| Notes |
- Jessie spent forty years in the Lincoln County Court House at Davenport, WA and retired in 1963. She lived at home and took care of her father, John Thomas Fulkerson, until he died in 1950.
She had an unfortunate marriage to a soldier. She divorced, took back her name, and worked extremely hard to pay off the debts he had accumulated before he disappeared. She worked for a while as a telephone operator.
Jessie was gifted as a story teller to her niece; she did nice paintings, and ceramic work. She read a great deal and helped with a volunteer library in Davenport. She was a member of long and good standing of Eastern Star, Rebecca, and some other organizations.
She lived in the old family Queen Anne style home (built 1902) until she finally needed more care and moved to the Davenport care facility. For a while there were boarders in the upstairs of the home. She loved to garden.
In her youth, she was athletic and enjoyed basketball and horses. She had extremely good taste in clothes and was quite beautiful and tall.
She had a friend named Zane W. Reitz from about 1948-56(?) Jessie wrote Dad (Earl T. Fulkerson) -
Your Grandfather on your mother's side was Joel Plumlee (Mama's father) - Your grandmother's maiden name was Mary Jane Potter (Mama's mother). I can remember Great grandmother Potter - we used to stop at her house when on our way to Grandma Plumlee's and she'd always fix us hot biscuits and maple syrup. She died when I was about 7 years old - after we'd moved to Colorado. Great grandfather Potter died of cholera when mama was small.
They had only two children, our Grandma and Uncle Billie, (he died before we left Arkansaw (sic). I remember him - he used to come to our house.
And he'd always keep close watch over the oven - if Mama was making biscuits - and help himself when thebiscuits were almost done. He liked them before they were done through, and Grandma died in 1918 - after I came to Washington. Grandfather Plumlee had six or seven brothers. I remember going to Great Uncle Francis' home. (I guess he was out great Uncle - any way he was our Grandfather's brother. He had a nice home- nicely furnished and I always liked to go there.
Grandfather Joel Plumlee served in the Civil War, was shot and carried the ball (in his lung - under the shoulder blade)until he died years later - he died by inches - his lungs were slowily destroyed. In this modern age - he could probably have been saved - all those years of suffering & lived much longer- it seems I remember mama telling me that he was 57 when he died. He died a year or so before I was born - He raised a big family - his uncle Frank in Oklahoma,Mama (Nancy), Julia, Columbia, Will, Gertrude, Cora, Lester -
Grandfather Fulkerson served in the civil war also. He commenced his service as a recruiting officer & was then made Captain of the 45 &50 volunteers - he lived for years after the war - He taken his family to California when Dad was about 12 years old - lived there awhile but didn't like it - came back & settled in No. Ark/ His specialty was fruits and berries....
Mo River about 18 miles above Jefferson City - the same island where Mama was born - they had left Ark during the war &ran to this...? Another letter early spring 1957
Gladys said something about a Fulkerson was to visit you Sunday - tell your Dad that his Father was born in Saline Co. Mo. and that there are still Fulkersons on the old home site. Our Father's Father (grandfather) was James Fulkerson served as a captain in the Civil War. He lived in Calif and later had a wonderful fruit farm in Arkansas where he died in about 1892 or 1893.
Jessie called me "Nancy Girl" and wrote often. One special time was when I was 8 or 9 and first went to Scout camp. Jessie and her sister Gladys went to Flint, Michigan to pick up a 1954 Buick and came back through Colorado. I must have gotten a letter every day at mail call. Often she would send a little money.
letter Oct 1, 1975
" I've always wanted to go back to Arkansaw. Really feel like I could find our old home - of course I couldn't without help. I remember how heavily timbered it was ahd how we could hear the panther's screaming.
One morning Joel and I arrived at school early and the panthers were screaming so close that we were really scared. Joel really became nervous adn began trying to find some way to get into the school. I was pretty small at the time and he was always taking such good care of me.
I started to school the same day he did - bawled to go so my uncle taken me horseback & they let me stay - made me happy - I wasn't 5 years old until October.
I was the school mascot. But just had to be with Joel- but he loved me as much as I loved him. You could have found numerous cousins in Missouri.
The cousin that compiled our family tree lives in Missouri.
