Fullenwider - David - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

David Fullinwider, who was one of the most prominent farmers of Parke County, now resides on Section 4, Greene Township, where he and his sons are engaged in raising principally wheat and corn. Besides growing cereals, he devotes considerable attenti9on to livestock, having kept some of the best varieties, and does a large business in that line. On the farm may be found at the present time about three hundred sheep, the majority being of the Shopshire breed. Mr. Fullinwider takes a great interest in everything relating to the community, and has used his influence for the extension of railroads through the county. He gave $500 to help the construction of the Monon Route, and was also very liberal in getting the Vandalia Line through, being one of the local directors. This was at the time when it seem3ed as though the whole enterprise would be a total failure. His township, particularly, owes a debt of gratitude to him for the building of the Vandalia Road. He is also a promoter of the building of the gravel roads.

In Shelby County, Kentucky, Mr. Fullinwider's birth occurred on October 15, 1814. He was a son of Jacob Fullinwider, who was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, and was the son of Rev. Peter Fullinwider, a preacher of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, who came to this country form Switzerland and was in F. Rice, on Buffalo Creek, Washington County, Pennsylvania, where the settlers were attacked by one hundred braves. The Indiana, who were repulsed, loaded a wagon with flax, intending to push it up to the block-house and set it on fire, but a rain coming on wet the flax and it would not burn, so they were foiled in their attempt to burn the fort. Our subject's father was born in 1765, removed to Kentucky about the year 1796, and was married two years later, in Pennsylvania, to Miss Catherine Winter. Returning to Shelby County, Kentucky, where they were among the earliest settlers for a number of years, he and his family were obliged to make their place of abode for two years in a blockhouse or fortress. During the War of 1812 he served under Anthony Wayne in the Northwest, and in the frontier campaign he took part in the battles of River Raisin and Tippecanoe. He entered land of the Government in Shelby County, on which he bought up his large family of sixteen children, fifteen of whom lived to be fifty years of age. At the present time the following survive: Dr. Samuel, of Creston, Iowa, who is nearly ninety years old; David; Henry W., a farmer in Kentucky; and Mrs. Catherine Mount, of Crawfordsville, Indiana. The father was a large landowner, a Whig, and strong Anti-Slavery man. He was a leading member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he was an Elder. His death occurred on the farm he had entered in Shelby County, in the year 8147, aged eighty-two.

The deceased brothers and sisters of our subject are as follows: Rev. Peter Fullinwider; John, who was reared in Washington County, Pennsylvania, as was also his elder brother; Elizabeth, the wife of Lewis Beatty, a tanner; Ann, wife of Asa Tucker, a farmer in Kentucky; Eleazer, an agriculturist of Montgomery County, Indiana; Mary, wife of Robert Cooper, who lived in Henry County, Kentucky; Lucinda, Mrs. Mount, who died in Montgomery County; Christopher, a farmer, who was one of the '49ers in California, and whose death occurred at Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Gamaliel; Nancy, wife of Henry Harris, a farmer in Shelby County, Kentucky; and Jacob C., a farmer in Henderson County, Kentucky.

Mr. Fullinwider was educated in the old log schoolhouse of pioneer days in the Blue Grass region, and remained by the old fireside until 1838, when, on October 9, he wedded Elizabeth C. Moxley. She was a daughter of George and Catharine Moxley, of Shelby County, Kentucky. They were both members of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Moxley was a prominent farmer and active businessman of that county. Both he and his wife died in Shelby County. Mr. Moxley was a Virginian by birth, his wife from Bourbon County, Kentucky. He was politically an old-line Whig. Mrs. Fullinwider was educated in the schools of her native county. The year following their marriage the young couple came to Indiana, settling in Greene Township, Parke County, where the young man bought a farm of two hundred acres, which was one of the best-improved farms in that region. For twelve years he made his home there, afterward making a permanent settlement on an adjoining farm, where he now lives. To Mr. and Mrs. Fullinwider were born ten children, five of whom grew to maturity. The same number still survives. Those living are William H., who is in the grocery business at Waveland, and was in the Union service during the late war, being wounded and taken prisoner at Richmond, and subsequently released; Mary C., who married Sidney B. Davis, who is recognized as the leading attorney of Terre Haute; Samuel Winter, who lives at home; Emma, wife of Canby Speed, of Louisville, Kentucky, who is engaged in the building and loan association business, and is a nephew of old General Canby and of Atty.-Gen. Speed: and Irving, who married Miss Rhoda Hobsen, and lives at home. The deceased members of the family are George M., who died aged eight years; Susan O., whose death occurred on the same day at the age of six years; Samson E., who was about five years of age; Martha N., and Lillie, who were each about three years of age.

For sixty-five years the gentleman of whom we write has been a member of the Presbyterian Church, and has for many long years been Elder. In early days he was a Henry Clay Whig, and since the organization of the Republican Party has been a stanch supporter of its principles. During the war he was a stanch Union man. When the second church at Waveland, the Presbyterian, was being constructed, he gave the generous sum of $1,000 to the cause, and has always been a very liberal supporter of the church, foreign missions and all benevolent enterprises. He voted for the establishment of our present public school system in this state, and has always been a friend to schools, seminaries, colleges and religious works that would tend to advance Christ's kingdom in the world. The Presbytery of Crawfordsville appointed him a commissioner, and in 1860 he attended the General Assembly of his denomination at Rochester, New York. He was the owner of the first reaper of the region, buying one about 1853. The career of Mr. Fullinwider has always been marked by the utmost integrity and the highest sense of honor. He needs no eulogy, as his good works are his best memorial.-- typed by kbz