Jefferson County Online A part of the IAGenWeb and USGenWeb Projects Who's Who in Jefferson County, 1931 Senator Charles Jacobs Fulton

"The Fairfield Daily Ledger"
Wednesday, July 15, 1931
Front Page

Who's Who In Jefferson County
By Herbert F. McDougal

Senator Charles Jacobs FULTON

Senator C. J. Fulton in a long and useful life, has left his mark upon the community and state in three different activities--historical, legislative and industrial.

He has been a painstaking historian and his history of Jefferson country (sic), written in 1912 is a standard and authentic work of reference for those who would delve into the past. It is in two volumes. As a legislator, he served two terms in the Iowa General Assembly--1909 to 1913--and two in the senate--1920 to 1928. One of his achievements there was the Credit Union bill under which scores of organizations are operating over the state, in what virtually amounts to savings bank organizations. The bill authorizes groups in factories, businesses or communities to accept savings and make loans to their members; encouraging thrift and affording help in emergnecies (sic).

For a quarter of a century he was connected with the Louden Machinery company as secretary and treasurer and by his shrewd business sense contributed much to the success of that industry.

All of this does not take in his purely civic activities, which extended from the Chautauqua to the Public Library, and represented faithful effort and ability of the first rank.

Senator Fulton was born in Des Moines township, a few miles west of Libertyville, January 27, 1860. He attended the country schools until he came to Fairfield to enroll in the old R. M. Fish school, the successor to the famous Axline academy. He attended Parsons college, taking his A. B. there in 1883 and his master's degree two years later. He was awarded the degree of Doctor of Literature in 1917.

He taught in his early manjood in various country schools--Black, the Collins and Cross Lanes districts. Then he became associated with the Western Wheel Scraper Works at Mount Pleasant and traveled extensively for that company for several years, part of the time in Texas. He went to the Louden organization in 1892 and was there until 1918. Since then he has had varies (sic) business interests that have given him much leisure for reading and writing and participation in public affairs.

He was president of the Chautauqua association for thirteen years; member of the school board, member of the library board, trustee of Parsons college; member of the exemption board during the trying period of the World War. He was mayor of the city at one time.

A number of years ago he built the beautiful home at 601 South Main street. When it was damaged by fire, he bought the Senator James F. Wilson home, with its broad grounds, and has lived there amid its natural and cultivated beauty since. He is an ardent gardener and floriculturist.

He is widely known over the state and keeps in touch with hundreds of men, active in the welfare of the state. His opinion in public matters is much sought.

He married Miss Hermine Richter of Washington, December 14, 1898. Mrs. Fulton Died June 10, 1925. They had three children--Charles Clarke Fulton, now a chemist with the prohibition enforcement bureau in St. Paul; Mrs. Clifford Crail of Los Angeles, and Mrs. Carl Welty, head of the public speech department in Parsons college. November 24, 1926, he married Mrs. C. D. Leggett, who graces his home and helps to keep it a center of hospitality and a joy to their friends.