Bios: Jehiel Fuller: from Wilkes Barre, Luzerne County, PA

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History of Henry County Illinois, Henry L. Kiner, Volume II, Chicago:
The Pioneer Publishing Company, 1910


JEHIEL FULLER

Jehiel Fuller, one of the leading farmers of Wethersfield Township, is
enjoying a substantial measure of success resulting from close
application and careful management of his business affairs.  He was born
March 29, 1853, on the farm which is still his home.  His father, Jehiel
Fuller, was a native of Northmoreland, Pennsylvania, but resided
principally at Wilkes Barre until his removal to the west.  He was a
direct descendant in the seventh generation of Edward Fuller, who came
to America on the Mayflower from Redenhall, of the County of Norfolk,
England.  He and his wife died soon after reaching the new world and
their son Samuel who came with his parents on the Mayflower became the
progenitor of the family in America.  From the same ancestor came Chief
Justice Melville W. Fuller, of the Supreme Court.  Jehiel Fuller
continued his residence in the Keystone state until 1839, when he cam to
Illinois and located on the farm which is now the home of his son and
namesake, having taken up the claim the previous year.  He was one of
the earliest settlers in the county and aided in the reclamation of the
wild land for the purpose of civilization.  With characteristic energy,
he broke the sod and tilled the fields, devoting his remaining days to
general agricultural pursuit and adding to his possessions until he
acquired three hundred and thirty-four acres in Wethersfield Township
and just across the line in Stark County.  He was a very public-spirited
man and took a keen interest in all local affairs.  He died July 4,
1871, at the age of sixty-five years, while his wife survived until
September 10, 1892.  She bore the maiden name of Emiline Felton and was
a native of New York State, born May 15, 1813.  They were married
January 31, 1839, at Peru, Huron County, Ohio.  Mr. and Mrs. Fuller were
active members of the Wethersfield Congregational Church and both were
highly esteemed for their many excellent traits of heart and mind.
Their son Jehiel was the seventh in order of birth in a family of eight
children, three of whom are living, the oldest being Mrs. Helen
Maxfield, of Cincinnati, Ohio, while the brother, Baxter L., is a
well-known resident of Henry County.

Educated in the district schools, Jehiel Fuller afterward remained upon
the home farm and has since made it his place of residence with the
exception of the season of 887 which he spent at St. Edward, Boone
County, Nebraska, where he then owned a tract of land.  He was eighteen
years of age at his fatheršs death at which time he assumed charge of
the farm and has since conducted it.  Eighty acres were inherited by his
older brother, Baxter, but he assumed the management of the remaining
two hundred and fifty-four acres, and upon reaching his majority he and
his brother bought out the interest of the other heirs, Jehiel Fuller
securing two hundred acres.  Subsequently he sold his brother twenty
acres and bought eighty acres adjoining, so that he now has a farm of
two hundred and sixty acres.  The land is rich and arable and returns to
him substantial harvests as a reward for the care and labor he has
bestowed upon it.  He has also remodeled and enlarged the home, has
built all of the barns and other outbuildings now upon the place, and
has made various improvements, equipping the farm with the most modern
machinery to facilitate the work carried on.  He has given his attention
largely to stock-raising, principally handling good market cattle, hogs
and sheep.  He is also interested to some extent in farming lands in
Colorado and Texas and he has various business interests in Toulon,
Illinois, and elsewhere.

On the 4th of October, 1876, Mr. Fuller was married at Saxon, Illinois,
to Miss Kitty Ellen Green, a daughter of Champion K. and G. A. Green,
then of Wethersfield Township, later of Logan County, Colorado, but now
making their home with Mr. And Mrs. Fuller, to whom have been born three
children:  Helen Beatrice, born February 9, 181, Ethel Inez, August 6,
1884; and William Green, born May 19, 1891.  The last named is attending
Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, while the daughters are
graduates of the academy at Toulon and of Hedding College, at Abingdon,
Illinois.  The son is also a graduate of Toulon Academy.

