Descendants of Leroy Fuller
contributed by Burt Fuller burtf@msn.com
Generation No. 1
1. LEROY8 FULLER (SAMUEL SMITH7, JOHN6, SIMEON5, NATHANIEL4, BENJAMIN3, BENJAMIN2, ROBERT1) was born
June 10, 1834 in Trumbull Co., Ohio1, and died December 20,
1916 in Mt. Ayr, Iowa2.
He married ELIZABETH ALICE MATHANY April 15, 1858 in Trumbull Co., Ohio, daughter of JOHN MAHANY and SARAH WOOD. She was born October 28, 1835 in Liberty
Twp., Trumbull Co., Ohio3, and died October 29, 1905 in Mt.
Ayr, Iowa3.
Notes for LEROY FULLER:
There may be some
doubt about the true lineage of Leroy due to various reasons. We do know that Leroy's death certificate
does list Samuel Fuller as his father.
We also know that Samuel Fuller adopted his nephew Hiram A. Fuller. Family lore tells that Leroy may have been
adopted and that his true surname is "Rice" however nothing can be
found to back this up. An old photo of
them from Trumbull County, Ohio was taken at "Rice Photographers" so
perhaps the confusion is here? The
Hiram Fuller connection .... "The History of Medina County, Ohio"
(1881) mentions a Hiram A. Fuller being the son of Augustus Fuller and Eunice
Perkins. The census shows Leroy and
Hiram together in Samuel Fuller's household but I strongly believe they are not
brothers. Guardianship records of Wayne
County, Ohio show Samuel was appointed guardian when Augustus died in 1843. It also shows Hiram had two sisters, Amelia
and Maria. No mention of Leroy is found
in these records and they appear complete.
Hiram's obituary fails to mention Leroy if he was in fact a brother. Leroy's granddaughter Ola, recalled
memories of Leroy sitting in a rocker saying, "I'm just a poor little
waif." The will of Samuel Fuller
not once mentions Leroy and only once mentions Hiram as a note holder. We do know that bad blood existed between
Samuel and Leroy for some reason.
Letters which I've reviewed from Emily Wilson and Mary Jane Ashley
(Leroy's sisters) to Leroy even tell they never informed him about Samuel's
death. It went on to say Leroy had
requested "that if father did not live you did not wish to have us send
you a letter as it would be of no satisfaction to see him after he was
gone...." These letters are
addressed to "Brother."
Another letter mentions childhood memories of going to Sunday school
with Leroy, indicating he was around as a small child. In conclusion, we'll never know for sure
short of a DNA test on Samuel Fuller but I believe he was Samuel's true son and
not adopted. Leroy was described by his
son Burton as "a farmer, a good Christian, conservative and not one to
take chances. He loved to associate
with the members of the G.A.R. and recall the events of the war."
OBITUARY
HIGHLIGHTS: Funeral services for Leroy
Fuller, who passed away at the home of his son, Burton L. Fuller, in Wichita,
Kan., at 3 a.m. Wednesday, December 20, were held in Mount Ayr Friday
afternoon, December 22. The service was
simple and impressive, all of Mr. Fuller's five sons with their wives and a
large number of intimate friends of the family being in attendance. The body was laid to rest in Rose Hill
cemetery beside his life companion who passed away in 1905. Leroy Fuller was born June 10th, 1834, in
Trumbull county, Ohio, and died at Wichita, Kansas, the 20th day of December
1916, and was 82 years, six months and ten days old at the time of death. In early manhood he worked at the trade of a
carpenter and engaged in farming. He
enlisted in Company C, 125th Ohio Vol. Infantry and served with that regiment
during the entire war. He married on
April 15, 1858, to Elizabeth A. Mathany, who died October 29, 1905. Five sons were born to this reunion - Frank
F., Burton D., Ernest P., Ira M., and Homer A. Fuller, all of whom survive
him. He lived in Trumbull county, Ohio,
until the year 1884 when he moved to Mt. Ayr, Iowa.
More About LEROY FULLER:
Burial: Rose Hill
Cemetery, Mt. Ayr, Iowa
Census: 1860 Trumbull
Co., Ohio, p. 172, Bristol Twp.; 1870 Trumbull Co., Ohio, Warren Twp., p. 385;
1880 Trumbull Co., Ohio, Warren Twp., p. 358C; 1900 Ringgold Co., IA. / Mt. Ayr
Twp., ED 110, Sheet 16
Military service:
September 29, 1862, CIVIL WAR VETERAN: 125th Ohio Vol. Infantry, Co.
