Hawke's Bay, on one of the stations of the Hon. J. D. Ormond. Later on he went to Norsewood and worked on the main road opening up the bush district. In 1874, in conjunction with Mr. J. H. Monteith, he contracted for the construction of the road between Woodville and the Manawatu river. In March, 1876, they opened the first store in Woodville and continued in partnership until June 1884, when Mr Fountaine retired. In the following March he went Home for a twelve months' visit, on his return to New Zealand took up a run of 1,075 acres, at Otawhao and finally settled at Kumeroa. Mr Fountaine was chairman of the Woodville Road Board for many years, a member of the Waipawa County Council for three years, a member of the Kumeroa Road Board and has also served on other local bodies.
Inscription
In Remembrance Of
THOMAS FRANCIS FOUNTAINE
Born Nov 3rd 1842
Died Oct 18th 1938
Gravesite Details
Interment ID: 6981
details provided by his cousin Charles Douglas Fountaine (1876-1959) on 19-10-1938
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