In politics Mr. Fuller is a Republican but not strongly partisan and has
never been an office seeker.  He has, however, been called by his fellow
townsmen to serve in several local offices.  He was supervisor of
Wethersfield Township for twelve consecutive years and school director
for many years.  He belongs to the Saxon Methodist Episcopal Church in
which he has served as trustee and in other offices, while for many
years he has been superintendent of the Sunday school.  He was a
delegate from the central Illinois conference to the general conference
of the Methodist Episcopal Church held at Baltimore in May, 1908.  His
wife and family are also active members of the church and Mrs. Fuller
has been a member of the choir, a teacher in the Sunday school and an
officer of the Epworth League for a number of years.  The cause of
education finds in Mr. Fuller a stalwart champion.  He is a man of
studious nature and has found his chief recreation in reading and
travel.  His interest is always concentrated in his farm, his church and
his home, and he is one of the honored and representative citizens of
Wethersfield Township.

BAXTER FULLER (three pictures of family members)

Baxter Fuller, who is the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres on
Section 35, Wethersfield Township, this county, and forth acres in Stark
County, and another of one hundred and sixty acres in Galva Township,
leases most of his land at the present time, cultivating only a small
portion himself.  He was born on the old homestead place on Section 35,
Wethersfield Township, his natal day being March 29, 1845.  His parents,
Jehiel and Emeline Fuller, were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio,
respectively and were married in the latter state.  The first
representatives of the family in this country came to the new world on
the Mayflower.  Jehiel Fuller, who made his way to Henry County about
1838, took up his abode among the earliest settlers of Wethersfield
Township and locating on Section 35, there successfully carried on his
farming operations until called to his final rest about 1865, when he
had attained the age of sixty-five years.  Unto him and his wife were
born eight children, three of whom are yet living, as follows:  Baxter,
of this review; Jehiel, and Mrs. Helen Maxfield, of Cincinnati, Ohio.

In early life Baxter Fuller enjoyed the educational advantages afforded
by the district schools of his home locality.  At the time of the Civil
War he espoused the Union cause and for six months did duty as a member
of Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteer
Infantry.  When he had attained his majority his father gave him eighty
acres of land on the west quarter of Section 35, Wethersfield Township,
where he erected the necessary buildings and made his home until 1895.
About 1892 he purchased a tract of eighty acres adjoining this farm on
the east and built thereon a new residence of eight rooms with all
modern conveniences, including an acetylene gas plant.  In 1895 he took
up his abode in that dwelling and has continually extended the
boundaries of his farm by additional purchase until it now comprises two
hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land.  Until four years
ago he was actively engaged in the operation of this large farm but now
leases the greater part of the land and cultivates only a small tract,
which he devotes principally to the raising of corn and garden truck.
In addition to his agricultural interests he has always given
considerable attention to the raising of stock, keeping on hand from
twenty-five to forth head of cattle, eight or ten horses and also some
hogs.  He likewise has a quarter section of land in Galva Township which
he rents, and his wife is the owner of a tract of one hundred acres on
Section 34 and 33, Wethersfield Township.  Formerly Mr. Fuller was also
the owner of farming lands in Stark County, this state, and in
Nebraska.  The success which he now enjoys is entirely the result of his
own well directed labor and enterprise and he is accounted one of the
substantial and progressive citizens of his native county.

On the 14th of September 1869, at Toulon, Illinois, Mr. Fuller was
joined in wedlock to Miss Mary A. Peterson, a daughter of Jonas and
Martha Peterson, of Wethersfield Township.  Unto Mr. And Mrs. Fuller
have been born three children, namely:  Arthur, who is thirty-eight
years of age and resides at home; May, the wife of Charles Broughton, an
agriculturist of Wethersfield Township; and Trella, a maiden of fourteen
who is at home.

Mr. Fuller is a stanch advocate of the Prohibition Party and an active
worker in its ranks, believing that the liquor traffic is the worst evil
with which our country has to contend.  For four years he capably served
as justice of the peace and has advanced the cause of education as a
school director, acting in the latter capacity for some years.  His
religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Saxon Methodist
Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee and in which he served as
class leader for many years or until his recent resignation.  For some
time he also acted in the capacity of steward.  He is well known
throughout the county where his entire life has been passed and where he
has so directed his efforts as to win the respect and confidence of his
fellowmen.