Thomas Burton Fullerton, better known as Tommy or T. B. was born May 27, 1887, in Decatur Co, north of Grand River, Ia. He was the secod son of George Washington and Lenora (Palmer) Fullerton and, along with his two brothers and four sisters, grew to adulthood in the "Tennessee Community." As a young boy, he was affiliated with the Mt. Zion Christian Church and was a regular member of the church choir.

From statistical records we believe that the Fullertons originated on the Isle of Aaron off the coast of Scotland, and were a part of the Stewart Clan. There were Fullertons still living in Scotland during the 1950's, and there are Fullerton records recorded in Edinburgh, Scotland, dating back to the 1200's. From the records, it is believed, we descended from Humphrey Fullerton I, who was married to Mary St. Clair Clark and came to this country from Scotland or Ireland in 1723.

Our Great-Grandfather Thomas Fullerton was born March 23, 1813, in Pennsylvania. Due to his mother's death, he was left an orphan at the age of two weeks, since his father had died a few months previously. He was reared by an aunt, who moved with him to Mushingum Co, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. He was married to Eleanor Thompson, January 5, 1836, and twelve children were born to this union. Our grandfather, George Washington Fullerton (Dec. 4, 1849, in Mushingum County, Ohio) was their sixth child.

At the age of five, George W. fullerton migrated with is parents from Ohio to Des Moines Co., Iowa. He married Lenora Palmer, daughter of Alfred Palmer at Leon, Ia., Jan. 27, 1878. They had seven children. Our father, T. B. Fullerton, who was born at Grand River, was their fourth child. His entire life was spent in the Grand River vicinity, with the exception of approximately two years, when he and his brother, John, both young men, traveled by team to Kansas to work as laborers. There Tom earned enough money to return and engage in farming with his sister, Lula and husband, Walter Jones, near Van Wert, Iowa. Here he met his future bride, Maud Grace Carrier.

On Sept. 19, 1909, they were married at her sister's home (Hattie Jones) by Rev. Scott Jones. She was the youngest daughter of Jerome Marion and Maryetta (Masters) Carrier and was born April 5, 1891, in Webster Co., Elkland, Mo. When she was nine years of age, her mother died, Dec. 14, 1900, leaving a family of four young children to be reared by their father. In 1902, he and his siter (sic), Theoakly Phenix started for Iowa by covered wagon, taking along the three smallest children. The oldest son, Fisher, stayed in Missouri.

Our knowledge of the Carriers dates back to 1790. Our great-great-grandfather Timothy Carrier came from England to New York, and his wife was of English and French descent, but we do not know her name. To this union were born eight children, the oldest, Nelson Carrier, our great-grandfather, was born June 4, 1812. He married Hannah Rhoades who was born January 20, 1820. She was the daughter of an Englishman, Ben Rhoades, who lived in Pennsylvania. Hannah's mother was German, but there were also Scotch and Welch blood in the family. They lived at Little Valley in Cattaraugus County, New York on the Alleghany River. Nelson owned and operated a saw mill on the river. He also learned the blacksmith trade, shod oxen, operated a hotel, and floated logs down the Alleghany River. His daughter, Aunt Ran, has related that he was a jolly, good natured man and one of his favorite sayings was, "If I can't believe a man's word, I can't take his note."

They had twelve children. The tenth child, Jerome Marion Carrier (Our grandfather) was born February 26, 1854, near Leon, Wisconsin. When almost 14 years of age, his family moved to Webster Co., Missouri, locating on a farm near Elkland where he grew to manhood. He was married Nov. 7, 1875, to Maryetta Masters and started housekeeping on another farm in the Elkland vicinity. Later, they bought and improved a farm of their own.

Six children were born; our mother, Maud Grace, was the sixth child, who became a member of the Mt. Zion Christian Church and served as a superintendent and teacher in the Sunday School for many years.

In 1911, Grandfather Carrier became blind, and from then on he made his home with his children. He, however, never complained and seemed to find pleasure in being helpful with such chores as churning butter, stemming gooseberries, pitting cherries, as well as, telling stories and playing "Club Fist" with his grandchildren.

Grandfather Carrier died February 26, 1932, at the age of 78 years. Short funeral services were conducted at the home of our parents, Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Fullerton, north of Grand River, then the body was taken to Elkland, MO, for church services with interment beside his wife, Maryetta, in the Timber Ridge Cemetery.

Our parents, Tom and Maud, were farmers and owned land north of Grand River in Richland and Doyle Townships. They were both very energetic, religious, and conservative; and their home was always open to anyone. Their first child, Opal Gertie, was born April 15, 1911, but only lived six weeks.

To read more of this Family Biography please email Stacey Dietiker