DAVID S. FULTON. Few men are better known in Hanover township than is this gentleman, who is descended from an old and prominent Irish family, the first member of whom to set foot on American soil was John Fulton. This ancestor was born about the year 1768, in Ireland, where he received a good education, and came to America between 1790 and 1795. He landed in Philadelphia, Penn., remaining there for some time; and in 1795 was married to Jane Lockhard. She was born in 1769, and resided with a brother David, who was a merchant of Philadelphia. Soon after their marriage the young people moved to a farm in Maryland, where one son, James L., was born to them about 1796. They finally left Maryland, and crossing the mountains located on the home farm in Hanover township, then called Wimbleton, patented by William Campbell about 1796, and sold by Campbell to Morton, and by Morton to Fulton about 1802. Their cabin of logs stood intact for many years afterward, and some of the logs used in its construction are now utilized in a building on the farm of their grandson, David S. The children born to John and Jane Fulton after their arrival in Pennsylvania were as follows: Nancy, married to David McNary, Muskingum county, Ohio; Jane, wife of George Culley, Hanover township; Phoebe, Mrs. James Bradley, of West Virginia; David, a farmer of Hanover township, this county; Martha, wife of David Hays, Smith township; Mary, Mrs. John Dunbar, of Jefferson county, Ohio, died in Washington county, Penn., while visiting friends; Robert, a farmer of Hanover township; and Sarah, widow of Col. Samuel McGill, of Cross Creek township. The father prospered after his location on the farm in Hanover township, year after year adding to his possessions, until he became an extensive landowner. He was an ardent admirer of fine cattle, and took great pride in stock. When he first came to Hanover township, the conveniences for keeping stock were very limited. He constructed a crude feed-mill by making a hole or mortar in a rock in which the grain was ground by hand with a wooden pestle. He was known as the best and most careful stockman in this township. His cattle, when fat, were driven to Pittsburgh, where a butcher, named Taggart, slaughtered and sold the animals, holding the hide and tallow of each for his services and returning to Mr. Fulton the full price received for the meat. Mr. Fulton possessed an excellent judgement. Politically he was a Democrat, and in religion one of the leading members of the Associate Reformed Church of Harmon’s Creek, now the United Presbyterian Church of Paris. He died September 24, 1849. His wife died August 23, 1857. The remains of both husband and wife are buried in Paris cemetery. Their descendants number at the present time nine children, fifty-seven grandchildren, 179 great-grandchildren, or 245 in all. Some died in childhood, but the great majority grew to maturity. James L. Fulton, son of John and Jane Fulton, was born in 1796, in Maryland, and was but a young child when his parents came to this county. He was reared on the home farm, and obtained his education in the subscription schools, afterward learning the carpenter’s trade, and erecting many dwellings and barns. About the year 1829 he was married to Sarah Russell, who was born in 1804, a daughter of William and Nancy (Strain) Russell, of Smith township, this county. The young couple first located on a farm in the eastern part of Hanover township, and in 1850 moved to the old home place. Their children were born as follows: William, Jane (Mrs. Samuel Bigger, of Beaver county, Penn.), Samantha (wife of Rev. John R. May, a U. P. Minister of Cecil township), Rev. John Lockhard, D. D. (pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Allegheny, Penn.), David S. (whose name opens this sketch), James R., Robert A., Nancy E. (Mrs. Joseph Leeper, of Beaver county, Penn.) and Mary M. (wife of A. S. Dunbar, a farmer of Allegheny county). Of these children William, James R. and Robert A. died in youth. The first named was buried in Cross Creek cemetery, the others in the Paris cemetery. Mr. Fulton secured a practical education, and by good management, combined with business sagacity, became a prosperous citizen. In political matters he was a local adviser and counselor of the Democratic party, and held various offices in Hanover township to the satisfaction of his constituents. He was an elder and leading member in the U.P. Church at Paris for over fifty years, or until his death in 1878. In 1890 the wife and mother was laid to rest by his side in the Paris cemetery. David S. Fulton, born April 18, 1838, near Raccoon creek, in the eastern part of Hanover township, obtained an education at the Coventry and Hamilton schools, which was supplemented by a course at the Paris Academy. On November 23, 1864, he married Jane E. Wylie, who was born August 9, 1840, in Hancock county, W. Va. She was a daughter of Andrew and Amanda (Tarr) Wylie, her paternal grandfather was John Wylie, who came from Scotland in pioneer times, and settled in Hancock county. Seven children blessed the union: Andrew Wylie and Sarah R. teachers, Amanda T., James L., David C., Robert J. and John C. Mr. and Mrs. Fulton have always lived on the home place. Like his father and grandfather, David S. Fulton is very fond of fine stock, having been prominently identified with the breeding of shorthorn cattle. In addition to farming he gives some attention to the dairy business. He is an ardent reader, and fluent conversationalist. In politics he was a Democrat until the Civil war, when he joined the Republican forces, with which he has since been actively identified. He and his wife are leading members of the U.P. Church, and since 1865 he has served as elde.

Text taken from page 706 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed July 1997 by Barbara Bower of Yorktown, VA as part of the Beers Project. Published July 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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