USA > New York > Jefferson County > Genealogical and family history of the county of Jefferson, New York, Volume II > Part 17
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(III) Caleb Fulton, third son of James and Hannah, was born May II, 1777, in Colerain, and was among the pioneer settlers of Wilna, coming thither from Guilford, Vermont, in 1810. He was a soldier in 1812, and participated in the battle of Sacketts Harbor. His farm was among the best in Wilna, and is still in possession of his descendants. His wife, Mary Barnes, died March 4, 1865, surviving him about one and one-half years. He died October 8, 1863, in his eighty-seventh year. Their children were: Fanny, Simeon, Mary, James, Sally, Lydia, Filura and Elisha. Sketches of Simeon, James and Elisha follow. Fanny married Jeremiah Lanphear ( see Lanphear ). Filura married Henry Gustin, and bore him two sons. After his death she became the wife of Charles Hosford, by whom she had two daugh-
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ters. Mary married Samuel Keves, of Wilna, where she lived and died, being the mother of five children.
(III) David, fourth son and child of James and Hannah ( Ellis) Fulton, was born December 25, 1779, in Colerain, Massachusetts, and was married in Guilford, Vermont, to Jane Taggart, daughter of Thomas Taggart, who was among the early residents of Ellisburg, and without doubt, of Scotch ancestry (see W. H. Green, for further ac- count of Taggart). Soon after his marriage (probably about 1806), David Fulton settled on a farm in Champion, or rather what became a farm after it was cleared of the primeval forest. Previous to 1817, he removed to the town of Henderson, and in 1836 to Ellisburg. The last location was about three miles from the Henderson farm, and en- braced one hundred and ten acres, being near the northern border of the town and about five miles west of the village of Adams. This he continued to till until his death, June 5, 1856, and was a successful farmer. His wife survived him over eighteen years, passing away October 13, 1874, at the age of ninety-one years. She was a member of the Methodist church. While not affiliated with any religious body, Mr. Fulton embraced the faith of the Free Will Baptists, and was an upright, Christian man, respected and esteemed by all. He was a Whig in early life, and lived to see the Republican party organized, but died before the election in which its first national ticket figured. Of modest and retiring disposition, he refused to be a candidate for any office. A short account of his eleven children follows: Betsey became the wife of Jabez H. Felt, a farmer, and lived in the town of Adams, but died in Watertown. Hannah married Moses Barrett, a farmer of Ellis- burg, whom she survives and now resides on the paternal homestead. Susan died unmarried, at the age of twenty-four years. Jane married Marlin Wood, of Woodville, where she died. Phebe was the second wife of Marlin Wood. John was a Baptist clergyman, and died in Abilene, Kansas. David lived and died on the homestead. Sally mar- ried Newell Felt. and died in Kansas. Laura is the widow of Warren B. Felt, and lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Luke is mentioned in later paragraphs. Mary married Everett Barney, and died on a farm near Fort Wayne.
( II) Daniel Fulton, fifth son and sixth child of James and Han- nah ( Ellis) Fulton, was born March 21, 1784, in Colerain. He mar- ned Polly Woed and came to Champion in 1810, and began the busi- ness of ci th-dressing and wool-carding at what is now West Carthage,
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then having only one house. Three years later he went to Watertown and continued that occupation. He was in the battle of Sacketts Har- bor, and located on a farm in Champion in 1815. continuing there until 1836, when he moved to a farm near Elyria, Ohio, and died there in 1875. His wife died in 1864. Two of their nine children died in infancy. The others were: Hiram, Ruel, Elijah, Robert, Gaylord, Ann and Roxana. The eldest remained in Champion, and all the others went to Ohio.
(HF) Elijah Fulton, sixth son of James, was born February 2, 1788, in Colerain. About 1810 he married Phebe Bennett, and settled in that year at Carthage, where he started a woolen mill. He was subsequently in the same business at Plattsburg, this state, and died about 1829, at Great Bend, this county.
(HI) Nathan Fuiton, seventh son of James, was born April 25, 1790, in Colerain, and married Philena Hastings. He operated a cloth mill at Burr's Mills, in the town of Watertown, and moved thence to Iowa, where he died about 1844.
