JAMES HENRY FULWIDER

View Portrait of Mr. & Mrs. J. H. Fulwider

To the untiring efforts and unfaltering perseverance of her pioneers Iowa owes her transformation from wild prairie land into one of the richest and most productive farming sections of the United States, and prominent on the list of old settlers is the name of James Henry Fulwider, who has been a resident of Cedar county for more than seven decades, and throughout that period has been closely identified with the work of development and improvement which has been carried forward within its borders.

One of Virginia’s native sons, his birth occurred on the 30th of May, 1832, in Greenbrier county, now a part of West Virginia. His parents, John and Sally (Kincaid) Fulwider, were also native of the Old Dominion, the father’s birth occurring in Augusta county in June, 1797, and the mother’s in Bath county, March 15, 1801. They were married in Greenbrier county and in 1836 left Virginia and removed to Champaign county, Ohio, where they made their home for nearly three years. They next removed to Missouri but remained only a few months in that state, after which they came to Cedar county, Iowa, arriving in December, 1839, and here their remaining days were spent, the mother’s death occurring in 1843, while the father survived until September 24, 1880. In their family were nine children, as follows: Allie, the deceased wife of James Jeffers; Anthony, residing in Sugar Creek township; Elizabeth, the deceased wife of Jacob Ridenour; James Henry, of this review; Harriet, now deceased; Mary, who wedded Jacob Ridenour after the death of her sister Elizabeth and who has also passed way; Eliza, the deceased wife of Isaac Pletcher; Amanda, who married Silas Hardman of Grandview, Iowa; and Sarah Virginia, who has passed away.

James Henry Fulwider was a little lad of seven years when the family arrived in Cedar county and amid the conditions which existed during the pioneer epoch in the history of this county he spent his youthful days. With the other members of the family he shared in the hardships and privations incident to life on the frontier and assisted his father in the difficult task of opening up a new farm. At any early age he began breaking prairie, driving four and six yokes of oxen, and while thus engaged broke a large amount of land, consisting of both prairie and hazel brush. Later he became identified with threshing, operating a thresher for thirty seasons, and in the meantime, in 1854, met with an accident while running the machinery which cost him the loss of his right leg. Nothing daunted, however, by this physical handicap, he continued in the threshing business for some time with most gratifying success. Subsequently, however, he took up general farming and with the passing years so prospered in his undertakings that he became the owner of four hundred acres of land, all in one body. Much of this, however, he has since given to his children, and he now makes his home on a tract of one hundred and sixty acres, eighty acres of which is located on section 32, Rochester township, and constitutes the old homestead, while the other half lies on section 33, Center township. The place is in excellent condition, the fields having been brought under a high state of cultivation and all improvements thereon have been made by Mr. Fulwider. With the energy and perseverance characteristic of the old pioneers he has carried on his agricultural interests, and his well directed efforts during the many years of his connection with farming have been crowned with a success which clearly indicates the ability which he has displayed in this field of activity.

In 1861 Mr. Fulwider was united in marriage to Miss Martha E. Barclay, who was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, on the 18th of August, 1843, a daughter of John and Eleanor (McCracken) Barclay. The parents were also natives of that county, the father’s birth occurring on the 9th of February, 1808, and the mother’s on May 27, 1811. The latter passed away in Cumberland county when the daughter was but twenty months old, after which the father moved to Medina county, Ohio. There he remained until the daughter was ten years of age, when he went to Mount Vernon, Linn county, Iowa, making that his home for three years. Later he came to Cedar county, where his remaining days were spent, his death occurring in Center township on the 18th of January, 1898. Had he lived until the 9th of February following he would have reached his ninetieth year. He had been a miller in early life, but after his arrival in Iowa he became identified with agricultural pursuits here. He was again married after the death of his first wife, by whom he had six children, and by his second union were born eight children. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Fulwider was blessed with three children, as follows: Eliza Ella, the wife of Thomas Wirick, of Englewood, California; John B., a farmer of Rochester township, who, however, is residing temporarily in Mount Vernon, there educating his three sons and three daughters; and Howard Anthony, who married Minnie E. Hestwood and makes his home with his father.

Mr. Fulwider’s religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church of South Bethel. He has always been a faithful, active worker in the church, serving as trustee and steward, and his life record has ever been in harmony with its teachings. In his fraternal relations he belongs to Golden Rule Lodge, No. 24, A. F. & A. M., at Rochester, and to Alhambra Lodge, No. 8, I. O.O.F. , at Tipton, and is in hearty sympathy with the principles of brotherly love and helpfulness which underlie those orders. Interested as all American citizens should be in the political situation of the country, he has thoroughly informed himself concerning the questions and issues of the day and gives stalwart support to the democratic party. He has filled most of the township offices and has also been called to several county offices, all of which he has declined. Connected with the history of Cedar county since its early formative period, he has ever nobly assisted in establishing and maintaining the material interests, legal status and moral welfare of his community, and his life record has become inseparably interwoven with the history of this section of the state, being numbered among Cedar county’s most honored and valued citizens.