Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 186

W. S. FULTZ, a prominent farmer residing on section 23, Bloomington Township, was born in Mifflin County, Pa., in 1836, and is the son of William and Sophia ( Stroup ) Fultz, who were natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer by occupation, and accompanied by his family, emigrated to Muscatine County, Iowa, in 1850, settling in Moscow Township, where he purchased an improved farm, upon which he passed the remainder of his days, his death occurring Dec, 19, 1879, at the age of sixty-nine years. His estimable wife survived him several years, dying in the month of June, 1886, when seventy- three years of age. She had two brothers that fought in the War of 1812, and who were killed at the time of the surrender of Hull, at Detroit. Mr. and Mrs. Fultz were the parents of thirteen children, of whom our subject was second in order of birth, eleven of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, and the following are still living: Thomas E., who is married and resides in California; Albert, who is married, and is living in McPherson County, Kan.; John, who is married, and resides in Rice Co. Kan.; Frank, a graduate of the State University, is Professor of Mathematics in the High School of Burlington, Iowa; Amanda, now Mrs. McMurphy, is living in Rochester, Kingman Co. Kan., where she is Postmistress; Sophia B., is now Mrs. Valet, of Moscow Township; Mary S., residing at West Mankato, Minn., is the wife of Mr. McCleat; Alice A., now Mrs. Bonser, resides in Osborne, Kan.; Agatha J. is the wife of Mr. Spence, of Ellsworth County, Kan.; Susie A., now Mrs. Duffey, resides in Cedar County, Iowa; the other three children died in infancy.

Our subject was reared to farm life, and received his education in the graded schools of Hollidaysburg, Pa., and when fourteen years of age came with his parents to Muscatine County. He remained an inmate of the parental home until the breaking out of the late war, when he enlisted in the service, Sept. 21, 1861, at Wilton, Iowa, as a member of Company D, 11th Iowa Infantry, for a term of three years, and was mustered in at Davenport on the 3rd of October following. He engaged in a scouting expedition through Missouri during the winter of 1861-62, with headquarters at Fulton, in the deaf and dumb asylum, scouting up the river from Jefferson City to Booneville, and capturing guerillas and ammunition. Going to St. Louis in March, 1862, he was then sent to Pittsburg Landing, and later participated in the battle of Shiloh, where four bullet holes were made in his clothes, but he escaped uninjured. He then engaged with his regiment in the siege of Corinth, and the battle of Bolivar, Tenn., after which he did garrison duty at Iuka until October 1, but did not participate in the battle at that place; he was in the two-days battle at Corinth, Miss., October 3 and 4. He was a member of the only brigade which remained intact through the service. He then went to Corinth, later to Grand Junction, thence to Holly Springs and Memphis, then to Lake Providence and on to Milliken's Bend, and thence to Grand Gulf, where they did garrison duty, after which they were engaged in guarding the left flank of Grant's army. In June, 1863, he was sent with his regiment and brigade to watch Gen. Joe Johnston's army, guarding the supply trains of Sherman's army during the battle of Jackson, and was then on garrison duty at Vicksburg. In July 1863, they made a raid to Munroe, La., some ninety miles. His term of service having expired, he veteranized in January, 1864, and March 21 was granted a furlough. Returning to Cairo, Ill., he then went up the Tennessee River to Clifton, and thence across the country to Rome, Ga., joining Sherman, whom he followed on the march to the sea. He then participated in the Carolina campaign, and then went by way of Richmond, V., to Washington, where he participated in the grand review, after which he returned to Davenport, where he was mustered out. He served his country faithfully for four years, participating in some of the hardest fought battles, yet never shirking his duty or faltering in the performance of it. He was elected Corporal soon after his enlistment, and after the battle of Shiloh was promoted to Sergeant, which rank he held until the close of hostilities.

Returning to his home at the close of the war, Mr. Fultz again engaged in farming. In Muscatine County, in the month of January, 1867, he was united in marriage with Martha Valet, a native of Ohio, and daughter of Jacob and Mary Valet, who were born in Germany, but who emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1832, prior to their marriage. Their union was celebrated in Philadelphia, after which they removed to Ohio, and thence to Iowa in 1843, locating in Cedar County, remaining there three years, and in 1846 became residents of Moscow Township, Muscatine County. Mr. Valet there purchased some raw prairie land, which he immediately began to mprove, and soon had a highly culrivated farm, upon which he resided until 1870, when he removed to Bloomington Township and again purchased unimproved land. He now makes his home with our subject, his wife having died in 1884, at the age of seventy-three years.

After his marriage Mr. Fultz and his young bride began their domestic life in Moscow Township, and in 1872 he purchased sixty acres of unimproved land. To this he has added a 20-acre tract, and now has the whole under a high state of cultivation. He makes a specialty of fruit farming, raising all kinds of fruit, and took the first premium at the fair on all classes of apples. Mr. Fultz was a charter member of Shelby Norman Post No.231, G.A. R, and also belongs to the Old Settler's Association. Politically, he is a stalwart supporter of the Republican party, and has held nearly every office in his township, including those of Trustee, Justice of the Peace and Sclool Director, and is at present Township Clerk. Mrs. Fultz is a member of the Evangelical Church.

By the union of this worthy couple seven children have been born, five of whom are living---Mary, George W., Frank L., Noah T., and John E. Charles H. died in 1875 at the age of four years, and Willie H., in 1882, when only two years of age. Mr. Fultz is one of the settlers of Muscatine County of 1850, and is numbered among her honored citizens. He has witnessed many great changes since that early date, has seen the rapid strides of civilization and progress over-reaching the county until it now holds an equal rank with any in the State, and has done much to aid in her prosperity and improvement.


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