FULLERTON, Oscar John 1849-1923

FULLERTON, CALKINS, MANN, ASKEW, MCWILLIAMS, BODELL, HALL, PARKER, JONES, BURNS

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 10/17/2013 at 21:55:53

[Waterloo Evening Courier, Wednesday, October 24, 1923, Waterloo, Iowa]

DR. FULLERTON, 74, DIES SUDDENLY AT LOS ANGELES HOME

Formerly Was Prominent Waterloo Physician: Succumbs to Gallbladder Affection.

Dr. O. J. Fullerton, who started practice at Raymond, Ia., about 40 years ago, died yesterday in a hospital, in Los Angeles, Cal., after a short illness, according to telegrams received here last evening by Mrs. Almer Parker, a sister, and Mrs. R. L. Hall, a stepdaughter.

Funeral services will be tomorrow, with burial there at the foot of a mountain. While here last summer on a visit Dr. Fullerton told his relatives that he knew of no more beautiful place for entombment than at the foot of a lovely mountain just out of Los Angeles.

Dr. Fullerton was 74 years old. He was taken ill about two weeks ago of an affection of the gall bladder and conveyed to a hospital. Prior to this illness he had been in good health.

Had Bought New Home - A tragic element of this unexpected death is found in the fact that Dr. Fullerton and his wife had moved into a fine new apartment building as their home only a week before he became ill. They bought the apartment in which they expected to live.

Surviving besides the widow, are two daughters, Mrs. Charles B. McWilliams, Los Angeles, and Mrs. Theodore Askew, San Antonio, Tex.; two step-daughters, Mrs. R. L. Hall, Waterloo, and Mrs. Edward Burns, La Crosse, Wis., and brothers and sisters as follows: Dr. P. J. Dupo, Ill.; Dr. K. M., dentist, Columbus, Ohio,; S. B., Erie, Pa., Mrs. Parker, Waterloo; Mrs. G. D. Frantz and Mrs. H. Shelhamer, Cambridge Springs, Pa.; Mrs. L. L. Jones, Portland, Ore.

There were 12 children in Dr. O. J. Fullerton's family, six boys and six girls. Two brothers and two sisters are dead.

He was born March 8, 1849, In French Creek Valley, near Cambrdige, Pa., of Scotch and German parentage. He worked on the home farm until 20 and later studied medicine at Miller, Pa. In 1877 he came to Iowa and continued his studies at the University of Iowa, graduating with the class of 1884. Dr. Fullerton was without means and worked his way thru the medical school. When he graduated he was "broke". He went to Raymond and borrowed money to buy a horse and buggy.

It was during the short time he was at Raymond that Dr. Fullerton underwent many hardships in his wide country practice. This was especially true in the winter when the cold was bitter and the snow was deep. One winter he was stuck in the drifts many times and had to continue his journey on foot. In the spring breakup, unable to drive his horse thru the soft drifts, he would abandon his rig and travel on foot.

Because of his success in his practice his patients grew in numbers and he soon was on the road to a more lucrative income. He practiced at Raymond in his senior year, which was then permitted by the state board of health. He came to Waterloo in 1884.

While in Waterloo Dr. Fullerton pained prominence in professional, church, chautauqua and fraternal
circles. He was successful in amassing considerable property and was one of the organizers of the Security Savings Bank. He was a prime mover in the organization of the Waterloo Chautauqna assembly and it was due to his efforts more than to any one's else that Chautauqua Park was purchased and the assembly developed into a paying project.

Dr. Fullerton was well known in Masonic circles and his family was prominent in Grace M. E. Church. He perfected certain remedies and wrote articles for medical journals.

A few years ago Dr. Fullerton retired and moved to California, where he made extensive investments.

On Dec. 22, 1869, Dr. Fullerton married Mary I. Calkins, a native of Pennsylvania. To them three children were born. The son, Corliss, died in his youth. Mrs. Fullerton died Nov. 9, 1902, and Dr. Fullerton was married to Mrs. Caroline Mann of Waterloo in 1902.

Dr. Fullerton was sympathetic as a physician, helpful as a friend, public-spirited and interested in every movement tending to uplift humanity. He built the Fullerton apartments and did much to develop Waterloo.

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[History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and it's people, 1915]

O. J. FULLERTON, M. D.

It would be difficult to determine the line of greatest usefulness in the life of Dr. O. J. Fullerton, so active has he been in many fields of labor which have had a direct bearing upon the welfare and progress of the community. He established his home in Waterloo in 1884 and through the intervening period has engaged in the practice of medicine and the conduct of business affairs of importance, at the same time finding opportunity to cooperate in many movements which have been elements in the general development of the city and in the advancement of its educational, social and moral welfare. As a physician and surgeon he enjoys a reputation that has made him known throughout the state and his standing in professional circles is indicated by the fact that he has been honored by the Iowa Medical Association with the office of chairman of the surgical section.

