From a Presentation Given by Bill Eddleman at the
Fulbright Family Association Banquet,
Paris, Texas, June 23, 2001

The path that Judge David Fulbright followed during his lifetime mirrored the paths that many Americans took during the 19th century. He and his brothers were not the first settlers in the areas where they moved, but came just after the those who settled the frontier. This is true no matter where Judge David settled--from North Carolina as a child to his final home in Texas as a man past middle age. In this talk, I hope to summarize Judge Fulbright�s life--from North Carolina to Missouri to Texas.

Lincoln (now Catawba) County, North Carolina

Although I haven't found the source of David Fulbright's birth date, it is listed in several writings as November 7, 1797. David was probably born in Lincoln (now Catawba) County, North Carolina, the youngest son of John Fulbright and his wife Elizabeth (by family tradition and circumstantial evidence, her maiden name was Coulter). John Fulbright's land was near the land of the other Fulbrights on Lyle's Creek in present-day Catawba Co. David and his older brothers John and Daniel were enumerated in his father's household as the three males aged to 10 on the 1800 Lincoln County, North Carolina federal census.ⁱ All of his other known siblings except the two youngest sisters were in the household in 1800, as well as an older couple (probably his grandparents Johann Wilhelm and Christina Fulbright).

Buncombe/Haywood County, North Carolina

When David was a small child, his family moved west to Buncombe Co., North Carolina, in the area now in Haywood Co. There has been much speculation, most without any foundation, about the time of John Fulbright�s move to western North Carolina, with dates ranging between 1794 and 1800. John did buy land in the area in the 1790s, but apparently did not move to the area until later. The census and Buncombe Co. deeds narrow the time of the move to the time between about April 1800 and February 1801. The census had to have been taken in 1800, when John and family were still in Lincoln Co.ⁱ I assume this date would be after April, when the weather would have been moderate. In addition, John purchased 250 acres on Hominy Creek in Buncombe Co. from John Strother on February 4, 1799, and was listed as being "of Lincoln County, N. Car."ⁱⁱ John purchased 150 acres on Pigeon River from Strother on February 10, 1801, and was listed as "late of Lincoln County, N. Car."ⁱⁱⁱ Thus, the family moved in mid to late 1800 or early 1801, when David was 2-3 years old.

The John Fulbright family settled on Hominy Creek in Fulbright Cove, so-named because the Fulbrights were early settlers, and owned many hundreds of acres in the cove. (The name was later changed to Dutch Cove.) While the Fulbrights were large land owners in Haywood Co., it is not clear whether the family was well-to-do or not. The local topography probably prevented them from farming on a large scale. (Indeed, when I saw part of this land several years ago, I wondered how they could find enough flat land to farm at all!). One land entry made by John Fulbright in 1810 indicated the land included "said Fulbright�s mill"^iv, so they did have at least one source of business income. I suspect the family also farmed, speculated in land, hunted, and trapped to make a living. The Fulbrights of the John line began a family tradition continued by all the sons while living in Haywood Co. All the male Fulbrights got land grants or purchased land as they grew older. David was no exception. He entered 640 acres of land jointly with his brothers Daniel and John on April 4, 1810--when he was only 12 years of age!^v

We can only speculate on much of David Fulbright�s life from 1801-1815. David appeared with his brothers John and Daniel as the three males aged 10-16 in the John Fulbright household in 1810.^vi He apparently served in the North Carolina militia during the War of 1812, although I have not researched this aspect of his life. We also know that he married Permelia Smathers, a daughter of Henry Smathers, on February 6, 1816. This marriage is not in Haywood Co. records, so I am not sure of the source for the date. David�s sister Sarah married Permelia�s brother George, and this family followed the Fulbrights in their moves to Missouri later. Permelia went by "Amelia" and even signed one deed "Milly". David�s first child, his son Martin, was born in 1816 in North Carolina. Depending on the source, Martin was the first of 19 or up to 23 children born to David and Amelia.^vii

The John Fulbright family began to sell their land in Haywood Co. in September 1816. Old John sold 6 different tracts at this time.^viii David sold 75 acres (his share of the tract he obtained with his brothers?) in September 1817. (All of these deeds need to be examined for clues to the history of the family.)

