Notes:

taken from history compiled by Ruth Richardson Kennedy and others.
He moved with his family to Saline County, Missouri in 1853. During the Civil War hw was an officer in the Union Army. He commenced his service as a recruiting offficer and then was made Captain of the 45th and 50th Volunteers.
He married first a Miller, who had a heart attack and died a few weeks after their marriage. His second wife was Elizabeth Zinn. They had two children John Thomas Fulkerson and an infant.
Rebel Quantrell and his band are said to have frightened the young wife so she would tell the whereabouts of her husband . She and the newborn baby soon died. Tom went back to his grandparents, Fredrick and Sarah Fulkerson, to live - or to his Zinn grandparents.
(Per Earl T. Fulkerson 12/88 :) Great Grandpa Fulkerosn was in the Civil War , starting as a recruiting officer and was captain of the 45th and 50th Volunteers.
James' third marriage was to Ellen Worthington I847 d. 189?. Ellen lived in Saline County, MO and was a friend of the Fulkerson family. (She probably lived at their home with a group of families banded together for protection).
In the late 60's or early 70's they moved to San Francisco and ran a hotel for several years. They became homesick for Arkansas and land.
Civil war
Missouri was North and Arkansas South
raiding parties
Great grandma died during Price's raid
Farms, land, character buy land
Berryville was an island in the White River. Parents retreated to Jefferson City during War and Jessie may have been born there. Birth certificate shows Jessie was born in Carroll City near Eureka Springs.
Plumlees lived there and developed a fruit drying process.
California period had property and a farm. (per E.T. Fulkerson 12/88}

Family/Spouse: Elizabeth Zinn. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Miller. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Ellen Worthington. Ellen was born in 1847 in Saline, Missouri, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

.
John Thomas Fulkerson was born October 9, 1862, in Salinas County, Mo..
As a young man he went to New Mexico as a cowboy. He spoke Spanish while there. He farmed two orchards in Arkansas, and traded for a stock ranch in Colorado, 15 miles north of Colorado Springs. The family moved to Colorado Springs where they owned various properties, including a block of buildings. In 1917, the family moved to Davenport, Washington where he ranched, worked as custodian in the county court house, and died in on January 1, 1950.
He had a stock ranch 15 miles north of Colorado Springs, He married Nancy Plumlee, in Arkansas, on Nov. 11, 1887. She was also born in Saline County, Mo, Feb 16, 1867, and died on June 1, 1934, in Davenport, Wash. They had five children.
Grandpa was tall. He called me " Blossom"
He was the son orphaned by the death of Elizabeth Zinn, and went to live with grandparents. His father remarried. They ran a hotel in San Francisco in the late 1860's - early 70's , then returned to Berryville to run 475 acre orchards. He left home early to be away from the new family. He returned for Nancy Laminda Plumlee. He said he was waiting for her to grow up to marry her, in 1887.
At 14, Grandpa left home to run a hotel (interview with Earl T.
Fulkerson 12/88) Returned to Arkansas. Homesick for Arkansas and the land.
Grandpa went to Texas, Mexico,and then to Arkansas to marry Nancy Plumlee 25 or 30. Then farmed in Arkansas for about 10 or so years. Gladys was born in Arkansas.
According to ETF, they farmed in Arkansas for about 10 or 12 years and moved to Colorado Springs to seek a healthy climate for Grandma (Nancy { Minda} ) Plumlee. He traded a stock ranch then irrigated farming, then moved to Colorado Springs. Houston was too high. La Junta, Colorado.
They moved to the Northwest to Creston Butte, WA to stock raising area.
Lots moved from Arkansas. The Plumlees lived with and off of Grandpa.
He had a 1/2 sister, Sarah (Sally) Rutter and her husband Arthur who lived in Davenport. Sarah?died before he got there. Her grave is in Davenport. THey moved in 18998 to Davenport .Friends practically raised in Colorado moved. Arthur had a brother or two. They had three children.
Tom finally moved to ? probably all dead (ETF)
Jim Rutter laid carpet , hung wallpaper
When Sally died, AA moved to Spokane and remarried.
Jum and Charles Rutter were really stepbrothers to Granpa. Sally was a step-sister
Jim was thefather of Lois who married a Gilkerson who lived in Grangeville.
Gilkerson had a grocery store in Grangeville, Idaho. The house burned down. All the family history that she had collected was lost. Her children died young.
Plumlee family mooched off grandpa in Colorado.
Great Grandma died during Price's raid
Berry ville was an island in the White River. Parents retreated to Jefferson City during War and Jessie may have been born there. Birth certificate shows Jessie born at Carroll Co, near Eureka Springs.
Plumlees lived near there
Developed fruit drying process

John married Nancy LaMinda (minda) Plumlee on 11 Nov 1887 in Oak Grove, Carroll, Arkansas, USA. Nancy (daughter of Joel Plumlee and Mary Jane Potter) was born on 16 Feb 1867 in Saline, Missouri, USA; died on 1 Jun 1934 in Davenport, Washington. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Sally Fulkerson

Notes:

favorite step-sister of my grandfather
her grave is in Davenport

Family/Spouse: Arthur Rutter. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried in Evergreen Cemetary, Colorado Springs, Colo. Killed in gold ore mining accident.