"C", Mustered out October 07, 1865 at Camp Chase, Ohio. Photo of Co. "C" on file at the US
Army Military History Institute in Carlisle, PA
Notes for ELIZABETH ALICE MATHANY:
Elizabeth was
described by her son Burton as: "Mother came from a Irish race of people, therefore
was quick witted and of a nervous disposition, high strung, always up and
coming. She loved to argue upon most
any subject, taking the side opposite to your views, right or wrong just for
the sake of an argument and she generally won." It appears she changed her maiden name from "Mahany" to
"Mathany. Years later all of the
Mahany Brothers were known using the name "MATHANY."
OBITUARY
HIGHLIGHTS: Mrs. Leroy Fuller passed
away at her home in Mt. Ayr, on Sunday, October 29, 1905., after a long and
lingering sickness. For months she had
been patiently waiting for her change to come and no doubt but that she
welcomed the death messenger. She was
ready and ripe for the transition to the city of God. Mrs. Fuller's maiden name was Elizabeth Alice Mathany. She was born in Liberty Twp., Trumbull
county, Ohio, and reached the good old age of seventy years and one day. She had passed the allotted "three
score years and ten" and used one day of "borrowed time." Mrs. Fuller was a remarkable woman. When she was but thirteen years of age her
mother died leaving in the home her father and five brothers. With the spirit of a true heroine, she at
once took charge of the home and became a mother to her brothers until they
were grown to manhood. She was united
in marriage to Leroy Fuller on April 15, 1858, and lived at Bristol, Ohio until
the year 1866, when she moved to Warren, Ohio, and lived at that place until
1884, when they moved to their Mt. Ayr home.
She was an invalid for twelve years and suffered greatly from some form
of rheumatism. In her last years she
was "shut in" by afflictions.
Survived by five sons.....
More About ELIZABETH ALICE MATHANY:
Burial: Rose Hill
Cemetery
Children of LEROY FULLER and ELIZABETH MATHANY are:
i. FRANK FRANCIS9 FULLER, b. January
07, 1859, Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio; d. January 04, 1933, Mt. Ayr, Iowa; m. HATTIE E. ASHLEY, April 03,
1883, Medina, Ohio; b. April 1860, Ohio; d. 1946, Mt. Ayr, Iowa.
Notes for FRANK FRANCIS FULLER:
It appears Frank
married his first cousin Ashley, daughter of his aunt Mary Jane Ashley. OBITUARY:
(Mt. Ayr Record-News, Jan. 12, 1933)
...Mr. Fuller is survived by his wife and son, Capt. Francis M. Fuller
of Mount Ayr, and four brothers, B.L. Fuller of Orlando, Fla., E.P. and I.M.
Fuller of Iola, Kan., and District Judge Homer A. Fuller of Mount Ayr. Following the servies at the church the
funeral cortege passed to Rose Hill cemetery where the body was laid to rest.
More About FRANK FRANCIS FULLER:
Burial: Rose Hill
Cemetery, Mt. Ayr, Iowa
Census: 1900 Ringgold
Co., IA., Mt. Ayr Twp., ED 110, Sheet 1; 1920 Ringgold Co., Mt. Ayr, ED 130,
Sheet 16
Occupation: Attorney
ii. BURTON LEROY FULLER, b. July 06, 1862, Trumbull Co., Ohio4;
d. January 15, 1953, Hot Springs, Arkansas5; m. (1) CORA HEASTON, 1890,
Bethany, Missouri; m. (2) RUTH ELIZABETH CALKINS, October 10, 1927, Bryan, Ohio6; b.
April 16, 1897, Coldwater, Branch Co., Michigan7; d. March
25, 1933, Orlando, Florida8.
