John S. Fullmer
Encyclopedia
John Solomon Fullmer was an American
politician and farmer, born in Huntington
, Pennsylvania
. He was the younger brother of David Fullmer
, another politician.
, Pennsylvania
. In 1830, his father, Peter Fullmer, moved the family from Pennsylvania to Jefferson Township
, Richland County
, Ohio
. In 1832, John S. left Ohio for Nashville, Tennessee
where he intended to study for the Baptist Ministry. Yet, upon arriving in Nashville John S. took a job at the "Banner" newspaper and became an established and respected member of the Nashville community. Fullmer established Fullmer and Mitchell, a mercantile business, with a partner in 1836 and was married to Mary Ann Price, the daughter of a wealthy planter, on May 24, 1837 in Nashville.
The Fullmer's heard about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and became members while living in Jefferson Township
, Richland County
, Ohio
. Fullmer, visited his family who had moved from Ohio, in Nauvoo, Illinois
in 1839 and was baptized by Joseph Smith, Jr. on July 29, 1839 before returning to Nashville to assist his wife and their two daughters, Lavina Elizabeth and Johanna, in moving to Nauvoo. While living in Nauvoo, John S. Fullmer, was closely associated with Joseph Smith and served for a while as his private secretary. While living in Nauvoo, Fullmer would serve a mission to Pennsylvania in 1842 and Vermilion County, Illinois
in 1845.
Fullmer was with the LDS Prophet Joseph Smith
at Carthage on June 25, 1844, and prior to the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith
, John S. left for Nauvoo to obtain help leaving Joseph Smith and several others at Carthage. He was not present at the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith and thus was spared a similar fate and would remain in Nauvoo until 1847, being appointed to act as trustee for the Church, and was authorized to handle Church business and the disposing of property for the Mormons during and after their exodus from Nauvoo. He served in this capacity with Almon W. Babbitt
, Joseph L. Heywood, Henry W. Miller
, and John M. Bernhisel.
Fullmer married Olive Amanda Smith Cook on January 21, 1846 in Nauvoo, Illinois
. She was Fullmer's second wife under the early-LDS practice of plural marriage
.
, where he was actively involved in the political affairs of the territory and assisted in the drafting of a constitution for the provisional State of Deseret
, and the Utah Territory
. John S. briefly served in the Utah Territorial House of Representatives from Davis County, while his brother David
served in the House for Salt Lake County, then John S. served as a Missionary to England from 1852 to 1855. After returning from England Fullmer married his third wife, Sarah Ann Stevenson, on October 12, 1856 in Salt Lake City, Utah
.
Upon returning to Utah he moved his family to Springville, Utah
, where he lived until his death on October 8, 1883 at Springville, Utah
, where he is buried in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery with his first wife, Mary Ann Price Fullmer, who followed him in death on November 29, 1897. Fullmer had a total of thirty-three children with his three wives. The three wives did not share the same household, however, but lived approximately 30 miles apart.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and farmer, born in Huntington
Huntington Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Huntington Township is a township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,104 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He was the younger brother of David Fullmer
David Fullmer
David Fullmer was an American politician, church leader, and farmer, born in Chillisquaque, Pennsylvania. He was the older brother of John S. Fullmer, another politician...
, another politician.
Early childhood and career
John Fullmer spent his childhood and early adult years on his family's farm in HuntingtonHuntington Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
Huntington Township is a township in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,104 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. In 1830, his father, Peter Fullmer, moved the family from Pennsylvania to Jefferson Township
Jefferson Township, Richland County, Ohio
Jefferson Township is one of the eighteen townships of Richland County, Ohio, United States. It is a part of the Mansfield Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Richland County
Richland County, Ohio
Richland County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 124,475. It is included in the Mansfield, Ohio, Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Mansfield–Bucyrus Combined Statistical Area....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. In 1832, John S. left Ohio for Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
where he intended to study for the Baptist Ministry. Yet, upon arriving in Nashville John S. took a job at the "Banner" newspaper and became an established and respected member of the Nashville community. Fullmer established Fullmer and Mitchell, a mercantile business, with a partner in 1836 and was married to Mary Ann Price, the daughter of a wealthy planter, on May 24, 1837 in Nashville.
