Joseph Fred Fuller

Notes:

Sabine County Reporter 13 March 2002

Joe Fred Fuller

Joe Fred Fuller, 76, of Hemphill died Tuesday, March 5, 2002, at Hemphill Care Center.

Fuller was born April 20, 1925, in Hemphill as a son of the late Sydney and LeLee (Meador) Fuller. He was a lifelong resident and accountant.

He is survived by two sons, Dr. Greg Fuller of Houston and Dr. Mick Fuller of San Antonio.

Graveside rites were held at 10 am Friday at Plainview Cemetery in Sabine County with Bro. Fred Raney officiating.

Starr Funeral Home Inc, Hemphill, directors.

Family/Spouse: Elnora Carter Strickland. Elnora (daughter of Nay Carter (Rev) Strickland and Nora Belle Humble) was born on 22 Jun 1929 in Sabine County, Texas; died in Aug 1986 in Houston, Harris County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living
2. Living

John married Leelee Eva Meador on 21 May 1905 in Sabine County, Texas. Leelee (daughter of Benjamin Franklin Meador, Sr. and Anna Elizabeth "Bettie" Tillman) was born on 26 Mar 1885 in Texas; died on 26 Nov 1977 in Texas; was buried in Meador Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"A Pictorial History of Sabine County, Texas" shows Leelee's last name as Meador, which appears to be correct. In "Sabine County Historical Sketches and Genealogical Records" she is instead shown as Leelee Meadow.

Notes:

On the 1880 Sabine County Census, Sarah Dewees, Hannah's mother was living with the family. So was a 20 year old niece, Rebecca Delony, born in Texas circa 1860.

Linda Fuller of Cleveland, Texas found the following deed:

Filed for record in my office January 16, 1888 W.T. Arnold Clk Co Ct Sabine Co Texas

S.H. Oliphant, Sheriff to J.E. Fuller

Know all men by these presents That whereas by virtue of a certain writ of execution issued out of the Justice Court of the County of Denton precinct No one in favor of C.L. Herbert Sr. vs. Jessee McGee on a certain judgment rendered on the 20th day of June AD 1883 and directed and delivered to me as sheriff of Sabine County Commanding me of the goods and chattels, lands and tenements of the said Jessee McGee to make certain moneys in said writ mentioned. I, S.H. Oliphant Sheriff as aforesaid did on the 12th day of December AD 1887 levy on and seize two hundred acres of the Jessee McGee league of land the wright and title of which was in the said Jessee McGee, on the 12th day of December 1887, and on the 3rd day of January 1888, the same being the first Tuesday in January 1888, within the hours prescribed by law sold the said two hundred acres of land as public Vendue in the County of Sabine at the door of the Court House thereof, having first given public notice of the time and place of sale, by causing an advertisement thereof to be posted up at three public places in the County aforesaid one of which was the Court House door of said County for twenty days previous to said sale. And wheras, at said sale, the said land was stricken off to J.E. Fuller for the sum of sixteen dollars, he the said J.E. Fuller being the highest bidder therefor, and that being the highest secure bid for the same. Now therefore in consideration of the premises aforesaid, and of the payment of the said sum of sixteen dollars, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, I S.H. Oliphant Sheriff as afresiad have by these presents sold granted and conveyed unto the said J.E. Fuller, all of the estate, wright, title and interest which the said Jessee McGee had on the 3rd day of January 1888 or at any time afterwards, in and to the following described premises, viz: One tract or parcel of land containing two hundred acres apart of the Jessee McGee league survey in Sabine County, Texas. And bounded as floows Commencing at the S.W. corner of a seven hundred acre tract of D.J. Henderson's land sold to him by Jessee McGee, hence East with said Hendersons South line to the S.E. corner of said Henderson's ??? acre tract on the league line. Thence Sounth along said line to a supposed corner of said Henderson's. Thence West to Huntington's East line to another supposed corner. Thence North with Huntington's line to the place of beginning containing two hundred acres. To have and hold the above described land unto the said J.E. Fuller, his heirs and assigns ??? as fully and absolutely as I, Sheriff, as aforesaid can convey by virtue of the writ in testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of January, 1888.

