Alexander Robert Fulton

Generation 5

Historical Notes

From "The Western Life-Boat", date of article and author unknown:

In professional life, models of industry are very rare, but in Mr. Fulton there is an exception to the general rule. He has a fervent mental temperament, with enough of the vital and motive to give strength and endurance to body and mind. In stature he stands 5.8½ inches, and weighs 155 pounds. He has a head, about an average size, covered with a thin coat of light brown hair. In body and mind he is active and sanguine, full of hope and well developed will power. He is firm, mild, conscientious, cautious, and true to his best convictions of duty. He is of honorable parantage, his grandfather, James Fulton, being a native of Glasgow, Scotland, but emigrated to America in 1785. He was shortly after, married to Ann Christopher, of Maryland, and at the breaking out of the war of 1812, resided at Baltimore, where he enlisted as a private, and served during the war, when he was honorably discharged. He took part in the defence of Baltimore during the excitement caused by the threatening demonstrations of Gen. Packenham. At the close of the war he moved with his family to Chillicothe, Ohio then considered "away out west," and was really the western border of civilization. He died in 1831, leaving a widow, four sons, and one daughter. In 1852, his widow and her daughter moved to Fairfield, Iowa where she died in 1857, at the age of 97 years.

The maternal grandfather of Mr. Fulton was Nathaniel Greene, of Virginia. He settled near Portsmouth, Ohio, at an early day. His father, James Fulton, was born at Baltimore, Md., in 1799, and came to Ohio at the close of the war of 1812, with his parents. He was married at Chillicothe in 1824, to Miss Rebecca Greene. They moved to Iowa in 1850, and are both still living.

A. R. Fulton was born near Chillicothe, Ohio, October 11, 1825. He was raised on a farm, and received, during his minority, a spare education in the common schools of the State, devoting a portion of his winter months in teaching. At Mt. Pleasant academy, at Kingston, Ross county, he completed his textual studies, so far as the schools are concerned. He obtained some knowledge of the higher mathematics, and the natural sciences. About this time he commenced writing articles for the press, and occasionally became quite poetic, dividing his compostiions between sober prose and epic verse.

In 1851, he came to Fairfield, Iowa, where he assisted, during the first season, in surveying a line for a plank road from Fairfield to Mt. Pleasant. In December, 1851, he bought of Orlando McCraney, now of McGregor, a half interest in the Fairfield Ledger, and subsequently purchased the entire office, but shortly after associated with W. W. Junkin in the publication, and in August, 1854, sold the entire office to him. Mr. Junkin has ever since continued his connection with the paper.

Mr. Fulton was immediately chosen to the office of county surveyor, which he held for ten consecutive years. In the mean time he was clerk in the Iowa House of Representatives three sessions, including the extra session of 1856. He was also engaged occasionally in surveying on railroads, a work that has to be performed several times before the most practical and economical route can be ascertained. Not relishing single blessedness, he was married Nov. 20, 1853 to Augusta Wheeler. In 1856 he embarked again in the newpaper business, being associated in the publication of the "Home Visitor," at Fairfield. In 1861 he was elected County Judge of Jefferson county, and re-elected to the same office in 1863, serving four years in all. In the fall of 1867 he was elected as Representative in the Twelfth General Assembly, and at the close of his term was engaged by Messrs. Mills & Co., of Des Moines, as an assistant editor and traveling correspondent of the Iowa State Register. During the time of his engagement in this capacity, he traveled over the entire State, and wrote the series of excellent articles known as the "Tour of Iowa Counties." He also prepared a pamphlet entitled "Free Lands of Iowa," which was published in two editions by Messrs. Mills & Co. He also wrote many letters descriptive of Iowa, all of which contributed largely to attract attention to the garden prairie State. During the session of the Thirteenth General Assembly he reported the proceedings of the House of Representatives for the State Register, a difficult task, but acceptably performed.

At the organization of the State Board of Immigration, in April, 1870, he was appointed Secretary, and , soon after, Secretary of the Captiol Commissioners, which positions he still ably fills.

His political record is brief, but consistent. He was first a Whig, and a member of the convention held at Iowa City when the Republican party was organized in Iowa, to which he has ever since conscientiously held allegiance. Such is the record of A. R. Fulton. He has filled no high offical station, but has been faithful in every trust committed to his care.

From the Fairfield Tribune, Wednesday, 14 October 1891, page 7, col. 3:

Judge Alex. R. Fulton died in Des Moines Tuesday evening Sept. 29. Born near Chillicothe, Ohio Oct. 11, 1825. He came to Fairfield, Iowa in the spring of 1851 where his first employment was to assist in surveying a line for a plank road from Fairfield to Mt. Pleasant. In December of the same year he became associated with Orlando McCraney in the publication of the Fairfield Ledger....Sold out in 1854. Married, Nov. 20, 1853, Mrs. Augusta Wheeler...

Unfortunately we are unable to find either a copy of the Fairfield Tribune for October 14, 1891, or a full obituary for Alexander Robert Fulton.

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