Dr. Fullerton is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in French Creek valley, near Cambridge, on the 8th of March, 1849. He is descended in the paternal line from Scotch ancestry and the family was founded in America by his grandfather, who was born in Glasgow and was married in the north of Ireland ere he crossed the Atlantic to the new world and took up his abode in Pennsylvania.

His son, David L. Fullerton, father of Dr. Fullerton, was born in the Keystone state and as the years passed became recognized as a progressive and prosperous farmer and an enterprising business man. He wedded Elizabeth Stokes, who was born of German lineage.

Their son, Dr. Fullerton, spent his youthful days upon the home farm, early assisting in the tasks of plowing, planting and harvesting and in other labors incident to the care of the crops. The winter months were devoted to the acquirement of a district-school education and thus the years went by until he reached the age of twenty. He began preparation for a professional career when, in 1872, he entered upon the study of medicine at Miller, Pennsylvania. Five years later he came to Iowa and entered the State University at Iowa City. He could not give his undivided time to his college course because of the necessity of providing for his own support, but he made the best possible use of his opportunities and was graduated with the class of 1884. Throughout his professional career he has continually advanced. He reads broadly, thinks deeply and carries his investigations far and wide into the realms of medical science. He went abroad for further study in 1891 and pursued a special course in the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and at Birmingham, England. In the meantime he had located for practice in Waterloo, where he has made his home continuously since 1884.

In 1896, Dr. Fullerton established the Fullerton Electric Cure for chronic and long-standing diseases and conducted the cure until 1903, when he resumed the general practice of medicine and surgery after completing a post-graduate course in New York city. As he has continued in the general practice of medicine he has become more and more firmly established in public regard as an able physician and surgeon and has contributed valuable papers to the literature of the profession, including an article on "Conservative Surgery of the Fingers," which appeared in the Medical Record of 1886; "Chloroform Anaesthesia," read before the Austin Flint Medical Society in 1891; his "President's Address," delivered before the Cedar Valley Medical Society in 1892; and his "Surgical Report," given in the transactions of the Iowa State Medical Society in 1892. The above indicates something of his professional connections and in addition he is a member of the Tri-State Medical Society.

As the years have gone on Dr. Fullerton has prospered as the result of his professional skill, his business ability, his wise investments and judicious management. He became one of the founders of the Security Savings Bank of Waterloo, of which he was a director for a number of years, and he is now a stockholder in the First National Bank. He has become heavily interested in real estate and is one of the largest tax payers of the city. He erected the Fullerton Flats, at the corner of Fourth and Elm Streets, and from this property derives a substantial annual income.

On the 22d of December, 1869, was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Fullerton and Miss Mary Isadore Calkins, a native of Pennsylvania, born January 6, 1849. She was but fifty-three years of age when she passed away in Waterloo, November 9, 1902, her death being deeply regretted by her many friends as well as by her immediate family because of her many lovable traits of character and kindly spirit.

There were three children bom of that marriage: Martha Inez, now the wife of Dr. Theodore B. Askew, a specialist in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, practicing at San Antonio, Texas; Eda Irene, the wife of Charles H. McWilliams, of Los Angeles, California; and Corliss Lee Marne, who died at the age of eleven years. Ramona McWilliams is the Doctor's only grandchild. In 1904, Dr. Fullerton was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Caroline Mann, of Waterloo, who by her former marriage had two children: Charlotte Mann, who is a graduate of Mount St. Joseph College of Dubuque and is now teaching music; and Elizabeth Mann, who will graduate from the same school with the class of June, 1915.

Dr. Fullerton is a member of the Methodist church and fraternally is a Mason, having membership in the Knights Templar Commandery and in the Mystiv Shrine. His public spirit has been again and again manifested in his hearty cooperation with movements for the general good. He assisted in purchasing Cedar River park and was one of the organizers of the Waterloo Chautauqua Association, of which he served as superintendent for three years and as president for six years. He is a most generous man, giving with an open hand to charitable and benevolent projects. He has never regarded the accumulation of wealth as the sole aim of his life. On the contrary, as he has prospered he has aided freely with his means in the support of those measures and projects which tend to advance the interest and welfare of the county and city. He seems to readily recognize just what can be accomplished for the benefit and upbuilding of Waterloo and he heartily cooperates in every movement toward that end. The same sound judgment has characterized his efforts in business and professional circles, placing him in the enviable position which he now occupies as one of the successful residents of Black Hawk County.

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His wife's obit (Mary Isadore Calkins Fullerton) mentions two daughters, Mrs. T. B. Askew and Mrs. C. V. Bodell

Black Hawk Obituaries maintained by Karen De Groote.
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