BIOGRAPHIES:  Capt. Ira A. FULLER, Pepin, Pepin Co., WI

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Submitted by Nance Sampson, Pepin Co. Archives File Manager on 19 November 2004
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**Posted for informational purposes only - submitter is not related to the
subject of this biography and has no further information.

Capt. Ira A. Fuller, Pepin, was born at Center Thompson, Ohio, May 12,
1849, and is a son of Dr. Joseph and Ruth (Burns) Fuller.  He came to
Pepin when six years old and attended the high school a part of the
time until seventeen years of age.  At sixteen he began life on the
river, but two years later he had the misfortune to break his leg which
disabled him for the balance of that season.  Not content to remain
idle during the winter, as is the custom with many river men, in the
fall of 1868 he organized a company of sleight-of-hand performers and
started on a tour of the country.  The enterprise was not a financial
success, however, and on reaching Rome, Ill., the company disbanded and
he walked to St. Louis and thence returned home.  In 1869 he went to
the pineries and scaled logs, which occupation he resumed the next
winter, but, accidentally shooting one of his fingers, he gave that up.
He was employed by the American Express company until spring. 
Continuing to follow the river in the season, he became a pilot in 1870
and captain in 1875.  He was the first licensed pilot and captain in
Pepin.

From time to time Capt. Fuller has been engaged in numerous
enterprises and speculations, which in most cases have been highly
successful.  In 1886-87 he conducted a grocery and feed store in Pepin,
also bought and shipped potatoes extensively.  In 1887-88 he carried on
a large restaurant and drug store and other enterprises in Minneapolis,
where he still continues to deal in real estate.  He was in charge of
the steamer "C. W. Cowles," in 1885-87, which netted him a handsome
profit.  The captain also takes an active interest in public
improvements, and helped to build the town hall at Pepin.  In 1887 he
discovered indications of iron ore in Pepin and adjoining counties, and
has given considerable time and attention to prospecting and developing
mines.  He owns one-eighth interest in the lands of the Wisconsin Iron
Company in Pepin, Pierce and Buffalo counties; is also president and
director of the Mammoth Iron Mining Company; president and secretary of
the Eureka Mining Company; and secretary and director of the Alma
Mining Company.  He has a fine collection of ores, geological specimens
and other relics and curiosities at his residence.  He has also
purchased the Forward lead and copper mine in the Black Hills.  He has
invented and patented a water gauge, indicator and alarm for
steamboats, which has been thoroughly tested and is being manufactured
under a royalty by a stock company at Newark, N. J.  He also
contemplates a factory for its manufacture at Pepin.

Capt. Fuller was married November 23, 1879, to Miss Kate Moore, and
they have five children:  Claude B., Major R., Ira Ford, Dolores and
Graydon.  He takes a lively interest in politics; was a republican
until 1880, since when he has voted with the democratic party.  He has
served Pepin as justice of the peace, trustee., and is now (1891)
president of the village.  He has also been sheriff of Pepin county. 
He is a member of the American Protective Association, the A. O. U. W.
and the Pepin Sporting club.

-Transcribed from the "Historical & Biographical Album of the Chippewa
Valley Wisconsin, 1891-2," pages 513-514.


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