Franklin/Washington/Crawford County, Missouri

The next evidence of the family is in 1818, when David�s brother William purchased the preemption right to 2 parcels of land in present-day Crawford Co., Missouri. For some unexplained reason, these purchases are recorded in the Madison Co., Missouri deed book.^ix William�s land is on present-day Huzzah Creek a few miles west of the Crawford-Washington Co. boundary. At about the same time, David apparently settled a few miles away on the west side of Courtois Creek, within a half-mile of the Washington Co. boundary. At that time, the area was part of Franklin Co., but no records of David Fulbright have been found in Franklin Co. records. He did not obtain a patent from the U. S. government for this land until November 10, 1830.^x This patent was for David Fulbright of "Washington Co., Mo." on 80 acres, the E half, NE quarter, Section 14, Township 37 North, Range 2 West. Today, this land is owned by the U. S. Forest Service, and is very close to the Courtois Baptist Church, just north of Highway 8, and just west of the bridge over Courtois Creek. Part of it is a native grass planting maintained by the Forest Service, and part of it is a rocky hillside, with a road running along the base of the hill.

While the family lived on Courtois Creek, eight of David Fulbright�s children were born. These included Henry S., b. 1819; John L., b. November 27, 1820; George, b. September 17, 1822, d. in infancy; William, b. 1825; Catherine, b. May 15, 1825; David, b. 15 May 1825, d. in infancy; Isaac, b. 6 July 1827, d. in infancy; and Pete, b. 1829.

David�s parents and siblings were close by, or at least we think so. His father died in 1820, but the only records of his death are an estate settlement filed in Haywood Co., NC, for money owed him for land he had sold in 1816.^xi The family legend states that he died on Courtois or Huzzah Creek, and is buried in a bluff in a "casket of his own making". We DO know that David�s brothers William, Martin, and probably John were in the area, since all appear in Washington Co. records between 1818 and 1824.^xii,^viii At least some of David�s sisters were also in the area.

What sort of land did the Fulbrights settle in Missouri? It was very different in appearance than it is today. We are very fortunate to have a surviving description of the country within 6 miles of the site where David Fulbright lived in 1818. Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, an engineer and American Indian ethnographer, traveled from Potosi, Missouri to the Springfield, Mo. area, then down to Batesville, Ark. in 1818-19, and kept a journal of his trip. He passed near the Fulbright settlements on November 8, 1818, and stated:

"Our path...lay across a succession of sterile ridges, thinly covered with oaks, when we suddenly descended into the valley of the Osage Fork of the Merrimack [Huzzah Creek], a stream equal in size to the Fourche a Courtois, and having extensive prairies along its banks...On leaving the valley...we immediately entered on a hilly barren tract, covered with high grass, and here and there clumps of oak trees..."^xiv

What did the Fulbrights for their livelihood while living in this area? Schoolcraft again provides a clue:

"...we found ourselves on the bank of the Fourche a Courtois, a considerable stream...its banks...consisting merely of a strip of alluvion running parallel with the river, and bordered by hills, whose stony aspect forbids the approach of the farmer. On this stream are settled several persons, who divide their time between hunting and farming."^xv

David Fulbright�s land was perhaps 30 acres of bottomland and 50 acres of hill of the "stony aspect", so he probably did much the same. However, Schoolcraft also provides a clue for another possible occupation. When he crossed the Huzzah, he crossed at a village of Shawnees, and mentions a second village of Delaware Indians three miles downstream, and a third two miles upstream.^xvi These villages were within 5-10 miles of William Fulbright�s land. Knowing the propensity of John Fulbright�s sons to take advantage of a commercial possibility, they may have traded with these Indians. This is pure speculation, but perhaps David Fulbright�s experience with running a store began on Courtois Creek.

