Richard S. Fulton's Web Site

The Children of William and Elizabeth Jenkinson Fulton

Joseph Henry Fulton

Born March 7, 1861 Died June 24, 1943

The photo above on the left is labeled Joe Fulton, the original in possession of June Groth Cuttell of Spencer, Iowa. The photo on the right I believe is also of a much younger Joe Fulton, probably taken about 1880 or shortly after. The original of the photo on the right in the possession of Susie Jenkinson Hatfield of Salina, Kansas does not have a name but was taken in Mason City, Iowa. The only Fulton or Jenkinson relative known to have lived in Mason City, Iowa in the late 1800's was Joe Fulton, and there is a strong resemblence.

Joseph Henry Fulton was born on March 7, 1861 in Illinois. His baptism is recorded at Christ Church in Waukegan on June 30, 1861, sponsors; parents and Thomas Jenkinson. By the 1880 census, Joe was already gone from the home. He spent his career as a railroad engineer.   He married Jennie B. Porter in Winnebago County, ILL., on October 29, 1885. By 1886 Joe and Jennie were in Iowa where their first three children were born. Joe was living in Mason City, Iowa in 1887 per comments he made in a copy of a letter I have that Joe wrote to his cousin Walter Jenkinson in Waukegan in 1937. Sometime between September 1889 and 1900 Joe and Jennie moved to Kansas City, Missouri.   In the 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 Missouri census, Joe’s occupation is listed as Locomotive Engineer.

In 1900, 1910, and 1920 Joe is living in Kansas City, Missouri. By 1930 he was living in Liberty, Clay County, Missouri, just north of Kansas City. Joe was still living in Liberty, Missouri, Rural Route 2, on January 4, 1940 when he wrote a letter to his Aunt Julia Jenkinson in Waukegan. Joe died on June 24, 1943 and is buried in Mount Washington Cemetery in Independence Missouri, near Kansas City.

Susie Jenkinson Hatfield of Salina, Kansas sent me a copy of a long letter that Joe wrote to his cousin Walter Jenkinson in Waukegan on Feb. 28, 1937.   Joe was very passionate about politics and was a Roosevelt Democrat.   He comments that his Father was a Republican and in the letter is appealing to his cousin, apparently also a Republican to convert to become a Democrat.   In the letter Joe comments about his early memories of politics in Waukegan as follows:
            “I was born three days after President Lincoln took office. I don’t remember that but do remember being in many torch light processions when Grant ran for President. 10 years old, we had torches on top of six foot poles and with bands marched all over town, and how we used to fight the democratic kids.”

Joe goes on to say he was still a Republican when at age 26 he was elected as a delegate to the Republican County convention in Mason City, Iowa.   Sometime after that Joe switched and became a Democrat. He was very active in and one of the leaders of the Union of Railroad men.   In 1886 he wrote the first schedule of wages and working conditions for Engineers and firemen on the CM & S P RR.   He left that RR line and went to work for another shortly after this, where he was elected chairman of the Engineers and handled their grievances on behalf of the Union. He was a delegate to every Union convention for 30 years.   He was a member of the Missouri State RR Union Legislative Board for 20 years and notes in the letter that he paid Union dues every month for 48 years, which indicates he joined the RR Engineers Union in about 1889.   He further states in the letter that when he started as a locomotive engineer he made $1.10 a day, working a 30 day month for a total of $33.00 per month. He says the highest pay for an Engineer in those days was about $100.00 per month. When he retired (sometime between 1930 and 1937) he was being paid $16.30 for an 8 hour run, working 16 days each month and making $260.80 per month.

Joe’s wife Jennie died on August 13, 1909. She was born on March 19, 1865. It appears Joe remarried later in life to a woman named Lena. Joe and Jennie Fulton are buried in Block No. 2, Lot No. 526 in Mt. Washington Forever Cemetery located at 614 Brookdale, Independence, MO. 64053. The tombstone lists Joe and Jennie. A short distance away in the same plot is the grave of Stanley Arnold, 1901-1965. Stanley is probably the husband of Joe and Jennie's youngest daugther Josephine named as Josephine Arnold in Joe's 1943 obituary. In the cemetery records but not listed on a stone is a notation that the cremation remains of Lena M. Fulton born 6/22/1910 and died 7/23/1999 are buried in the plot. Also a notation on the cemetery records indicate the unused graves in the plot were deeded to Harold E. Nixon and Dorothy J. Nixon his wife. It could be that this Dorothy is a granddaughter of Joe and Jennie Fulton, the daugther of their son William Porter Fulton.

