My Genealogy Hound

NICHOLAS HOUX FULKERSON. Prominent among the leading farmers and prosperous citizens of Johnson County, may be found the name of the gentleman of whom this sketch is written, who is quoted among the former as an influential citizen and a first-class agriculturist. His home is situated in township 46, range 27, where he owns twelve hundred acres of valuable land. He is descended from one of the oldest and best known families in the state, and was born in Johnson County, about a mile and a-half southwest of Columbus, on the 8th of April, 1842. He is one of the five surviving members of a family of ten children, whose parents were James Monroe and Elizabeth C. (Houx) Fulkerson.

His father, Dr. Fulkerson, was born March 15, 1811, in Virginia, but removed with his parents to Tennessee when only a few months old. They later came to Missouri, settling in Tabo Grove, Lafayette County. At this time the Doctor was a young man of eighteen years and had chosen the profession of a physician. He had previously studied with Drs. Stout and Harris in Tennessee, and after arriving in Lafayette County continued his studies under Dr. Ward. In 1830 he went to St. Charles County, where, with Dr. Lay, he studied and practiced, making his home with his uncle, Isaac Fulkerson, who was one of the first pioneer settlers of St. Charles County, arriving there in 1819, before Missouri was made a state.

After qualifying himself to practice. Dr. Fulkerson opened an office at Dursts Bottom, St. Charles County, and began his professional career. Desiring to more fully complete his medical studies, he attended a series of lectures in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1831 and 1832. He volunteered for the Black Hawk War, but becoming ill was unable to serve. He was so bad that the doctors gave him up and his shroud was ordered by a man who died a short time later and was buried in it. The Doctor recovered and remained at Dursts Bottom until 1834, when he came to Johnson County, making his home with Nicholas Houx, one of the pioneers of the county. He later married that gentleman’s daughter and settled on the old homestead.

The Doctor’s father was unable to assist him in any way, and he was thus thrown upon his own resources, but this developed in him both energy and self-reliance, which afterward were numbered among his chief characteristics. For three successive terms he represented his county in the State Legislature, being the first to be honored with that important trust. In 1840 he was chosen Director of the Lexington Bank and Assignee of the bankrupts of Johnson County. He became a heavy landed proprietor, owning at the time of his death twenty-four hundred acres of land in this county, although during the war he lost quite a little property, as he was also a slave-holder. Shortly prior to his death he removed to Warrensburg, where his last days were spent, his death occurring in 1886,

Mr. Fulkerson, whose name stands at the head of this record, was given the advantage of a thorough education. After attending the common schools, he was for two years at Chapel Hill College, and the following year at the Columbia State University. He then entered the St. Joe College, where he also remained for a year. After completing his literary education, he decided to follow the profession of his father, and in 1860 began reading medicine under the tutorship of Dr. P. P. Fulkerson, of St. Joe, one of that city’s prominent physicians, and an uncle of our subject.

Until the breaking out of the Civil War, Mr. Fulkerson was an enthusiastic student, but being loyal to his training, he enlisted in Company E, Fifth Missouri Regiment, under General Price, while the regiment was commanded by Col. James McCowan, and the company by Capt. J. V. Cockrell. During his service he was twice wounded, once at Lexington, Mo., and afterward at Corinth, Miss., where he was taken prisoner and confined until able to be sent to the front and exchanged. The last year of the war he spent in freighting on the plains.

After returning home his father’s losses caused Mr. Fulkerson to give up the study of medicine and begin farming, which he followed in Johnson County for four years. He then engaged in the Texas cattle business, which he continued very successfully for eight years, and on the expiration of that time was instrumental in forming a company and stocking a cattle ranch in Kansas. Subsequently he was chosen manager of the same, which he conducted for three years, when the price of cattle declined so rapidly that the business ceased to be profitable and was discontinued. He then returned to his Missouri farm, which he operated until 1883, when he removed to Warrensburg in order to let his children attend the State Normal School. For six years he there resided, but during the time continued to manage his farm, returning to the same in 1889, where he has since lived. He has been unusually successful in life, making money rapidly, and now has twelve hundred acres of rich and arable land.

On the 25th of December, 1866, Mr. Fulkerson led to the marriage altar Miss Martha A. F. Fulkerson, a daughter of John H. and Henrietta (Ewing) Fulkerson, early pioneers of Lafayette County. She is a lady of rare attainments and has made their home a model one. To them have been born six children, of whom five survive, and are as follows: Frederick M., a leading and successful dentist of Bates County, Mo., who married Miss Minnie Logan, of Warrensburg, and has one child; John H., a prominent young physician of Columbus, Johnson County, who has the prospect of a bright future before him; Nicholas H., who completed his education at the Missouri Valley College of Marshall, Mo., and is a young man of twenty-two years, who has chosen the life of a farmer for his future career; Reuben P., a young man of eighteen, now attending the State Normal, in which he is fitting himself for one of the professions; and Elizabeth Ewing, a charming little miss of ten summers, still attending the common schools.

Mr. Fulkerson’s political affiliations are with the Third party, and he takes a very active interest in political matters. He is a consistent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and is ever foremost in religious work. Being a native of Johnson County, he is widely known, and those who have known him from boyhood are numbered among his stanchest friends, while he has the respect and confidence of all.