David�s brothers must have thought life would be better in Tennessee. All of them left Missouri in 1824 to move to Madison Co., Tennessee.^xvii David apparently did not, since he does not appear in any Tennessee records. The Delaware and Shawnee left Missouri in the early 1820s, so David probably farmed and hunted to support his family. The family was enumerated on the 1830 federal census in Crawford Co., Missouri.^xviii

David sold his Courtois Creek land on September 10, 1831, when he was either ready to move, or already had moved, to the Dry Auglaize Creek area of present-day Laclede County, Missouri. The deed was recorded in Washington Co., with David and "Milly" Fulbright "of Crawford Co., Mo." selling the tract to Moses Scott, a neighbor.^xix It is difficult to say when the move occurred, since both sites were in the boundaries of Crawford County in 1831. However, it is likely they moved in late 1830, after appearing on the census and at about the time David received the patent on the land. . At the age of about 33, David Fulbright was moving again. In any event, in May 1831, David was one of those who provided security for the commission of James Campbell as Sheriff of Crawford County (the others being William Montgomery, James Wilson, Aaron Spann, and James O. Gillespie).^xx He also served on a grand jury during the May 1832 term.^xxi

Additional public records of David Fulbright on the Dry Auglaize are few, because the area became Pulaski County in 1837. Some years ago the Pulaski County courthouse burned, and all but some probate records were destroyed. From these few records, there is only the following: "David Fulbright and James Harrison post bond as security for the administrator de bonis non, James P. and Mary Susan Harrison, on 6 Nov 1837, for the will of Robert Bennet Harrison. Will dated 28 Jul 1834."^xxii The part of Pulaski Co. containing the Dry Auglaize became part of Camden Co. in 1841, but Camden Co. records also burned in a courthouse fire.^xxiii This area is a thus a tough area to research--also keeping in mind that between 1819 and 1850, it was part of St. Louis, then Franklin, Gasconade, Crawford, Pulaski, Camden, and finally Laclede Co.! The land David Fulbright found himself in on the Dry Auglaize was largely prairie or scattered oaks with grassy patches--better for farming than Courtois Creek, but excellent for livestock.

David Fulbright had undoubtedly earned the respect of his neighbors while living on the Auglaize. He was selected, along with James Gillespie, a neighbor on Courtois Creek and on the Dry Auglaize, as one of the first county court justices of Pulaski County. It is this service that gave David Fulbright his nickname of Judge Fulbright.^xxiv He continued to serve as a county judge when Camden Co. was formed, until his move to Texas in 1842.

Judge Fulbright was notable for his commercial ventures, his support of education, and above all, his amassing of large numbers of land parcels while living on the Dry Auglaize. He operated a store on the Dry Auglaize, and the first school in the area was established on "David Fulbright�s place."^xxv

His land holdings, as purchased from the U. S. Government Land Office, totaled 640 acres in the area.^xxvi It is unknown whether he purchased other tracts from individuals, because of the loss of deed records. It is even MORE impressive to total the land of all the Fulbrights and Fulbright brothers-in-law. Between them, they owned, at one time, nearly 3000 acres of land along a seven-mile stretch of the Dry Auglaize!

Judge Fulbright also began to purchased slaves during this time. In 1840, he owned 1 male slave aged 10-24, 2 female slaves aged to 10, 1 female slave aged 10-24, and 1 female slave 24-36.^xxvii He purchased two more slaves (at least) in Red River Co., Texas.^xxviii I have not had access to complete census records from 1850 and 1860 to determine how many additional slaves Judge Fulbright owned. A number of African-American Fulbrights still live in or near the Red River Co. area, and claim descent from either Judge Fulbright or one of his sons.