Religion and Nauvoo years
Jefferson Township, Richland County, Ohio
Jefferson Township is one of the eighteen townships of Richland County, Ohio, United States. It is a part of the Mansfield Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Richland County
Richland County, Ohio
Richland County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 124,475. It is included in the Mansfield, Ohio, Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Mansfield–Bucyrus Combined Statistical Area....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Fullmer, visited his family who had moved from Ohio, in Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
in 1839 and was baptized by Joseph Smith, Jr. on July 29, 1839 before returning to Nashville to assist his wife and their two daughters, Lavina Elizabeth and Johanna, in moving to Nauvoo. While living in Nauvoo, John S. Fullmer, was closely associated with Joseph Smith and served for a while as his private secretary. While living in Nauvoo, Fullmer would serve a mission to Pennsylvania in 1842 and Vermilion County, Illinois
Vermilion County, Illinois
Vermilion County is a county located in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Illinois, between the Indiana border and Champaign County. It was established in 1826 and was the 45th of Illinois' 102 counties...
in 1845.
Fullmer was with the LDS Prophet Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith was founder of what later became known as the Latter Day Saint movement or Mormons.Joseph Smith may also refer to:-Latter Day Saints:* Joseph Smith, Sr. , father of Joseph Smith...
at Carthage on June 25, 1844, and prior to the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith
Hyrum Smith
Hyrum Smith was an American religious leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the original church of the Latter Day Saint movement. He was the older brother of the movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr....
, John S. left for Nauvoo to obtain help leaving Joseph Smith and several others at Carthage. He was not present at the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith and thus was spared a similar fate and would remain in Nauvoo until 1847, being appointed to act as trustee for the Church, and was authorized to handle Church business and the disposing of property for the Mormons during and after their exodus from Nauvoo. He served in this capacity with Almon W. Babbitt
Almon W. Babbitt
Almon Whiting Babbitt was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement, a Mormon pioneer, and the first secretary and treasurer of the Territory of Utah...
, Joseph L. Heywood, Henry W. Miller
Henry W. Miller
Henry W. Miller was the first member of the Iowa legislature from the area of Council Bluffs, Iowa.Miller was born in Lexington, Greene County, New York. He was trained as a carpenter as a youth and In about 1828 he moved to Illinois and settled in Quincy, Illinois. In September 1839 Miller...
, and John M. Bernhisel.
Fullmer married Olive Amanda Smith Cook on January 21, 1846 in Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
. She was Fullmer's second wife under the early-LDS practice of plural marriage
Plural marriage
Polygamy was taught by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for more than half of the 19th century, and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890.The Church's practice of polygamy has been highly controversial, both within...
.
Utah years
Fullmer crossed the plains to Utah with his family in 1848 and settled in Davis CountyDavis County, Utah
Davis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2010 the population was 306,479, a 28.2% increase over the 2000 figure of 238,994. It was named for Daniel C. Davis, captain in the Mormon Battalion. The county is part of the Ogden–Clearfield Metropolitan Statistical Area as...
, where he was actively involved in the political affairs of the territory and assisted in the drafting of a constitution for the provisional State of Deseret
State of Deseret
The State of Deseret was a proposed state of the United States, propositioned in 1849 by Latter-day Saint settlers in Salt Lake City. The provisional state existed for slightly over two years and was never recognized by the United States government...
, and the Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
. John S. briefly served in the Utah Territorial House of Representatives from Davis County, while his brother David
David Fullmer
David Fullmer was an American politician, church leader, and farmer, born in Chillisquaque, Pennsylvania. He was the older brother of John S. Fullmer, another politician...
served in the House for Salt Lake County, then John S. served as a Missionary to England from 1852 to 1855. After returning from England Fullmer married his third wife, Sarah Ann Stevenson, on October 12, 1856 in Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
.
Upon returning to Utah he moved his family to Springville, Utah
Springville, Utah
Springville is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 20,424 at the 2000 census, while the 2008 estimates placed it at 28,520. Just minutes south of Provo, Springville is a bedroom community for...
, where he lived until his death on October 8, 1883 at Springville, Utah
Springville, Utah
Springville is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 20,424 at the 2000 census, while the 2008 estimates placed it at 28,520. Just minutes south of Provo, Springville is a bedroom community for...
, where he is buried in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery with his first wife, Mary Ann Price Fullmer, who followed him in death on November 29, 1897. Fullmer had a total of thirty-three children with his three wives. The three wives did not share the same household, however, but lived approximately 30 miles apart.
External links
- Fullmer, John S., The Assassination of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. London: Latter-day Saints' Book Depot.
- Fullmer, John S., A Condensed History of the Expulsion of the Saints from Nauvoo. London: Latter-day Saints' Book Depot.
- Wells, Jerry D., "John Solomon Fullmer, The Man and His Writings," Brigham Young University.
- Winmill Family, The Life of John Solomon Fullmer, (accessed December 2006)
- Find A Grave Profile For John Solomon Fullmer