FULLER, George H.

FULLER, MORDOFF, STOEKWELL, GUTH

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/4/2014 at 07:11:41

HISTORY of CERRO GORDO COUNTY, IOWA
WHEELER, J.H. Vol. II. Pp. 789-91. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago. 1910

BIOGRAPHY ~ GEORGE H. FULLER

George H. Fuller, president of the Farmers' State Bank of Rockwell since its organization in 1892, is also an extensive property owner, owning as he does, about six hundred acres in the vicinity. He has been a useful citizen for nearly thirty years, having come here in 1882 from the state of Illinois. Mr. Fuller was born in Geneseo Valley, New York, in October, 1845, his father. Seymour Fuller and his mother before her marriage Eliza Mordoff. The former was born in Vermont in 1817 and died in Belvidere, Boone county, Illinois, in 1897. The mother's birthplace was the state of New York, she was born about 1822, her demise occurring in 1888, The father began his career as a farmer in New York, but in 1846 concluded to cast his fortunes with the new west and came with his family to Illinois. They came by the lakes to Chicago and thence drove through to Belvidere. The head of the house had come previously and had purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land from the government at a dollar and a quarter an acre. They were among the first settlers in that part of the country and quite the first to go on to the prairie to locate. A frame house was constructed with some difScnilty and the family moved into it. In those days there was plenty of wild game which helped to solve the problem of livelihood. The father broke the sod, constructed the necessary buildings for stock and so forth and he and his wife lived upon their prairie homestead until their death. They were Baptists and the father voted the Republican ticket. There were four children besides Mr. Fuller; James A., is deceased; Charles E., resides in Washington D. C, where he represents his district in the United States Congress; Du Fay A., is a citizen of Belvidere, Illinois; and May E., is the wife of Prank S. Stoekwell of Belvidere.

George H. Fuller received his education in the public schools of Belvidere, and remained at home, assisting upon his father's farm until the attainment of his majority. When he first left the home roof he went to Waverly, Iowa, clerking in a store there for a time and then going on to Dubuque where he was engaged in a similar capacity for two years. In 1870 he removed to Thayer, county, Nebraska, and later to Webber county, Kansas, taking up claims in both places and selling them. In the course of four or five years he returned to Illinois where he remained for a time. As previously mentioned Mr. Fuller took up his residence in Rockwell in 1882 and for two years was occupied in the grocery business. For the next eight years he engaged in various lines of business and in 1892 when the State Bank of Rockwell was organized he was elected president, which position he has filled to the present time. He is a friend of good education and served on the school board for a great many years. He is a loyal adherent of the Democratic party and enjoys membership in the I. 0. 0. F.

The date of the marriage of Mr. Fuller is 1886, the lady to become his wife being Miss Ella M. Guth, a native of Woodstock. They are the parents of four children. Du Fay D., is a graduate of the Drake Law School of Des Moines; Linn G., is a sophomore at Grinnell College; Catherine May is a graduate of the Sacred Heart Academy of Rockwell; and George E., attends the Rockwell high school. All the members of the family belong to the Congregational church with the exception of Mr. Fuller and he contributes liberally to its support.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014