Notes for BURTON LEROY FULLER:
OBITUARY: (The Wichita Eagle, January 17, 1953) Funeral arrangements are being made by
Downing mortuary for Burton Leroy Fuller, 90, of 146 So. Belmont, who died
Thursday in Hot Springs, Ark. Mr. Fuller
was born July 6, 1862, in Warren, Ohio, and came to Kansas in 1900. He operated a U.S. immigration office in
Iola for several years and in 1917 moved to Wichita. Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Ola E. Tuttle, 144 South
Belmont, Mrs. Mary Good, of California, Mrs. Martha Kerr, Coldwater, Michigan,
and Mrs. Jack Jackson, of California; two sons, Wilbert H. Fuller, 146 South
Belmont, and John E. Fuller, Denver and two grandchildren. (another obituary in The Wichita Beacon,
Jan. 17, 1953, p. 9) (Burton was also involved in real estate around Emporia,
Kansas and later bought a company called Kashfinder System in Wichita. He always owned a summer cottage in
Coldwater, Michigan and spent many winters in Orlando, Florida.)
Burton met his first
wife, Cora Heaston, while covering a wedding in Harfield, Missouri as a writer for
the Mr. Ayr Record. He was married for
35 years when she died of Bright's Disease.
After many lonely years he had the fortune to meet Ruth Barrell, near
his summer home on Marble Lake, Coldwater, Michigan. Ruth was a the manager of the hotel at Pleasant Ridge, which was
near Burton's home. Ruth was "a
good christian lady - refined and had a good disposition". She was also the organist at the Methodist
Church in Coldwater. They were married
in Bryan, Ohio on October 10, 1927. A
letter I've seen dated October 5th indicates they never told anyone about the
impending marriage until just days prior to the wedding. Exactly one year to the day later a son,
John Edward Fuller, was born. Burton
was 66 years old and a father for the third time. A short 5 1/2 years later Ruth was operated on at the Orange
County General Hospital in Orlando, Florida for a Hysterectomy. Complications ensued on the day of the
operation (Wednesday) and she died that Saturday. The last words she spoke to Burton were these: "Daddy, you
don't know how dearly I love you".
Shortly after this she slipped into a coma from which she never woke
again.
More About BURTON LEROY FULLER:
Burial: Old Mission
Cemetery, Wichita, Kansas
Cause of Death: Heart
Failure / Old Age
Census: 1910 Lyon Co.,
KS., Emporia Twp., ED 44, p. 190
Occupation: Real Estate
Sales
Probate: Filed January
22, 1953 in Wichita, Kansas. Mentions
sons Wilbert & John, daughter Ola, step-daughters, Mary Good, Martha Kerr,
Marge Jackson.
Social Security Number:
512-12-3099
Notes for RUTH ELIZABETH CALKINS:
Ruth had three children
with her first husband, Howard Barrell, son of Frank & Minnie Barrell, (b.
24 October 1894 in Adrian, Lenawee Co., Michigan, Married May 24, 1916 Branch
Co., Michigan, Died November 10, 1950 in Ventura Co., California): Children:
Marjorie Ruth b. October 03, 1918, Mary Elizabeth b. October 15, 1920,
and Martha Jane b. November 20, 1922.
All born in Findlay, Ohio.
Around 1924 Howard abandoned his wife Ruth and three children, never to
be heard from again.
OBITUARY: Ruth Elizabeth Fuller passed to the Great
Beyond March 25, 1933, at 7:30 a.m. at the Orange County Hospital, Orlando,
Florida, at the age of 36 years. On
Sunday she was as usual at her place in the Primary department of the Sunday
School where she dearly loved her work.
She was the daughter of the late Frank E. Calkins, who preceded her in
death four years ago. Born in Coldwater
and educated in the city schools, she was a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church from childhood. Surviving her
besides her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth H. Calkins, of this city, are her husband,
B.L. Fuller, and four children, Marjorie, Mary, Martha and John. Mrs. Fuller had spent the past five and a
half years in the west and south were the family maintained a winter home at
Orlando and where she made many warm friends.
Mrs. Calkins accompanied the remains to Coldwater where funeral rites
were concluded March 31 at 2:30 at McConkey's Funeral Home. Burial will be in the family lot at Oak
Grove Cemetery.
More About RUTH ELIZABETH CALKINS:
Burial: Oak Grove
Cemetery, Coldwater, Michigan
Cause of Death:
Complications from Hysterectomy operation three days earlier.
iii. PERRY ERNEST FULLER, b. June 14, 1867, Trumbull Co., Ohio; d. July 29,
1946, Iola, Kansas; m. CORA B. FAIL, February 19, 1901; b. April 25, 1868, Bethany,
Missouri; d. July 27, 1935, Iola, Kansas.