(IV) Jesse, fourth son and sixth child of James and Sally (Choate) Fulton, was born March 5, 1812, upon his father's farm, on Martin street, Champion, not far from the present village of Great Bend. There he grew up, receiving such educational training as the frontier schools afforded. When a young man he went to Ohio, along with other Fultons then moving there, his parents being among the number. After one season in that state James Fulton and family re- turned to Champion, and about 1838 Jesse purchased a farm of about one hundred acres in Rutland Hollow. He was a shrewd, industrious farmer, and reaped the rewards of his diligence. After buying and selling land, he was in possession of two hundred acres at the time of his death, which is still in possession of his daughter. In his later years this farm supported a large dairy, and he was regarded as one of the most successful and substantial citizens of the town. He at- tended the Methodist church, with his wife, who was a member of that body. A Democrat in early life, Mr. Fulton was among those who formed the Republican party, in the days preceding the Civil war. but he was not a blind partisan, and supported Grover Cleveland for the presidency at one time. For himself he desired no official honors, and ever found at his own fireside a contented existence, with no affilia- tions binding him outside of that.
Mr. Fulton married, August 2, 1847, Miss Mary Scott, a native
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of Rutland, daughter of Reuben and Sarah (Golding) Scott, pioneer settlers of that town. She died January 20. 1889. and in December, 1892, Mr. Fulton accompanied his daughter's family to Watertown. where he died on the twelfth of March. following, being just one week over eighty-one years of age.
(V) Ida Eudora, only child of Jesse and Mary (Scott) Fulton, was born September 7. 1849, in Rutland. where her home continued until the close of 1892. She was married December 20, 1870. to George B. Hadeock, of whom extended mention is made in this work. under the proper heading.
(IV) Simeon, eldest son and second child of Caleb Fulton, was born April 4. 1809. in the town of Guilford, Vermont, which adjoins Colerain, and was one year old when his parents came to Wilna. His educational privileges were limited, as far as schools were concerned. but nature did something for him, and his powers of observation, keen perceptions and studious mind were ever active, and he became one of the best informed men of the town. With sound judgment, and con- servative of action, he was universally respected, and his advice was frequently desired and usually aeted upon. For many years he aeted as justice of the peace and notary publie, and was supervisor of the town of Wilna in 1847-8-9. By industry and prudent management he accumulated a considerable property, and enjoyed the fruits of his labors in a green old age. He was very active up to a few days before his death, and visited the place of his birth in 1889. One Sunday morn- ing. at the end of April. 1894. while brushing his hair, he received a stroke of paralysis, from which he died on the sixth of May following. A remarkable man in many ways, he was widely mourned. \ true representative of his Scotch and New England ancestors, he was, like them, distinguished for his intelligent interest in human affairs, his per- severing industry, high moral principles and good will toward all man- kind. His religious faith gave him hope of the final happiness of all human beings, and he passed away with no regrets of a misspent life. In politics he never changed, beginning his adult life and ending as a Democrat.
Mr. Fulton was married May 30, 1838. to Larissa M. Smith, who was born April 15. 1816. in Bordentown, New Jersey. Her parents, John and Susan ( Ranier) Smith, came to Wilna in 1818, and receive more extended notice elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Fulton adopted a daughter, having no offspring of their own blood, but neither
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daughter nor parents ever felt any realization that she was not theirs by birth. She was born in Wilna, and is now the wife of Myron Lewis, and resides on the Simeon Fulton homestead, which embraces one hundred and seventy acres, and adjoins the homestead of Caleb Fulton, on lot 24. range 7. (See Lewis. )
(IV) James, second son and third child of Caleb Fulton, was a farmer on lot yo4. in the town of Wilna, near the present village of Natural Bridge, where he died in June, 1868. He married Caroline Nichols in 1843, and they had five children. A sketch of the eldest, John Caleb, follows. Francis, the second, married Sarah Brown, a native of Canada, and left a daughter. Lucy, who is now teaching school near Carthage. Simeon B., the third, died unmarried. Mary N., the fourth, married Theodore Wilkinson, and now lives in Carth- age. with two sons and two daughters. Larissa, the youngest, died ummarried.
(IV) Elisha Franklin, youngest son of Caleb Fulton, was born May 17, 1823. in a house still standing, on the farm occupied by his children. It must have been among the earlier frame houses of the town of Wilna, and was among the most substantial, doing service for the family of Caleb Fulton throughout his life. Caleb Fulton acquired fifty acres of land, which he cleared and developed. To this his son added forty-eight acres, and the whole is applied to dairy farming, as it was in his last years, supporting twelve to fourteen cows. The son. Elisha F., was a member of the Baptist church at Carthage, and was a Democrat in politics. He grew up on the home farm, and always lived upon it, becoming its owner upon the death of his parents, for whom he tenderly cared in their old age. He died November 11, 1886, in his sixty-fourth year, and is survived by his widow and two sons and a daughter.
