John S. Fullmer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John S. Fullmer

John Solomon Fullmer (July 21, 1807 - October 8, 1883), was an American politician and farmer, born in Huntington, Pennsylvania. He was the younger brother of David Fullmer, another politian.

[edit] Early Childhood and Career

John Fullmer spent his childhood and early adult years on his family's farm in Huntington, 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.^[1] 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.^[2]

[edit] Religion and Nauvoo Years

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.^[3] While living in Nauvoo, John S. Fullmer, was closely associated with Joseph Smith and served for a while as his private secretary.^[4] While living in Nauvoo, Fullmer would serve a mission to Pennsylvania in 1842 and Vermilion County, Illinois in 1845.

An etching of the Cartage Jail, c. 1885, where John S. Fullmer stayed with Joseph Smith when Smith was killed on July 25, 1844

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.

[edit] Utah Years

Fullmer crossed the plains to Utah with his family in 1848 and settled in Davis County, 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.

[edit] References

[edit] 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