S.H. Oliphant Sheriff of Sabine Co, Texas

On the 1890 Sabine County Scholastic Census, James and Hannah's oldest daughters, Maggie, 11 and Pearl, 8 were shown as enrolled in School No. 15, Hemphill. W.T. Arnold was on of the trustees of this school.

James married Hannah Pinkney Deweese on 5 Dec 1877 in Sabine County, Texas. Hannah was born on 24 Jul 1856 in Texas; died on 24 Feb 1918 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She was the daughter of John T. b Oct 18, 1819, d Mar 10, 1878, and Sarah Deweese, b Aug 5, 1829, d Jan 3, 1888. (White and Toole, p 74).

On the 1900 Sabine County census, Hanna was the head of household after the death of her husband the prior year. She was running the family farm. By 1910, her oldest three children had left home. Sons James, Clyde and Thomas still lived at home, but only Clyde worked on the farm. James was a merchant, running a department store. Thomas was listed as a hack driver.

In 1900, two servant (John Duffee and Chas. Smiley) were living with the Fullers, as well as a boarder, Edward Watson, age 32 born in Texas. All three did Farm Labor.

Living with the Fuller's in 1910 was a 23 year old boarder named Moses Cole. He was a farm laborer and did odd jobs.

Her Texas Death certificate, viewable online at FamilySearch.org, Texas Deaths, 1890-1976, does not list her parents.

Notes:

Robert Cecil McDaniel notes he was a merchant in Sabine County, until he closed his store in 1908 and moved to South Houston.

(Research):Census Listings:

1880 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Milam
FHL Film 1255325 NA Film T9-1325 Page # 237A
Ben. F. Meador Self M M W 31 Tx Dry Goods Merchant VA KY
Anna E. Meador W M F W 20 Tx Keeps House Ga Ga
Alef. Meador Dau S F W 4 Tx At School Tx Tx
Horice Meador Son S M W 2 Tx Tx Tx
Joe W. Meador Son S M W 1m TTx Tx Tx
Eliza Meador Other S F B 7 Tx Servant Tx Tx
Martha Scruggs Other M Female W 42 Tx Ga Ga

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Milam
Enumerated 21 and 22 June 1900
SD 8 ED 71 Sheet 11B
201-201
Meador, Ben Hd W M Dec 1848 51 M25 Tx Va Ky Farmer
Meador, Anna Wf W F Feb 1860 39 M25 11/11 Tx Ga Ga
Meador, Emma A Dtr W F Oct 1882 17 S Tx Tx Tx
Meador, Onie S Dtr W F Jany 1885 15 S Tx Tx Tx
Meador, Lelee Dtr W F May 1887 13 S Tx Tx Tx
Meador, Sidney C Son M M Oct 1889 10 S Tx Tx Tx
Meador, Anna Dtr W F Nov 1890 8 S Tx Tx Tx
Meador, Ben T Son W M Dec 1893 6 S Tx Tx Tx
Meador, Tillman E Son W M APr 1896 4 S Tx Tx Tx
Meador, Wallace W Son W M Dec 1898 1 S Tx Tx Tx

1910 Census
Texas, Harris, JP 2
Enumerated 27 Apr 1910
SD 8 ED 110 Sheet 18B
32-32
Meador, Ben F Hd M W 61 M1 28 Tx Va Ky Merchant General Mdse
Meador, Anna E Wf F W 50 m1 38 13/11 Tx Ga Ga
Meador, Horace L Son M W 31 Wd Tx Tx Tx Merchant Lumber
Meador, Bessie Dtr F W 17 s Tx Tx Tx
Meador, Ben F Jr Son M W 15 S Tx Tx Tx
Meador, Wallace Son M W 14 S Tx Tx Tx
Meador, Tillman Son M W 12 S Tx Tx Tx
Meador, Lyndel Dtr F W 10 S Tx Tx TGx
Meador, Rex Son M W 7 S Tx Tx Tx
Meador, Effie Grdtr F W 9 S Tx Tx Tx
Meador, Elga???Grndson M W 7 S Tx Tx Tx
Meador, Sudie F M 5 S Tx Tx Tx
Meador, Clive Grandson M W 3 S Tx Tx Tx

Benjamin married Anna Elizabeth "Bettie" Tillman on 18 Aug 1875 in Patroon, Shelby County, Texas. Anna was born on 3 Feb 1860 in Patroon, Shelby County, Texas; died on 18 May 1941 in South Houston, Harris County, Texas; was buried in Meador Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her Texas Death certificate, viewable online at FamilySearch.org, Texas Deaths, 1890-1976, shows her as a daughter of Elza Tillman and Florida Matlock, both born in Georgia.