Several more of David and Amelia Fulbright�s children were born while the family lived in the Laclede Co. area: Alfred N., b. April 23, 1831; Rebecca C., b. 1833; Belinda C., b. 1834; Susan Jane, b. June 25, 1837; Harriet and Merritt A., b. July 17, 1838; Christina E., b. February 9, 1840

Red River County, Texas

Word began to filter back to Missouri about life in Texas. Land was relatively cheap, and there were opportunities to capitalize upon. Several of Judge Fulbright�s nephews had traveled to Texas some years before 1840, and undoubtedly brought these tales back to the Dry Auglaize.^xxix In any event, Judge Fulbright was convinced to move, at the age of about 44, to the plains and dry woodlands of northeast Texas. His first land purchase was recorded in Red River Co. on December 7, 1842.^xxx His oldest son Martin purchased land on November 24, 1842.^xxxi Judge Fulbright continued to transact land sales in Missouri after his move to Texas. The last of these deeds was executed on February 23, 1853, when David Fulbright and Amelia, his wife, "of Red River Co., Texas", sold 120 acres in Laclede Co. to Adam Dorrow.^xxxii A number of relatives and neighbors also came to Texas at about the same time. David�s brothers John and Daniel purchased land, and John may have been in the area for a short time, but these two brothers remained in Laclede Co. Brother Martin came to Red River Co. in the 1850s, and remained nearby for the remainder of his life.

I�ve heard it mentioned that David Fulbright also served as a county judge in Texas, although I�ve seen no proof of that. He did accumulate an incredible amount of land--over 3000 acres in Blossom Prairie. The entire family (David, his brothers, sons, and nephews) had upwards of 8000 acres in the area by 1860. Judge Fulbright apparently raised livestock in Texas. His estate at his death had over 200 head of cattle, as well as horses.^xxxiii He probably also continued to farm, judging from the farm implements in his estate. The last of the children were born in Texas: Jeanetta E. and Arnetta E., b. January 20, 1843; and Lorinda D., b. March 12, 1845.

During the Civil War, three of Judge Fulbright�s sons and his grandson Martin served in Co. F of the 29th Texas Cavalry.^xxxiv Two sons-in-law served as officers in the 29th. Some of Judge Fulbright�s brothers and nephews sent slaves to Texas during the War for safekeeping, and his nephew James Harvey Fulbright journeyed to Texas during the War to set up management of the slaves and lands owned by John Fulbright. ^xxxv

Judge Fulbright was not active in land speculation nor public affairs for the last few years of his life. He and Permelia celebrated 50 years of marriage in 1866, but she appears to have passed away early in 1867. Judge Fulbright began to think about settling his affairs. On July 5, 1867, he deeded the majority of his land to his children and grandchildren, leaving only 700 acres to be settled after his death.^xxxvi Two months later, on September 3, 1867, he died. It is suspected he is buried in the Old Beulah Churchyard Cemetery, now known as Turner Cemetery, along with several of his children and Permelia. There is no marker to mark his final resting place.

After Judge Fulbright�s death, the Fulbrights continued to have a prominent role in Red River Co. In 1882, the nearby town of Possom Trot was renamed Fulbright in honor of the family. We were able to visit the town, which now numbers only about 100 people, during the FFA reunion.

The story of Judge David Fulbright mirrors the story of many Americans who followed the westward expansion. Judge Fulbright was a businessman, farmer and rancher, local politician, and land speculator. We�ve learned a lot about him, but there is much more to be learned. I�ve heard rumors that his family Bible has survived, and I would love to see it or copies of the entries if it has. The same has been said of the ledger of his Missouri store. Someone needs to work through Haywood Co., NC records to find more about David and his father John�s families. Tax lists and court records of Haywood Co., Washington and Crawford Co., Mo., Laclede Co., Mo., and Red River Co., Tex. might also yield more. Members of the African-American branch of Judge Fulbright�s family can also provide more of the story through oral traditions, or records that have survived in their families. Judge Fulbright was a remarkable man, and descendants can be proud of the heritage he has passed to them.

Many people helped me assemble this talk. First of all, I thank Chris Wilson for asking me to give the talk at the FFA banquet. This stimulated me to do the research. Special thanks to Ed Stout, who provided me with his summary of Judge Fulbright�s life, and to Vera Harrill, who spent several hours showing me all the Fulbright sights in Laclede Co., Missouri. The staff of the county courthouses in Haywood Co., NC; Crawford Co., MO; and Washington Co., MO allowed me access to records in their care. The staff at the Missouri State Archives in Jefferson City were very helpful. Finally, I thank all the Fulbright historians who have contributed their stories on the history and life of Judge David Fulbright.