Notes for PERRY ERNEST FULLER:
OBITUARY: Ernest P. Fuller, who built several of Iola's
business buildings, died yesterday morning at his apartment, 108 N.
Jefferson. He was 79 years old. Mr. Fuller was born at Warren, Ohio, and
came to Kansas in 1899. With the
exception of a year or two spent in Nebraska, where he homesteaded a farm, he
has made his home here for the past 47 years.
E.P. Fuller and his brother, Ira M. Fuller, opened a grocery store at
the corner of Jefferson and Jackson streets.
About 1905 they constructed the building now occupied by the Model Feed
store. In the following years they also
built the structures now used by the Self Service grocery, the Model Grocery,
the Safeway store and the one now being remodeled for the Oklahoma Tire
Company. In addition they built on the
NW corner of Jackson and Jefferson streets.
The two brothers also dealt extensively in farm lands in southeastern
Kansas as well as a few residences in Iola.
At one time they may have owned as many as 12 farms in the
district. Ira M. died several years
ago. In 1932 he ran for the Republican nomination
for Senator, polling about 6,000 votes.
Ben Paulen received the nomination.
Mr. Fuller also was defeated when he was a candidate for sheriff of
Allen county. Burial will be at
Bethany, Mo. He leaves one brother,
B.L. Fuller, Orlando, Florida.
More About PERRY ERNEST FULLER:
Burial: Bethany,
Missouri
Census: 1910 Chase Co.,
KS. / Strong City Twp., ED 7, Sheet 78; 1920 Chase Co., Strong Twp., KS., ED 8,
Sheet 9
Notes for CORA B. FAIL:
OBITUARY: (Iola Register, Aug. 2, 1935, p. 2) Cora B. Fuller,
daughter of George W. and Adaline Sevier Fail, was born at Bethany, Mo., April
25, 1868, and was married to E.P. Fuller February 19, 1901. To this union was born one son, who died in
infancy. She passed away at Iola, Kan.,
July 27, 1935. She is survived by her
husband, E.P. Fuller of Iola, Kan., one brother, Charles S. Fail of Des Moines,
Ia., one nephew, Dr. Charles S. Fail of Des Moines, Ia., and a large line of
aunts and cousins who nearly all live in Harrison county. Mrs. Fuller spent her early life in Bethany
and at an early age became a member of the Methodist church of Bethany. Mrs. Fuller's aunt, Mary Selby of Gilman
City, Mo., was to her almost a mother, as her own mother died when Mrs. Fuller
was quite young. She was loyal and
devoted to her husband, brother, home and friends.
More About CORA B. FAIL:
Burial: Bethany,
Missouri
iv. IRA MELVILLE FULLER, b. August 01, 1873, Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio; d.
November 04, 1934, Iola, Allen Co., Kansas; m. GLENDORA NEFF; b. January
1872, Missouri; d. Aft. 1934.
Notes for IRA MELVILLE FULLER:
OBITUARY: Ira M. Fuller, a resident of Iola for 34
years, died unexpectedly yesterday morning at his home, 710 North Walnut. Death was attributed to heart disease. Mrs. Fuller had left the house to go to the
Fuller cafe on east Madison, leaving Mr. Fuller and their daughter, Miss
Kathleen Carter in the house. Miss Carter heard Mr. Fuller enter the bathroom,
and then heard a noise which aroused her attention. She went to the the room and found Mr. Fuller lying on the floor
where he had fallen. Mr. Fuller was
born in Warren, Ohio, 61 years ago. He
came to Iola in 1900 and engaged in the real estate business for many years. He leaves his widow and a son, Melburne
Fuller, and Miss Carter, a step-daughter.
He also leaves three brothers, E.P. Fuller, Iola; B.L. Fuller, Orlando,
Fl.; and Judge Homer A. Austin, Mount Ayr, Iowa.