She is said to be a granddaughter of Stephen Matlock, Sr.

Notes:

John Fuller and his wife, Mary, were both born in Georgia, as were their two oldest sons, James and John. They moved to Arkansas sometime before 1860, and can be found on the 1860 Columbia County census (P#435, Dwelling 321, Family 323). John is shown as a Farmer, owning $1,200 in real estate and $550 in personal property.

In the book "Sabine County Historical Sketches and Genealogical Records" by Edna McDaniel White and Blanche Finley Toole, there is a picture of John and Mary Fuller. John is shown in uniform, with a long rifle. Private John B. Fuller is shown as a member of the 26th Arkansas Infantry, Capt. Hamiter's Company G. He enlisted on May 22, 1862 in Lewisville, Arkansas for a period of 3 years. The muster roll's show him present through April 30, 1863. In June, 1863, he was inexplicably dropped from the roll by order of Lt. Genl Holmes. However, he was shown as present on the muster rolls for December 31, 1863 through February 29, 1864. His name appears on a ROLL OF PRISONERS OF WAR of furloughed and detailed men, Confederate States Army, surrendered at New Orleans, LA, by General E.K. Smith, CSA to Maj. Gen. R.S. Canby, USA, May 26, 1865 and paroled at Shreveport, LA June 20, 1865. The roll was dated Shreveport, LA, June 20, 1865. His residence was shown as Columbia County, Arkansas.

Organized as Morgan's Battalion on June 14, 1862, it was increased to a full regiment and reorganized as the 26th Arkansas Infantry on July 23, 1862, at DeValls Bluff, Arkansas. Asa Stokely Morgan, formerly of the famed 1st Arkansas Infantry Regiment, was appointed as lieutenant-colonel of the battalion, and was promoted to colonel when the 26th Arkansas was organized. The regiment was assigned to McRae's Brigade, Shoup's Division, First Corps, Army of the Trans-Mississippi, and fought at Prairie Grove and Devil's Backbone. Later, the regiment took part in the Red River Campaign, fighting at Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, on April 9, 1864. The 26th Arkansas was then ordered back to Arkansas to counter Union General Steele's Camden Expedition, culminating in the battle of Jenkins' Ferry on April 30, 1864. The regiment remained in south Arkansas for the next year, and was included in the general surrender of the Confederate forces in the Trans-Mississippi Department on May 26, 1865

http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/26hisidx.html

The family moved to Sabine County, Texas shortly after the birth of their youngest son in Malvern, Arkansas in 1869. Linda Fuller of Cleveland, Texs located a deed dated 18 January 1870, showing the purchase of 174 acres of land lying in Sabine County out of the 611 acre survey made for William J. Sneed off the William Isaac's League. The witnesses to the deed were W.H. Crouch and S.D. Berley. It was recorded in San Augustine County. The price was one dollar an acre, for a total of $174. John died less than six weeks after this purchase, on March 6, 1870.

Mary herself died in 1874, leaving her children orphaned. The eldest sons, James and John, ages 18 and 17, took charge of the family. On the 1880 census, John is shown as head of household. Also living with him and three of his younger siblings is 50 year old Nancy Howard, listed as a family member. His older brother, James, was shown as living on a nearby farm with his wife, mother in law and year old daughter. Brother Delony was also living nearby, working as a laborer on the farm of Christopher "Kit" and Mary Smith. Kit Smith was later killed by the Conner's in the infamous Smith-Conner-Low feud in the mid 1880s in Sabine County.

