Peter M. Fulton occupies an honorable place among the pioneers of Jo Daviess County, who many years ago came here to redeem it from its native wildness, and whose sagacity and enterprise have been important factors in its development as a great agricultural district. He has been a resident here nearly half a century, and in the meantime has improved a good farm, comprising 160 acres of land, exceedingly fertile and productive, pleasantly situated on section 13, Pleasant Valley Township.

Mr. Fulton was born in Centre County, Pa., near the town of Howard, Feb. 5, 1817. His father, James Fulton, was born in the same county, at Bald Eagle Creek, about 1791, and was a life-long resident of that State, his death occurring in 1850. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Ann McMullen, and she was a daughter of Robert and Rebecca McMullen, natives of the North of Ireland. They came to American and lived for awhile in Baltimore, where her father worked in the ship-yards, although he was a weaver by trade. He subsequently removed with his family to Pennsylvania, and buying a tract of land in Centre County, he and his wife made their home there the rest of their days. To the parents of our subject six children were born, all of whom are living: Sarah is the widow of Ira Johnson, of Genesee County, N. Y. She is now living in Erie County, Pa. She has five children, and during the war had five sons in the army at one time. Rebecca is the widow of Jacob Schurtz, and she lives near Milesburg, Centre Co., Pa., on a farm. She has six children, all living. Samuel, a farmer near Ada, the county seat of Norman County, Minn., married Lizzie Hutchinson, of Clarion Co., Pa., and they have seven children, all living. James, a freighter in the mountains of Centre County, Pa., with his home in Bellefonte, married Lizzie Neff, who died, leaving three children, all of whom are living. Ira, a Kansas farmer, married Ellen, daughter of Solomon Myers, of Pleasant Valley Township, and they have five children.

When our subject was young, the chances for an education were very poor in his native State, and what schools there were, were German. He managed, however, to get a little schooling after he was twenty years old, and learned to read and write. In the prime of a vigorous manhood, our subject came to Illinois, in the year 1841, and cast his lot with the early settlers of Jo Daviess County. He bought forty acres of wild land, and commencing life in earnest, in the succeeding years, frought with toil and hardship such as all pioneers have to endure; he made many improvements, brought his land under good cultivation, erected comfortable buildings, and was so prospered that he was enabled to buy more land, and now owns as fine a farm as any in the neighborhood, and has a cosy home. He pays attention to raising grain and to growing stock.

To the faithful co-operation of a good wife, who is in every respect a true helpmate, our subject is greatly indebted for his success in life, and to her he was married July 15, 1847. Mrs. Fulton’s maiden name was Caroline Whiteman, and she was born in 1829, in Vermilion County, Ill., a daughter of Abel and Nancy (Cook) Whiteman. Twelve children have been born of this marriage, of whom the following seven are living: Nancy, Clarinda, Hannah R., Geneva Vandalia, Peter, George Edward and Rutherford Hayes. Nancy married Edward Strong, a farmer of Stephenson County, Ill., near Lena, and they have seven children: Clinton, Peter, Nellie, Samuel, Arthur, Ira, and Caroline. Clarinda married George Ruble, of Pleasant Valley, a farmer near Le Mars, Iowa, and they have two sons, Charles E., and Jacob; Hannah married Allen Lyle, of Pennsylvania, a carpenter, and they have four children, Ross, Orrin, Lulu, and Floyd; Geneva married Edward Parker, of Stockton Township, a Superintendent of the High School at Ramsay, Ill., and they have two children, Cecil and Edith; Peter is attending school in Le Mars, Iowa; George Edward is attending school at home, as is Rutherford.

Mr. Fulton is a man of sound sense and excellent judgment, and is regarded as one of the solid, reliable citizens of the township, his sterling character winning him the highest respect of his fellowmen. In politics he is a stanch Republican, supporting his party by voice and vote whenever occasion offers. He is a member of the Union Club. He has served his township as School Director, but does not care for public life.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - From Portraits and Biographical Jo Daviess County Pg 349