Elisha F. Fulton was married March 3. 1852. to Angelica Clear- water, who was born October 20. 1827. in Johnstown, New York, a daughter of Jacob Clearwater. The last-named was born in Marble- town, Ulster county, this state, a son of Daniel Clearwater. About 1836 Jacob Clearwater moved to Carthage, with his family, and some six years later settled on a farm on the eastern border of Wilna, where lie died September 4. 1856. Ilis wife, Hester Sheley, was also a native of Johnstown. She survived him several years, dying in Croghan, at the home of her son. They had seven children. Abraham, the eldest, was born May . 3. 1818. lived in Ontario, Illinois, and died there.
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Maria, the second, died in girlhood. Daniel, born December 2, 1822, lived on the Wilna homestead, where he died January 14, 1891. John, born March 3, 1825, diedl a young man. Angelica is mentioned above. Joseph, born July 10, 1830, settled in Croghan. operated a sawmill and farm, and died there. Luke, September 30, 1833, lives on a farm in Mexico, Otsego county.
Five children came to Elisha and Angelica Fulton. Maria L., the first, married Charles Devois, and died, of consumption, within a few years thereafter. Sedate, born March 9, 1856, married E. G. Lewis ( see Lewis). Joseph and Jane, twins, were born September 22, 1858. The first is a farmer, residing on the homestead. The second was a teacher, and died unmarried. Clark, born January 23, 1867, resides on the homestead with his mother and brother.
(I\') Samuel, eldest child of James and Sarah (Choate) Fulton, was born October 7, 1799, in Colerain, Massachusetts, and was in his seventh year when his parents settled in Champion, this county. There he grew up, and attended the district school near Deer Lick creek, and, having mental capacity, he made the best use of his opportunities, and was known among his contemporaries as a good mathematician and speller. His nature and tastes were refined, and he preferred the com- panionship of good books to that of many of the youth of the day. At an early age he engaged with his uncle, Elijah Fulton, at the cloth- ier's trade, at Great Bend, and in time became his partner in operating a eloth mill. He was also associated with his uncle at Plattsburg. After the mill at Great Bend was burned Samuel Fulton bought two hundred acres of land on the west side of Deer Lick creek, adjoining his father's farm, in partnership with his younger brother, George Fulton. This was subsequently divided, and Samuel had a farm of one hundred acres, which he tilled the balance of his life, dying No- vember 13, 1881, at the age of eighty-two years. The primitive con- (lition of the country when he engaged in agriculture may be imagined from the fact that during the Civil war he killed a black bear weighing over two hundred pounds, near his house.
Mr. Fulton was a modest and quiet man, having large, dark eyes und dark hair. He was a Democrat all his life, and accepted the relig- ions faith of the Baptists. He was married in 1834-5 to Avastia Waldo, who was born February 28, 1813, in Rossie, New York, a daughter of Jarem and Lois ( Kinne) Waldo, who came from Herkimer county ( see Waldo, V). Mrs. Fulton died September 6, 1876, at her home
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in Champion. Of her six children, two died in infancy. The others were: Amelia Lois, now the widow of De Marquis LaFayette Lewis, who lived and died in Champion. They had no children. James, who was an inventor and manufacturer at Carthage, died there, soon after getting under way the production of a hay fork designed by him. All- other successful invention of his was a fire escape. Jerome, the third child and second son of Samuel Fulton, is a resident of Linden, Illinois. A sketch of the youngest follows, in a later paragraph.
(IV) David, seventh child and second son of David and Jane (Taggart) Fulton, was born November 15, 1817, in Henderson, and taken by his parents to Ellisburg when a child. He grew up and lived all his life on the paternal homestead, above Belleville, and died there, October 9, 1886. A modest and unassuming man, he gave his attention to the cultivation of the homestead, was a successful farmer, and cared for his parents in their old age. He was a faithful member of the Methodist church, of Belleville, and did much to promote its welfare. He was a Republican in political principle, and was noted as an unu- sually kind-hearted man.
