Columbia-Lane-Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Fullerton, William J. November 13, 1859 - 
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Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com February 14, 2011, 12:50 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 924 - 925
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     WILLIAM J. FULLERTON.  Among the old and honored residents of Columbia 
county, Oregon, is numbered William J. Fullerton, who through nearly three 
score and ten years has been identified with this section of the country. He 
has led an active and industrious life, has been fairly successful in his 
business affairs and is now retired, enjoying well earned leisure. He was born 
in a log cabin near Warren, Oregon, on the 13th day of November, 1859, and is 
a son of Robert Sloan Fullerton and Almyra (Post) Fullerton. His father was 
born in Pike county, Missouri, March 1, 1824, and in 1852 crossed the plains 
in a train of ox teams with Uncle Billy Watts.

     William J. Fullerton received his educational training in the public 
schools at Warren and Scappoose and old Columbia City Academy. In 1874, when 
fifteen years old, he went overland with a team and wagon, to California in 
company with B. M. Watts, and for two years worked on a stock ranch in 
Eldorado county. He returned on the steamship "Ajax" to Portland in January, 
1877, and afterward engaged in looking after his father's farm and improving 
fifty acres of land which his father gave him. This land was located near 
Warren and he devoted his attention thereto until 1885, when he went to Baker 
City, Oregon, and engaged in gold mining for one summer. He spent the 
following winter on his place at Warren, but in the spring again engaged in 
mining, which he followed until the fall of 1887, when he returned to his 
ranch and continued to farm the same. In February, 1889, he opened a general 
merchandise store at Warren and also reestablished the post office which had 
been discontinued when the Northern Pacific had established its night mail 
service. In the meantime a post office by the name of Warren had been 
established in Eastern Oregon, so that when the post office was re-
established, Mr. Fullerton gave it the name of Gillton, after James Gill, who 
had donated seven acres to the Northern Pacific for depot grounds. He ran the 
store and served as postmaster for two years and then, selling the business, 
went to Eldorado county, California. A year later he returned to Oregon, 
locating at Eugene, where he bought a home and retired. However, he was not 
satisfied with an idle life and a year later sold his home and returned to the 
ranch near Warren, which he ran until 1900, when he sold out and went to 
Portland, where he bought a home and engaged in the insurance business. In 
1905 he returned to Warren and settled on a part of the land which he had 
inherited from his father's estate and here he has resided to the present time.

     In 1888, Mr. Fullerton was united in marriage to Miss Ines Weston, who 
was born in Kansas. Politically Mr. Fullerton has always affiliated with the 
democratic party and has shown a deep interest in public affairs. He served 
four years, 1909 to 1912, inclusive as deputy assessor of Columbia county, 
Oregon, and also four years as a member of the board of county commissioners. 
Mr. Fullerton was elected county judge of Columbia county in 1918 and was duly 
qualified and served three months, when his election was contested and he was 
counted out on a technicality, but in 1920 he was elected on the democratic 
ticket as county commissioner and served for four years, although nominally 
Columbia county is republican three to one. He has also been the democratic 
candidate for the state legislature. He is a member of Avon Lodge, No. 62, 
Knights of Pythias, at St. Helens, and St. Helens Lodge No. 117, I. O. O. F., 
in which he has passed through all the chairs; the Daughters of Rebekah; and 
the Pythian Sisters. He is a man of strong character, sound business ability 
and sincere purpose and is held in the highest esteem.

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