Blanche Finley Toole of Sabine County writes that Nancy Howard, the family member shown living in the John W Fuller household in 1880, was related her great great grandmother, Ruth Howard Finley. Her father was Samuel Howard. She came to Texas around 1875. Nancy Howard's fiancee was killed in the Civil War, and she never married. She was buried with her pictures of him and her bible. Ms. Toole says that Nancy Howard can be found on the 1850 Meriwether GA census in Household #799, Nancy Howard, age 23, female, born Georgia, in the household of Malichi Murphy age 48, born South Carolina and wife Nancy, age 52 b. South Carolina. (Letter to Melinda Strong, date 5 June 1997).

The parentage of John Brooks Fuller has not yet been proved conclusively. It is appears that he is the son of James Anderson Fuller, however there are some inconsistencies. The family of James Anderson Fuller resided in Meriwether County, Georgia, as did Nancy Howard. As indicated on the census records extracted above, John Brooks Fuller was born circa 1834 in Georgia. The census records of the James Anderson Fuller family indicate that their son, John B., was born in Georgia circa 1831. From the ages of their children, it appears that John and Mary Fuller were probably married sometime before 1855 in Georgia. This fits with the information from the Fuller Genealogical Bank, showing that James's son John B. Fuller married a Mary Watson on November 5, 1852. This also fits with the facts shown on the death certificates for two of the Fuller's children, Joseph Thomas Fuller and Francis Ola Fuller Burkhalter. Both certificates show their mother's maiden name as Watson. However, in the book SABINE COUNTY HISTORICAL SKETCHES AND GENEALOGICAL RECORDS, the mother of the Fuller Children is listed as Mary Brown. No support is provided for the Brown name, however. The most important contradiction, one that must be resolved, is that the Fuller Genealogical Data Banks show that John B. Fuller died on November 5, 1862 (probably during the Civil War). Our John Brooks Fuller did not die until early in 1870, in Sabine County.

Only a death date is shown on his headstone. He shares a double marker with Mary Fuller. This is also engraved with "Precious Memories."

(Research):

Census Listings:

1860 Census State: Arkansas
County: ColumbiaTownship: ClayPost Office: Dorecheat 321 323
Fuller, John B,age 26, male, Farmer, value of R/E $1,200, PP $550,born GA
Fuller, Mary, age 24, female, born Georgia
Fuller, James E, age 4, male, born Georgia
Fuller, John W, age 2, male, born Georgia

1870 Census State: Texas
County: SabineTownship: Bearns 3Post Office: Brookeland 576 576
Fuller, Mary, age 36, female, Farmer,value of R/E $1,000, PP $400, born GA
Fuller, James, age 14, male, born GA
Fuller, John, age 13, male, born GA
Fuller, Delony, age 10, male, born ARK (Impairment)
Fuller, Fanny, age 6, female, born ARK
Fuller, Charles, age 4, male, born ARK
Fuller, Joseph, age 1, male, born ARK

1880 Census State: Texas
County: Sabine
171 173
Fuller, John W, age22, male, Farmer, GA, GA, GA
Fuller, Frances,age 16, female, Sister, Ark, GA, GA
Fuller, Charlies H, age 13, male, Brother, GA, SC, SC
Fuller, Joseph, age 10, male, Brother, Ark
Howard, Nancy, age 50, female, Family Member,Ark, Ark, Ark
200 209
Smith, Christopher, age 22,TX,Miss,Miss
Smith, Mary, age 18,wife,TX,TX,Miss
Smith, Dosia, age 2, dau,TX,TX,TX
Fuller, Alkony Delony,age 19,laborer, TX,--,--
218 227
Fuller, JE, age 24, male, Farmer, GA, GA, GA
Fuller, Hannah, age 23, Wife,TX, NC, AL
Fuller, Maggie, age 1, Daughter, TX, GA, TX
Dewees, Sarah, age 50, Mother, AL, NC, GA
Delony, Rebecca,age 20, Niece, TX

John married Mary A. Watson on 9 Dec 1852 in Meriwether County, Georgia. Mary (daughter of Arthur Holman Watson and Frances Ophelia O'Hara) was born about 1834 in Georgia; died on 19 Feb 1874 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in McMahan's Chapel Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

According to the online trascription of the 1850 Meriwether County, Georgia census, there were two Mary Watsons living in Meriwether County, Georgia in 1850. I believe that the Mary Watson whom married John Brooks Fuller was the daughter of Arthur Watson.

