| Notes |
- Tommy was the son of Joel and Fern, and was raised in Colorado Springs until the death of his father January 1, 1915.
Fern apparently moved back to Iowa and her father may have adopted Thomas. The boy had something wrong- like retardation or epileptic seizures.
He was put in a facility at Woodward, Iowa, where he was known as Joel Marshall or maybe Joel Fulkerson.
Ferne remarried. She seems to have divorced someone and to have another son, Frank. She seemed to work and to have health problems.
There is a letter dated Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Feb 23, 1925 from Fern to
"Dear Mother, Dad, Earl and Girls (Gladys and Jessie).
After that dear letter , I'll write if it takes the hide off. You have no idea how I live on the run. I even sleep in a hurry it seems to me. I'm on the job from 8:30 Am until 5:30 PM with an hour for lunch but as a rule I only take 40 minutes.
Earl, I loved the little letter, and I'd love to see you. I'm so glad you are so big and smart. I got your picture, adn am so proud of it. It sits right on my dresser all the time. Are you on the ball team too? I guess, mother, your other letters must have gone astray, and when I was in Colorado, a year ago in September, that was in 1923 Aunt Lum did not know your address either said it was along since she had written you as it was since I had. But if I don't wrote I think of you all every day.
Yes we got the package, and it wa just what a boy likes.
I do not get to see Tommy as often as I'd like for it is not always possible to drive so far when papa is home it takes a whole week's wages for me to go on the train and not take Frank either, and it is hard to take that much very often and then have only about 2 hours there.
But he is a big boy, too sweet and good, and he is the image of that picture of Joel you have taken with Jessie, even the freckles on his nose. He has not been home for 3 years. I wish I could have him but I have no home, only a room, and when I work all the time, I could not leave him to take care of himself. Dear little man. He is not normal as he should be, and I am grieved to death. But he is getting better, and I think in time he will be all right.
Yes, I think I remember all the birthdays if I can't send something. I don't think any one remembered mine. I almost forgot it my self. But I did get some belated rememberances
I hope i'll get to go and see Tommy soon and then I can tell you more how he is progressing.
Just keep on forgetting that man's name. He was a perfect brute to all of us but when I found out he'd pounded Tommy with his hams of fists it capped the climax. I've had a divorce from him, 3 years in June. I got Frank and my old name, so it is Fulkerson. I wish it had never been anything else.
Bless sall your hearts and know I love you the same as ever.
Give Polly-pucker my best wishes, and hope for her happiness and prosperity. I'm glad all of you are so much better out there. I hear it is a wonderful country.
Love to you all. Hoping you'll write again soon to Yours as ever, Fern
Cedar Rapids, Ia
July 27, 1925
Dear Mother:
My! such a lovely newsy letter. How I did enjoy it. You can't imagine how heart sick and lonely I get. Don't even think you can take too much of my time writing to me. I always have time to read letters, and I always find time or make time to answer them some time.
I'll try to tell you about Tommy to the best of my ability. I was over to see him the 17th of May and again the 28th of June. On the trip in June, we were allowed to take him out for a ride and to town for dinner.
That was the first time we had been permitted to do so since he has been there, three years now. Also it was the first time the doctors have given me any hop that he may be all right someday. His general health is good, his physical developement fine, his mentality improving, slowly. THe siezures he has that are similar to epilepsy are few, far between and much less severe.
However, what has caused all the grief, the doctors do not know. It was not regular infanile paralysis he had, tho he was partially paralyzed.
And you have not seen him since he was so little. It might be his mind was retarded even then and we did not know it.
He is retarded, the doctors call it, not idotic in any way. He has flashes of uncanny perception and wit, but the condition is not sustained and while he does learn, and is so proud when he does grasp anything, it is so pitifully slow. I know your heartbreak, It has seemed almost to madden me at times, but I just have to keep going, and never stop fighting to find something for him. Don't let it goad you, mother, you can't help it and I can't help it, and it is no fault of anyones. He has absolutely no blood taint and there is no human fault. I have thot too, perhaps it would be of benefit to him if he could have been with Earl, so much the same age and all. But Idon't know.