He was married, January 13. 1841, to Sarah, eldest daughter and third child of Thomas Ellis, of Ellisburg. Mr. Fulton and wife were second cousins. In the history of the second generation of the Fulton family in this article, appears the history of Richard Ellis, of Ashfield, Massachusetts. Caleb, ninth and youngest child of Richard Ellis, was born August 16, 1754, and died March. 1813, in Ellisburg, where he was a pioneer settler. It is possible that he was not born in Ashfield, as his parents, in common with all in the newer settlements, were obliged to seek safety from the Indians in fortified places at the time of his birth, but they returned to Ashfield thereafter. Soon after, Rich- ard Ellis moved to Colerain, and Caleb is mentioned in his books in 1777. Caleb served through most of the Revolutionary war, being under. Generals Gates and Allen at Lake Champlain, Ticonderoga, and at the surrender of Burgoyne. He married Mary Crouch about 1779. and lived for a time in Vermont, probably in Guilford, and was later in Oneida county, this state. He was the first actual settler in Ellis- burg, and built a grist mill below Eilis village in 1798. Like his father and many of the Ellis family, he was a miller by trade, and he must have been a man of much industry, courage and perseverance, as evi- denced by his military career and pioneer service in the wilderness. He reared a family of eieven children, of whom Thomas was the fifth,
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being the third son. The last-named was born June 19, 1788, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. His farm in Ellisburg was on the opposite side of Sandy creek from the Fulton place, lower down the stream, and near to Belleville. In 1812 he married Hannah Salisbury, who was born in 1793, and they reared ten children. Thomas Ellis was a man of good mental endowment, an ardent Methodist and strict temperance man, and gave his children good educational opportunities. Ile died in 1869.
Sarah, daughter of Thomas Ellis, and wife of David Fulton, was born in 1816, and was the mother of four sons. James, the eldest. married Frances Grant, of Belleville, and resides near the paternal homestead. Thomas E. married Abbie Evans, of Belleville, and re- sides in that village. David receives further mention in a following paragraph. Charles N. was a conductor on the New York Central Railroad and died in Buffalo, August 1, 1895.
(IV) Luke Fulton, tenth child and third son of David and Jane (Taggart) Fulton, was born August 18, 1824, in the town of Hender- son, and reared in Ellisburg, upon his father's farm. In his early boy- hood days he attended the district school and was subsequently a stu- dent at Union Academy, Belleville, not far from his home. In the meantime he assisted in the cultivation of the home farm, and early acquired habits of industry and of study and intelligent observation, which have come down from the New England fathers. He has always done honor to these, as well as the remoter Scotch ancestors, and has been a very useful and progressive citizen. His farewell was paid to the schoolhouse at the age of twenty-two years, and he remained upon the home farm until his marriage, when he purchased a farm adjoining and entered upon its cultivation. In 1862 he sold this farm and bought one in the borough of Belleville, which he disposed of in 1877, and moved to his present location in the town of Pamelia, which was for- merly the home of Silas Terry. This comprised one hundred and six- teen acres, to which he subsequently added twenty-one aeres. Though now incapacitated by the infirmities of age for the active labors of the farm, he still manages its operation, and possesses the same elear mind which has been long applied for the benefit of his fellow men.
Mr. Fulton was very active for many years in Grange work, and was a charter member of Union Grange, at Belleville. For over twenty years he was deputy, and organized or reorganized twenty of the thirty- twr Granges now existing in the county. He was the first chaplain
GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY.
of the State Grange, was four years its treasurer, and six years a mem- her of its executive committec. He is now affiliated with Watertown Grange, of which he was two years master, and was two years master of the County Grange, which he organized. For a period of fourteen years he was president of the Patrons' Fire Relief Association, and only abandoned Grange work when advancing age made it difficult or impossible. This record testifies to the energy, integrity and executive ability of Mr. Fulton, and gives some conception of the high regard in which he is held by the agricultural interests of the county and state. He became a member in early life of Rising Sun Lodge of the Masonic fraternity at Adams, in which he acted four years as senior warden, and was a charter member of Rising Light Lodge, at Belleville, of which he was eight years master. He attends religious services at the Baptist church, and has always supported the principles of Republican- ism. For two terms he was highway commissioner of Pamelia, and has served as justice of the peace during the last eight years. An intel- ligent reader and observer, with a heart large enough to include all mankind, he has ever sought to promote the elevation of humanity, and his friends are limited only to the number of those who know him.
Mr. Fulton was married June 28, 1849, to Lydia A. Terry, who was born November 14, 1831, in Pamelia, a daughter of Silas and Julia (Webb) Terry, who came from Long Island to this location about 1830. Mrs. Fulton passed away June 1, 1884. Her children reside in the vieinity of their birth. Hannah Jane, the eldest, is the wife of Willard E. Saxe, of Watertown. Ella J. is her father's aid on the homestead, and Inez E. is the wife of William H. Fox, of Manns- ville, this county.
