Henry C. Fellows, capitalist at Fulton
City, was one of the first party of pioneers at that place, and also one of the
proprietors of the first town plat. He is a native of New York, and was born in the town of
New Lebanon, Columbia County, March 10,1813, and is the son of Joshua and Juliet (Darling) Fellows. His early life was passed on his father's
farm, till he became ambitious of being his master.
He learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, and in the fall of 1835 started for the West, arriving at
Joliet, Ill., in November of that year. He worked at his trade in Joliet till the spring of 1837, when he
started out in search of an opening for business. He
was joined by a party of land-seekers; and, after fording swollen streams of ice-cold water and spending
two nights on the open prairie without shelter, they reached the banks of the Mississippi at the present
site of Fulton, on the first of March, 1837. Here they found a deserted shanty that had been built by
John Baker, who had erected a better house to the eastward, over the hill, where he was then living.
They took possession of the old shanty and for a considerable time it was headquarters, or bachelor's
hail, for themselves and others who soon after joined them. In May of that year their party consisted of
H. C. Fellows, James McCoy, John B. Jenkins, Geo. W. Kellog.
A bargain was made with Mr. John Baker, who claimed the town site, and who had made a rude
survey of a plat, by which the old plat was abandoned and a new survey made, with the new-corners
as joint proprietors. The survey was made by McCoy, Fellows, Jenkins and Kellog. The principal
proprietors of the town site were H. C. Fellows,James McCoy, George W. Kellog, John B. Jenkins,
Alvin Humphries, R. J. Jenks, Lyman Blake, John Baker and Jeremiah Humphries.
It was some time before the land came into market and real titles could be obtained. In the meantime other emigrants joined them, and the town of
Fulton soon became an established fact. The founders of the young town had many privations to endure.
The low prices of pr6duce and great distance from market made incomes necessarily small. Had mosquitoes and malaria been marketable, the young colony would have been rich. However, the pleasure
peculiar to a frontier life partially compensated for the lack of the comforts of more mature civilization
Mr. Fellows took an active part in encouraging the improvement and development of the town, and
soon became prominent in public affairs. He was appointed Deputy Sheriff under John W. LeMore
in 1844, for two years. He was elected Justice of the Peace in the early days of the town, was re-elected and held that office 14 years.
Litigation was more common in early times than in later years,
as the machinery of society could not be expected to run smoothly at first, where there were many conflicting interests and numerous turbulent spirits that
naturally gravitate to the frontier. `Squire Fellows' Court was kept in active operation and justice was
meted out with a view to equity as well as law. His decisions were deemed so just and fair that an appeal was seldom made from them. He was elected
Supervisor of Fulton Township in 1857, and again in i86o-3-4-70, and was appointed in 1871 to fill a
vacancy, and re-elected again ~O 1872. He was one of the first Aldermen of the city and has held other
local offices.
In April, 1850, he joined a party of his fellow townsmen in a trip to California, going across the
plains. He spent two years in the gold regions, and returned well satisfied with his experience.
In 1859 he formed a partnership with Mr. Irving G. Gates, under the firm name of Fellows & Gates,
lumber merchants, and carried on an extensive business from 1859 to 1862, when they sold out. In 1864 he
removed to Union Grove, to one of his farms, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1868,
when he returned to Fulton. In 1871 he went into the livery business, which he conducted till 1876.
Mr. Fellows is a man of keen business sagacity, of unquestioned integrity, whose word is as good as
his bond. By strict attention to business and judicious investment, he has acquired - a large and
valuable property. He has several well improved farms, aggregating i,5oo acres, besides valuable city property and securities.
He was married in Union Grove Township, Nov. 9, 1843, to Miss Lydia Baker, daughter of Jacob and
Elizabeth Baker. Mrs. Fellows was born in Trumbull Co., Ohio, and came to Fulton with her parents in
1839. Mr. and Mrs. Fellows have had seven
children, -four daughters and three sons. The eldest, Robert J., married Hattie Burns, and resides at
Union Grove, Ill. They have three children, all girls,
- Augusta E., Lola M. and Mabel E. The second
child, Augusta E., died aged 18 years. The third, Ella
H., died aged 17 years. Florence A. resides with her
parents. Mary died aged two years. William H.,
a lawyer, and Fred A. are in business in Northern Dakota.
In all matters of public enterprise calculated to benefit his town or county, Mr. Fellows has acted
with his characteristic earnestness and decision, rendering wise counsel and material aid. When the
project of constructing a railroad as an outlet fromFulton to the East was under consideration, he was
one of those whose earnest efforts secured its accomplishment.
The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Fellows are presented in this volume with much satisfaction, as the
subjects are inseparably connected with the earliest history of Fulton and the county of Whiteside. Time
has dealt kindly with them, as they deserve from their lives of thrift and usefulness.
Henry C Fellows was born in the town of New Lebanon, Columbia county New York March 10, 1815 and
came to Whiteside County in March 1837 and settled in Fulton, being one of the
very earliest settlers in the town.
On the 9th of November 1843, he married Miss Lydia Baker, daughter of Jacob and
Elizabeth Baker, at Union Grove, in this county. The children of this
marriage have been Robert J, Augusta, Ellen H, Florence A, Mary E, William H
and Frederick A. Of these Robert J is married and lives in Union Grove,
and Florence, William H and Frederick A live in Fulton. Augusta, Ellen H and
Mary E are dead. Mr. Fellows was one of the original proprietors of the present city of Fulton, and has been identified with its interests from the very commencement. Together with the early pioneers he suffered all the hardships and privations incident to such a life, as well as enjoyed all the pleasures with which the people at that time were wont to season their otherwise monotonous existence. He early displayed capacities which fitted him for public position, and was consequently called upon to fill offices of honor and trust almost from the start. He was for a number of years Deputy Sheriff of the county, and a police magistrate of the city, and Justice of the Peace of the township of Fulton for fully 20 years. In 1857 he was first elected Supervisor of the Township, and was re=elected at 7 different times afterwards, making 8 years service in all as member of the Board of Supervisors. he has also held other township offices, and was one of the first alderman of the city. At the time when the project of connecting the lakes with the Mississippi river by railroads was being pushed, he took an active part in securing the western terminus at Fulton. In fact his influence has been felt in every project
gotten up in behalf of the interesy of the county. By industry and prudence he has secured a large property, and bids fair to enjoy it for many years to come.
Bent-Wilson Pg 186-187