1) The daughter of Arthur Watson, below, was born circa 1834. This matches the closely to her age as of the 1870 Sabine County Census (she was shown as age 36). On the 1860 Arkansas census, she is listed as age 24, which would make her year of birth circa 1836. On neither the 1860 or 1870 census, however, is she shown as being born circa 1831, as was the daughter of Robert Watson.

2) Robert Watson was born in Ireland. There is no indication that Mary Watson's father was born in Ireland. Arthur Watson was born in South Carolina, and at the time of the 1880 census, Charles H. Fuller indicates that his mother was born in South Carolina.

3) Arthur Watson has a daughter named Ophelia. This name is used in later generations of the Fuller family in Texas.

More work needs to be done to verify this, but it seems that it is a resonable hypothesis that Arthur Watson of South Carolina is the father of Mary Watson Fuller.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~cenfiles/ga/meriwether/1850/pg0353b.txt

WATSON Families in Meriwether with daughters named MARY

687 687
Watson Arthur 42 M F 2,400 SC
Watson John F. 19 M F SC
Watson Mary A. 16 F GA
Watson Allen H. 13 M GA
Watson Ophelia F. 12 F GA
Watson Elizabeth P.8 F GA

383 383
Watson Robert 55 M F 2,500 Ireland
Watson Elizabeth 49 F GA
Watson Mary Ann 19 F GA
Watson William 18 M F GA
Watson Susan Ann 15 F GA
Watson Margaret 12 F GA

Other WATSON's in Meriwether

67 67
Johnson Mordica 62 M F 1,370 VA
Johnson E. 49 F VA
Watson Cintha 6 F GA
Murphy Wm. D. 23 M F GA

265 265
Watson William 50 M F 2,100 NC
Watson Rebecca 44 F NC
Watson John F. 20 M F GA
Watson William T. 17 M F GA
Watson Martha A. 15 F GA
Watson Henry L. 13 M GA
Watson Rebecca M. 10 F GA
Watson Georgia A.8 F GA
Watson Laura J.5 F GA
Watson Robert A. 3 Mo GA

Only a death date is shown on her headstone. She shares a double marker with John Fuller. This is also engraved with "Precious Memories."

Other WATSON Brides during that time period. This doesn't appear to list either of her sisters listed on the 1850 census.

PARTRIDGE CHARLES 15-Jul1868 WATSON ANN
STRICKLAND E 28-Mar1868 WATSON BETTY
STROZIER GEORGE 13-Feb1869WATSON DILLA
BELLARC H 26-Dec1875WATSON EASLEY
PERKINSON JOHN D 20-Dec1860 WATSON GEORGIA A
ROSSER WILSON 1-Jan1873 WATSON HANNAH
HAYSBUCK S 23-Dec1870 WATSON LINA
DARDIN FRANKLIN A 5-Dec1858 WATSON MARGARET
GILLOLVIN H 22-Jun1856 WATSON MARYANN
GATES GEORGE 18-Sep1870 WATSON SUSAN

Notes:

Married:
Per the Fuller Genealogical Data Base maintained by John Beattie Fuller of Morgantown, GA, John B. Fuller married Mary A. Watson on 9 December 1852. The names match the information on the death certificates of Joseph Thomas Fuller and Fannie Ola Fuller Burkhalter.

The record below is from Meriwether County, Vital Records, Marriages-Bride 1851-1875 Source: ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ga/meriwether/vitals/marriages/mwtrbrd.txt

FULLER JOHN B 9 Dec1852 WATSON MARY A

Notes:

Per 1850 Sabine County, Texas census, he was a physician.

Richard married Mary Ann Tucker before 1837. Mary was born on 10 Jun 1818 in Kentucky; died on 2 Jun 1864 in Texas; was buried in Meador Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Barbara Yancey Dore shows her as a daughter of James Tucker and Mary Richie.