(IV) Elijah Fulton, son of Daniel, was born in 1811, in Cham- picn, New York. From eleven to eighteen years of age he was with his uncle, Nathan Fulton, at Burr's Mills, learning the cloth business, and then went to Antwerp, where he worked at the trade. In 1840 he married Betsey Hale, who died about 1855. In 1865 he married Lavina A. Ellis, of Antwerp, a daughter of Joseph P. Ellis, of that place, and his wife Almira Steel. Joseph was a son of Luke Ellis, of Wareham, Massachusetts. not of the same family as Richard Ellis.
(V) Haskil Bramard Fulton, third son of Samuel and Avastia ( Waldo) Fulton, was born October 8, 1849, on the paternal farm on Martin street, Champion, and has always lived in that town. He attended the district school near his home until eighteen years old, and
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succeeded his father in possession of the homestead, whose cultivation occupied him, wholly or in part, from an early age. Of retiring nature, he has never sought for public position, and has been content to reap the iruits of his toil from season to season. He continued upon the home farm until 1890, when he sold it and moved to his present loca- tion, on the road from Great Bend to Deferiet. This farm comprises one hundred and eight acres, extending from the road to the river. and affords excellent facilities for dairy farming. From twelve to fifteen cows are kept, and the place presents a thrifty appearance, with good buildings suitable to their use. His conservative nature led Mr. Fulton to espouse the political principles held for a lifetime by his father, and no change has occurred in his allegiance. His only official service has been rendered in the capacity of election inspector, and he is not allied with any organization, though formerly a member of Great Bend Grange.
He was married December 26. 1879, to Matilda. daughter of Moses Hubbard (see Hubbard). She was born in July, 1859, in Champion, and is the mother of a son and daughter, namely: George Samuel and Mabel, both residing with their parents, the son assisting in the cultivation of the farm.
(V) THOMAS ELLIS FULTON, who has gained a remark- able degree of prosperity through his well directed and reliable methods in agricultural pursuits, was born on the old homestead farm in Ellis- burg, north of the village of Belleville, May 15, 1849, the second son of David and Sarah ( Ellis) Fulton. The educational advantages en- joyed by him were obtained in the common schools adjacent to his home and Union Academy at Belleville. By close application to his studies he became proficient enough to accept a position as teacher, in which capacity he served for a period of more than six years. He then pur- chased a farm which was in close proximity to Mathers Mills, and this he cultivated and improved. receiving large and excellent crops as a reward for his labor. The whole appearance of the farm indicates the supervision of a master hand. In politics he follows the example of his father, casting his vote for the candidates of the Republican party.
Mr. Fulton married. September 18. 1877. Abbie Evans, who was born in Boston, Massachusetts. September 21. 1850. a daughter of Horatio and Ellen M. (Mayo) Evans, whose ancestors resided in Massachusetts and Connecticut, respectively. Horatio Evans, a son of Moses Evans, a soldier in the war of the Revolution, was a contractor,
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and removed to Belleville, New York, about the year 1858. Ellen ( Mayo) Evans was a daughter of Elijah Williams and Rebecca (Arm- strong ) Mayo, the latter named having been a daughter of Captain John Armstrong, who participated in the Revolutionary war.
(V) David, third son of David and Sarah ( Ellis) Fulton, was born May 15. 1852, on the paternal farm, where he lived all his life. His education was supplied by the home schools and Belleville Acad- emy, and he taught several terms of school. in winter, always attending to his farm duties in summer.
He was married November 25. 1880, to Ella M. Young, who was born in Clay, Onondaga county, New York, September 28, 1852, daughter of Joseph and Eliza E. (Clark) Young. She is a descendant of German ancestors, her grandfather and his two brothers having come from Germany and settled at what is now Canastota, New York, where they were recognized as trustworthy and reliable business men. One daughter is the issue of this union-Nina E., born March 13, 1882. She is a graduate of Belleville Union Academy, class of 1901. On November 24. 1903. she became the wife of Alfred W. Emerson, who was born at Pillar Point, Jefferson county, New York, March 21, 1870, a son of Sumner Emerson, a brother of Judge Emerson. Alfred W. Emerson owns the farm where his father resided and this he oper- ates, also the Fulton farm, and in addition he carries the United States mail from Adams to Belleville.
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