Following is a transcript of the obituary of Joseph H. Fulton from the Kansas City Times, Thursday, June 25, 1943:

Fulton: Joseph J. Fulton, 82, Route No. 9, Liberty, Missouri, a Burlington Railroad engineer fifty years, died at his home yesterday. He is survived by his wife Mrs. Lena M. Fulton of the home, two sons, Harry J. Fulton 2710 Tracy, and William P. Fulton, Indianapolis, and two daughters, Mrs. Josephine Arnold, 34th and Hunter Rd., and Mrs Ada E. Hughes, Webster Grove, Missouri. Funeral services will be held at 3:30 o'clock Saturday at the Newcomer chapel. Burial will be in Mt. Washington Cemetery.

Joe and Jennie had 4 children:
            (1) Joseph Henry Fulton, Jr., known as Harry. Harry was born on Dec. 15, 1886 according his WWI draft registration card. Harry Fulton is in the Social Security Death Index, born Dec. 15, 1886 in Iowa, SS card issued in Missouri, died on Nov. 5, 1986 one month shy of 100 years old in Valejo, Solana, California.
Harry was a veteran of World War I. The following is from his draft registration card: Harry Joseph Fulton, age 30. Address 316 Cypress, Kansas City, MO. Born Dec. 15, 1886 in Mason City, Iowa. He was a US citizen. Occupation: Foreman in Machine Shop, at Crane and Co. located at 11th and Hickory in Kansas City, Mo. He is listed as being of medium height and build, with blue eyes, brown hair, and partly bald with no physical defects.
In the 1920 Kansas City Missouri census he is single and living with his Father, occupation listed as truck driver. In the 1930 census Harry is married to Martha M.   They had been married one year and were living in a hotel in Baxter Springs, Cherokee County, Kansas. Harry’s occupation is listed as a hauling contractor. Harry's obituary: Obituary: Vallejo California;
Harry J. Fulton, 99, died Wednesday in a local hospital after a short illness.
A native of Mason City, Iowa, he lived in Vallejo for 35 years and he was a self employed handyman. He was a World War I veteran and was the post commander of the V.F.W. in Benicia.
He is survived by his sister, Josephine Leonard of Florida; and sister-in-law, Dora House of Benicia.
Services will be at 2pm Tuesday at Skyview Garden Chapel, with the Rev. Mary Goshert of St. Paul's Episcopal Church officiating. Burial will be at Skyview Memorial Lawn.

(2)William Porter Fulton, born Feb. 26, 1888 in Mason City, Iowa. He died in Johnson County, Kansas in Sept. 1966 according to SS death index. William married in about 1914 to Mabel. They had two children, William born 1917 and Dorothy born 1919.   William’s WWI draft registration card indicates he lived at 113 River View, Kansas City, Kansas, Occupation: Bookkeeper for Parke Davis & Co. located at 21st and Grande KC. MO.   He claims an exemption from the draft on the basis of his need to support his wife and child. He is of medium height and build, blue eyes, dark brown hair and bald with no physical defects. William did not serve in WWI. In 1920 William and Mabel are living Kansas City, Kansas. His occupation is listed as Cashier, Wholesale Drugs.   A sister-in-law, niece and nephew last name Stubbs are living with them. In 1930 William and Mabel are living in Indianapolis, Indiana. His occupation is listed as an auditor for a cement company. His WWII registration card lists his address as 4358 Spann in Indianapolis, Indiana living with his wife Mabel J Fulton. His employer is listed as Lone Star Cement Corp in the Merchants Bank Building in Indianapolis. William died in September 1966 in Johnson County, Kansas.
            (3) Ada Fulton, born Sept. 1889.   Ada was living with her parents in 1900 and with her Father and brother Harry in 1910.  Per her father's 1943 obituary, Ada was married and listed as Ada E. Hughes of Webster Grove, Missouri
            (4) Josephine Fulton, born 1905. Josephine was living with her Father in 1910 and 1920. Her brother Harry's obituary from 1986 lists her as Josephine Leonard and living in Florida. In her Father's 1943 obituary Josephine is listed as Josephine Arnold of 34th and Hunter Rd. in Kansas City, MO. A grave in the plot of Joe and Jennie Fulton in Mt. Washington cemetery of Stanley Arnold 1901-1965 indicates this is likely Josephine's first husband.

The identity of the two boys in the photo above is just an educated guess. I am guessing they are the two sons of Joseph Henry Fulton; Harry J. Fulton 1886-1986 and William Porter Fulton 1888-1966. The original in the possesson of Susie Jenkinson Hatfield has no names. It is labeled Railroad Palace Photograph Studio. The picture looks like it could be from the 1890's and Joe had two young sons in the 1890's and was a railroad engineer.

Below are the headstones for Joe and Jennie Fulton from the Mt. Washington Cemetery in Independence, MO.