Family/Spouse: Fern Marshall. Fern was born in Cedar Rapids, Linn, Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Argie died at six months

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

Jessie married Jim Sanders about 1915 in Colorado, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Line 618 from GEDCOM File not recognizable or too long:
DEAT 2 PLAC Spokane Washington

Gladys was a Latin and English teacher and librarian in the Wilbur, Washington schools for many years. She went back to teaching after the death of her husband, and retired in the 60's. She then substitute taught all over the region and took up golf.
She loved to garden.
From early pictures, she seems to have done a lot of outdoor sports with her husband. She remained devastated by his sudden death She had taught earlier (1920's?) at Roosevelt School in Spokane, where her niece Joy Mewhinney has taught kindergarten in the 1990's.
An autobiography prepared for Miss Marguerite Cross (my first French teacher) for some organization.
Upon my granguation from high school in Colorado Springs, Colo,June 1917, I had earned the scholarship to the University of Colorado, but my parents thought I was too young to live away from home at that time, so I attended Colorado College in Colorado Springs.
At the end of that year, our family moved to Davenport, Washington, and I entered EWSC for the year 1918 plus its summer session. On Aug 2, 1918, I received my Normal School Elementary Diploma.
That school year of 1918, I began teaching departmental in grades 5,6,7, and 8 in Wilbur,WA . In those days, 8th grade graduates had to pass state examination and I fondly remember being notified that the highest examination grades in the state were attained by my students in all their subjects I had - geography, history,physiology,etc.
I was working for ? per month ?? at the larger town of Pasco, Wa for $100 per month to teach just the siixth grade appealed to me and I taught there the next two years. I then applied in Spokane and got a sixth grade position which I held for four years.
I recall it was there in Spokane where i first had the privilege and opportunity to vote in the state and national elections. I have always enjoyed every place I've ever taught, but I had met the one and only Stanley Breed, District Manager for the Washington Water Power Company in the Davenport area, so I was ready to retire - and that despite all the earlier urging in 1918 on the part of Dr. C.S. Kingston, my favorite teacher with the master mind, who had always urged me "Gladys, don't ever give up but go on to get a degree." I'm sure only Stan could have influenced me to give up on teaching.
I retired at the end of the school year , and we were married on June 154, 1924. Stan always said that was why the flags were flown everywhere on that (flag) day.
We lived at Davenport, when my husband was promoted to the larger district of Wilbur, WA. It has seemed rather odd to have Wilbur so woven into my existence. We lived in a rented house until we built our new home adn moved there in 1936. But that joy was short lived. On November 3, 1943, my husband, so young, hale and hearty, died instantly of his first heart attack.
The school soon, in November, was calling me to substitute. My first substitution was in grade two, and I'd never taught that low, but it was a joy. I remember the small son of friends in whose home I visited addressed me as "Gladys" for he was familiar with that name. I didn't let on at all, and he never again repeated that alleged offense. The school kept me busy substituting most of that year and I was hired for grade seven the next year. To me it was oddly interesting that I came back to the room where my same desk, used in my first year of teaching, was located -facilities used by Mrs. Rhinehardt.
Beginning that first summer when I was alone, I enrolled at the University of Washington to do as the learned Dr. Kingston had urged me - to earn my degree. It was the only thing I wanted to do, and I've sometimes hope Dr. Kingston knew I heeded his advice.
I was , of course, continually rehired in the grades until I had had my eight U of W summer sessions and had earned my B.A. degree inthe College of Education in August 19, 1949 (majoring in English and Library Science) and finished my fifth year credits on June 10,1950. Then I came back from that summer session to have the Superintendent of the Wilbur Schools, Walter Hitchcock, ask me to take a position in the high school instead of the grades.
English and Library Science had been my major fields so , after doing history, Latin,physical education, plus " what have you", I soon was the all-school librarian (setting up the library in our lovely new building), the head of the English Department,and advisor of the Girls' League for the next fourteen years, supervised and coached declamation, had P.E.,etc. My Latin student won the all-state competition in that subject, I've forgotten the year, but I didn't think a small school student had a chance. Also I handled the
competitive spelling matches and my girl student went to the top in Spokane's competition.
On June 6, 1965, I was given a marvelous retirement reception by the faculty. townspeople, and many students. Thereafter, I kept too busy to think of moving elsewhere. I've substituted in Wilbur, Almira, Grand Coulee, Coulee Dam, Nespelem, Omak, an was asked to sign bu the year at Creston and Omak. But I'd gone through with the disagreeable settling of retirement and didn't want to upset it. At Nespelem I had a long substitution setting up a high school library "from scratch", and having three helpers employed, and I was at Omak on the library, too. Also, I taught English in the night extension classes at the Moses Lake Community College at Grand Coulee. This later I decline the second year as winter driving was too foggy and hazardous. Anyway, my experience has included elementary, high school, and adult education classes, all of which I've enjoyed.
I still judge the declamation contests here and in neighboring towns, get remembered by my former Girl's League, have fun being included in class reunions, get Christmas pictures of the offspring of former studentss, etc. I have so many albums I feel I'll ultimately leave them to the local museum.
I've no idea what you expected in the way of an autobiography, but I'm sure you'll find mine long and tedious. Somewhere, I do remember
we were asked to send in a compilation of our teaching experiences, and, though I'm not sure where to send it, I've tried to fulfill the request, Sincerely, Gladys Breed