More About IRA MELVILLE FULLER:
Burial: Highland
Cemetery
Cause of Death: Heart
Disease
Census: 1900 Allen Co.,
KS, LaHarpe Twp., ED 6, Sheet 10
v. HOMER AUSTIN FULLER, b. July 29, 1877, Trumbull Co., Ohio; d. March 07,
1945, Mt. Ayr, Iowa; m. ELEANOR SWAIN, January 24, 1906, Tingley, Iowa; b. January 23, 1882,
Tingley, Iowa; d. February 23, 1963, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Notes for HOMER AUSTIN FULLER:
OBITUARY: (Mt. Ayr Record-News, Thursday, March 15,
1945 DEATH CLAIMS JUDGE FULLER,
Prominent District Court Judge Served Nearly 28 Years. Judge Homer A. Fuller, a most distinguished
resident of Mount Ayr all of his mature life, passed away Wednesday evening,
March 7, at his home at the age of 67 years, seven months and 18 days. He had been in declining health for the past
few years but, in spite of illness, he carried on in a courageous manner his
duties as judge of the third judicial district of Iowa. Soon after Christmas his condition became
critical and it was known then that his long years of public service must soon
come to a close. Death marked the close
of 27 1/2 years of outstanding service of one of Iowa's best known and highly
respected jurists who held the ditinction of serving the district longer than
any judge who had held the high position.
Judge Fuller resided over many importand cases in his own district and
several times was called upon to administer justice in civil and criminal cases
in counties outside his own district.
He was a special appointee of the chief justice of the Iowa supreme
court during the summer of 1933 to hear the cases at Denison which grew out of
disorders at a farm foreclosure in Crawford county. Later he was called upon to preside over cases which developed
from labor disputes at the Maytag plant at Newton. Homer A. Fuller, son of Leroy and Elizabeth Fuller, was born July
20, 1877, on a farm near Warren, Ohio.
He attended country school until the removal of his parents to Mount
Ayr, Iowa in 1884. He worked on a farm
and attended the Mount Ayr schools, graduating in 1894. He was employed as a clerk in a general store
at Bethany, Mo., until he entered the State University of Iowa in 1896. Two years later he graduated with the law
class at the age of 20 years. On
account of his minority, the oath of attorney was not administered until August
3, 1898, at Red Oak, Iowa, by Chief Justice Deemer. He began the practice of law at once at Mount Ayr as a member of
the firm of Fuller & Fuller, his brother, Frank F. Fuller, being the senior
member. He was active in the trial of
civil and criminal cases until his appointment as judge of the third judicial
district on August 7th, 1917, by Governor W.L. Harding, and served continuously
until his death. Judge Fuller served as
mayor of Mount Ayr in 1915 and 1916, during the most progressive period in the
city's history. It was during his administration that the sewer system and
waterworks were established and the pavement was laid. He insisted on the brick pavement which has
stood the test and proved to be a wise choice.
He was active in securing funds given by the Carnegie Foundation to
build the present public library. Homer
A. Fuller and Elanor Swain were united in marriage on January 24, 1906. To this union were born two daughters,
Esther (Mrs. Peter W. Janns) of Des Moines, and Elizabeth (Mrs. Stuart M.
Franks) of Lisbon. He is survived by
his good wife, who was his constant companion through life and who faithfully
administered unto him during his illness; two daughters, who were also in the
home during the last few weeks of his illness; five grandchildren, Peter and
Mary Janns, and Sarah, Kate and John Franks; and two brothers, B.L. Fuller, of
Orlando, Florida, and E.P. Fuller, of Iola, Kansas. Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock
from the Methodist church, conducted by the Rev. Frank Moore and the Iowa State
Bar Association. Following the services
the body was laid to rest in Rose Hill cemetery.
More About HOMER AUSTIN FULLER:
Burial: Rose Hill
Cemetery, Mt. Ayr, Iowa
Occupation: Judge
Endnotes
1. Fuller Family Bible Record.
2. Kansas State Board of Health Death
Certificate for Leroy Fuller, Sedgwick Co., Wichita.
3. Iowa State Board of Health Death Certificate
for Elizabeth Alice Fuller. Ringgold
Co., Mt. Ayr Twp.
4. Fuller Family Record.
5. Arkansas State Board of Health Death
Certificate for Burton L. Fuller, Garland Co., Hot Springs.
6. Williams Co., Ohio Marriage License.
7. Fuller Family Record.
8. Florida Office of Vital Statistics Death Certificate
for Ruth E. Fuller, Orange Co., Orlando.
See
Leroy Fuller's photo here,
his wife
Elizabeth A. Fuller here and
Leroy
and his brothers here
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