Yes, we can't make a living at any thing unless we work hard. I know how you peg around from morning till night. But I'm glad to have the work, and glad that I can do it. I know you must be awful proud of Jessie and of Gladys too, and of Earl.
I want to tell you Tommy is in a wonderful place and is well cared for. I have never been able to get any complaint out of him, no matter how I question him.
He weighed 95 pounds when I was there in June, was five feet tall, wore number 5 shoes and a 14 year old suit, just fits him. I asked the doctor about bringing him home. He said as long as I had to work and leave him all day, I would be very foolish to take him away. But I hope to be able to have him with me again some time before many years, or awful thing to say maybe, if he isn't going to get well, I hope he can go to be with his daddy. But just as long as he lives I"ll keep on looking for a cure for him. God did not make anything to be imperfect, and I'm sure there is help somewhere.
I have not been working for a couple of weeks but hope to get back again next week. THis is just the between seasons, you know, and there is business depression every where.
Well love to each and every one of you and please write again to, Fern 600-4th Ave E. Cedar Rapids, IA
There is a letter dated Dec 11, 1927 from Tom written by a friend at Woodward to Fern. Also there is some mention of him in letters by his Fulkerson grandparents, sending gifts of money and clothes. His letter seems to be articulate. He asks for nothing but a watch for Christmas. He says he is learning quite a bit in school. He wants toothpaste and two winter night gowns and a new suit because the one he has is too small. He is at that time 34" around the waist. He writes a little himself, asking them to come and see him when they can.
Glenn Swartout writes for "Joel"
Woodward Ia
Dec 11, 1927
Dear Mother;-
We'll answer your letter this afternoon. Was very glad to hear from you.
It is pretty cold out today and hass been for the last week and more. I am feeling o.k. and hope you are also. We haven't had school since last Monday on account of the weather.
Tell all the rest not to forget me when Xmas comes and I want nothing but a watch. They keep all the packages from now untill xmas and then give them all out to us and they sure do get a pile of packages.
I am learning quite a bit in school.
I (Glenn) have been writing for Joel but I will turn it over to him now.
{ came dawn and see me when you can}
Well Joel didn't do very well so I will finish it up- ho! Will you send me some tooth pastem and two winter nightgowns and a new suit because the one I hae is too small. (Size 34 around the waist) Well I guess I will ring off for today. answer soon.
Joel
Fern adds in sending the letter to the grandparents that "we sent him all he asked for" Fern
Fern writes the Fulkerson grandparents Jan 3, 1928:(Mrs. J.T. Fulkerson, Box 268, Davenport, Washington)
Dear Folks:
I'm thinking of you at this time, as perhaps you may be thinking of me, and going back to that awful time 13 years ago and wondering how we have managed to keep on going from day to day. But the days do go on and so do we.
Our big boy is so big. You can not imagine him I'm sure. He is so tall as I and handsome, and good, but while he is much better, in some ways he is not what he should be and I'm so discouraged. He was home this summer for three weeks. The first time he had been away from the hospital since he has been there. He had one hard spell while he was home. We took him in the car to Illinois for a trip and on into Chicago and Whiting, Indiana.
He had a great time.
I sent him a suit for X-mas size 37, as the 18 year old suit he has, had grown entirely too small. They sent the suit back saying it was too small, so I sent a 40. Can you think of Tommie in a size 40 man's suit? But I'll send some pictures. They will speak better than I can.
We received the package and thank you so much. It surely is dear of you to remeber Frank. He is a dear little laddie too, and large for his age.
I am still at Killian's where I have been for three years, am much the same as always.
Hoping you are alll well and wishing you a Happy and Prosperous year I am as ever . Fern
There are pictures of Joel, Tommie, Fern, Frank, Earl,etc and some correspondance about work for Joel and some business cards Also there is some school work of Joel's and a teddy bear Gladys and Jessie visited him, probably in summer 1954.
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Abt 1913 - 