Gladys married Stanley Breed on 14 Jun 1924. Stanley died on 3 Nov 1943 in Wilbur, Washington. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Line 12 from GEDCOM File not recognizable or too long:
BIRT 2 PLAC Colorado Springs Colorado

Earl taught himself chemistry and learned to do radio in his basement.
He did not start regular attendance at school until his 8th year, because they lived out a ways on a ranch. He graduated as salutatorian (see speech).
His graduating class was small and lost several to a car accident at graduation time.
Earl graduated with two engineering degrees from Washington State University, in 1934 and 1935. He was both chemical and mechanical engineer. He worked supervising CCC men in Heppner Oregon and then joined the Soil Conservation Service, Department of Agriculture. He worked in Tacoma, Spokane, White Salmon, Everett, Sedro Woolley, Vancouver, Spokane / Seattle. He was, at retirement, the head of Flood Control for the State of Washington. He wrote a several volume evaluation of watershed for the state. He traveled a great deal in his work.
He served in the Navy Construction Battalion in WWII on Canton Island in the Pacific, purifying water.
On his 62nd birthday, Oct. 7, 1973, en route home after celebrating with sisters in Lincoln County, his car was struck by a drunk driver. He spent a month on a respirator and his pelvis was broken in five places. His lungs were damaged.
Isabel, his wife had multiple injuries and spent a long time in the hospital with shoulder, lung and arm injuries.
A year later, Earl retired. He and Isabel regained health and vigor.
He lives in Spokane.
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES May 23, 1929 Thursday Evening Salutatory Speech
Kind Friends,
You have come here to-night to listen indulgently to us, to wish us God-speed. Your presence adds imeasurably to our pleasure. Words are empty things.... often they fail to express what the heart would say....
but as a representative of this class of nineteen hundred and twenty-nine, I have this desire .... that every thought, word and act of mine will make you feel our sincere appreciation of your kindly interest.
To bid you "Welcome".
To you this may be a pleasant occasion. We hope to make it so and yet, at best, it will be one of passing interest. But to the class of 1929, assembled here to -night, this is a great occasion, one of the brightest in our lives,...one that will live long in our memories. It marks the attainment of a goal,....the closing of a period of years that are of the upmost importance in their influence upon our future careers.
We are proud of our class and yet, full well, we realize how small we are in the great scheme of things. Fortune has favored us with privilege and advantages. We realize the honor that is ours, yet we fully comprehend that it you.... our parents.... our teachers....the public.... who have made it possible. We are aware of the responsibility that is attendant upon that honor... and you to whom we owe so much, have a right to expect of us that we bear ourselves in such a manner as to reflect credit upon our training. We may not all do well... but our aim...is to do our best. May we look up and on, and merit your assistance and encouragement by our future accomplishment
There comes a measure of sadness when we reflect upon the severance of these happy class associations, but this goal is reached, we are looking forward to another milepost ahead. For us, to-night, in truth, is "Commencement" ... for we have not finished....we have just begun. We anticipate our entrance into you midst. May we be... eveb as you are here...tonight.... most heartily "WELCOME"

Line 6471 from GEDCOM File not recognizable or too long:
MARR 2 PLAC Tacoma Washington

Earl married Isabel Mary Lynch on 8 Feb 1941 in Tacoma, Pierce, Washington, USA. Isabel (daughter of Richard Montgomery Lynch and Catherine (kate)Marguerite Appleby) was born on 16 Aug 1915 in Tacoma, Pierce, Washington, USA; died on 2 Oct 1989 in Spokane, Spokane, Washington, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Friend of Gladys Fulkerson Breed who went to Cheney and stayed with Aunty McClellan.

Given Name is questionable; may have been Blanche.

Notes:

Agnes married and lived in Cheney Wa. They owned auto dealership/garage.
No children. Was well-known to the students.

Family/Spouse: Holter. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

picture of monument and grave in Rutter file

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.

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Line 107 from GEDCOM File not recognizable or too long:
BIRT 2 PLAC Sedro Woolley Washington

Line 110 from GEDCOM File not recognizable or too long:
DEAT 2 PLAC Sedro Woolley Washington

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]