Earl received a letter from a lady living in Colton Wash who is a Fulkerson, wanting information about his family - well Earl passed the letter on to me to answer- This was last April and I just answered her a few days ago - she wrote right back wanting our cousins address in Mo.
She seems very determined- says she's shure (sic) we are related. more power to her.
Relatives ment a great deal to Dad one of my regrets is that I didn't take Dad to Mo. He would have enjoyed it so very much.
Two cousins from Mo have visited me since Dad passed away - he would have enjoyed seeing them....
Did want to say that our old address in Ark was Oak Grove and our town was Berryville, wonder if you hit either place on your trip.
Oct 24. ?
...
Dad didn't exactly keep track of relatives but would have enjoyed seeing some of his old time relatives. He didn't wonder very much. After his father returned after the Civil War he married again - sold his Missouri farm and moved to Calif.
Dad's mother died during the war he was left with relatives meanwhile.
Had a Negro mamie who he loved. So he was very small when they left for Calif and on to Ark when he grew up. He had 5 half brothers and sisters so he left home when he was about 20 looking for work . He went to New Mexico and worked as a cowboy on large cattle ranches. In those days they drove their cattle to market- quite an undertaking miles and miles- Indiana - fording rivers etc. He was there about 5 years then came home-bought his land and married Mom. Joel was born in their first hime, a log cabin & I was born in the new house, a lovely home. He was loved by everyone - seemed to have everything and fed lots of neighbors. Ark wasn't like it is now - there were many very poor people in those days.
Dad was in poor health when I was a child. The climate was partly to blame. The change to Colorado helped him a great deal. So Ark to Colo to Wash were his moves. He worked hard was very prosperous at one time.
April 7, 1976
Glad Ed's Father is better and it must be fun to visit the farm - I always liked the country- a good horse to ride with a few good horses and cows to chase - lots of fun
Feb 28,1979
Your Grandfather was a Farmer. So when we quit the Farm and moved to town he needed a helping hand & I was on the job. Your Grandmother was another Grand person. They would both have loved Earl's family and you girls would have loved them very much.
Our home in Ark was an outstanding place - we had everything - well stocked- 2 huge orchards - wonderful fruit & vegetables. I started school there before I was 5 years old. Father was on the school board and got permission for me to start so I was the school mascot and always had such a happy time - all that was needed was for me to keep up with my brother Joel who was 5 years older. When I was about 6 years old Father traded oour Ark home for a very good stock ranch in Colo. It was different - but we liked it after we got used to it. I always wished we could have kept this place,but the altitude was too high for Mother- She had asthma quite badly - Finally Father traded this for Colo Springs property.
Mother improved here just 15 miles from the ranch. I don't know what it is you want to know about the two states. Our ranch was close to the foothills with Old Pikes Peak in the background - was beautiful - Ark was heavily wooded - wild nuts everywhere - lots of wild animals - etc I could keep on and on but maybe this gives you some idea.
June 29,1977
...An old friend of mine 101 years old was buried here today. Her oldest daughter was Earl's first teacher. She taught 4th grade here for several years and she died several years ago. { Dad did not start school until later}
Nov 1, 1977
..I had only 37 kids coming begging last evening. -must have been too cold for them - some were very cute - there weren't many ghosts- when I was a kid we tried to look like ghosts and we'd get together and make candy etc, & of course thought we were having a wonderful time.
Jan 26 1980..
..I was pretty small when I was there with Mamma's family and there was quite a family - the youngest two used to come to our house for a week at a time - and we'd find plenty to do right at home. Mamma's youngest sister was just a year older than my oldest brother and mamas youngest sister was 10 years older than me and of course I worshipped her - her name was Cora - so when I played house my name was always Cora when she wasn't there . She could think up a lot of mischief and things to do.
Nov 6, 1982
(about women's getting the right to vote)
I don't recall if women were wild that they could, guess I was too busy with my work or just taken in stride how things were going. anyway no doubt most women were glad to be able to vote-
My mother didn't care too much. Her home and children were of great importance to her and always was.
Pictures of Jessie with horse were taken in WA State Jessie worked with the telephone company and kept the books She did bookkeeping for hardware firm in Davenport and Reardon Then she got a job in the courthouse in Davenport. She stayed 40 years and retired at age 70.
notes from Earl T. Fulkerson 12/88
|
1893 - 1988 (95 years)
