1999 FULBRIGHT REUNION>

(Author: William Rodney Eddleman)

Plan now to attend the 1999 Fulbright Family Reunion! Cape Girardeau, Missouri June 25, 26, & 27.

The 1999 Fulbright Family Reunion will be held in at the Drury Lodge in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on June 25-27. Cape Girardeau and the area beckoned to several late 18th and early 19th century Fulbrights with inexpensive and open land, and the family played a large role in the settlement of the region. From the Johann Wilhelm line, the first Fulbright to arrive in Missouri was Catherine Fulbright Bollinger.

She was wife of John Bollinger, and came with the Bollinger families and others in the first wave of North Carolina immigrants in 1800. She was followed within a few years by her sisters Mary (married John Link) and Margaret (married ? Crites, and possibly John Link). Jacob Fulbright, Jr. (son of Jacob Sr. and grandson of Johann Wilhelm) brought his wife, Barbara Plunk Fulbright, and young family here in about 1814, settled just west of what became Oak Ridge, Missouri, and have left a large group of local descendants. John Fulbright of the Andreas line came in about 1820 and settled north of present-day Oak Ridge. His many descendants may be found in Cape Girardeau and Bollinger County and elsewhere. Finally, Johann Wilhelm's daughter Christina came from North Carolina in about 1823, when her husband Benjamin Taylor and her children became some of the first permanent settlers in Stoddard County, Missouri. Many Fulbrights and Fulbright descendants were and are prominant citizens of Southeast Missouri.

We have a variety of activities planned for you, some with a local "flavor", and the Southeast Missouri branch of the family are getting anxious to show you the sights and settings of "our" Fulbrights. Mark those calendars now, make your reservations, and volunteer to help with the 1999 reunion.Basic Facts about the 1999 Fulbright Family Reunion

We have 40 rooms reserved at the Drury Lodge, located at northeast of the Route K exit on I-55 in Cape Girardeau, for June 26 and 27. The special reunion room rate is $66.99 per night, which includes breakfast buffet. In addition, guests can select whether they want a drink cart or 10% off dinner in the dining room. This rate covers two adults--add $10 for each additional adult and subtract $10 for a single rate. June 12 is the cut off date for the reunion rate After that date, rooms will be released. To reserve accomodations, call the Drury Lodge at 573-334-7151. Be sure and mention that you are registering for the Fulbright Family Association Reunion to get the special rate.Directions to the Drury Lodge from I-55:

If you are arriving from the north, take the Route K exit for Cape Girardeau (exit 97, also marked as the exit for Southeast Missouri State University). Turn left at the top of the exit ramp, try and get into the left lane, and proceed through one more light (east side of the overpass). Take the first left, BEFORE the next traffic light, and veer left. The Drury Lodge is at the top of the hill.

If you are arriving from the south, follow the above instructions, only you will turn right at the top of the exit ramp, and you will take the next left.

If you are driving from points east, we "strongly" recommend entering Missouri via I-57 from Cairo, Illnois, and turn north on I-55 at Sikeston, Missouri. The bridge at Cape Girardeau may experience delays due to construction.Your arrival in Cape Girardeau

If you arrive early, take some time to explore historic downtown Cape Girardeau on the Mississippi River. Cape Girardeau was founded in 1792, and a number of historic homes and public buildings remain on the old riverfront. The major shopping areas in Cape Girardeau are near the Drury Lodge, including West Park Mall. You may also want to research genealogy, and there are excellent resources at the Riverside Regional Library in Jackson (8 miles north of Cape Girardeau) or at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. If you plan to do any genealogical research, call Bill Eddleman (573-335-1507), and he can give you suggestions.

Those of you who arrive on Friday evening will have the chance to visit with family members in the hospitality room at the Drury Lodge. Be sure and bring pictures, copies of documents, and other family memorabilia to display in the hospitality room! At 6 p.m., those who are interested may dine at Cedar Street at the Drury Lodge, where we will try and reserve a section of tables (Dutch treat!). The General Board will meet on Friday evening at 8 p.m. in the hospitality room.Saturday's Events.

On Saturday morning, Bill Eddleman and other family members will guide you on a driving tour of Fulbright sites in northern Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties. You will also receive a map and other materials that will allow you to drive this as a "self-guided" tour. Sites to be included are Oak Ridge Baptist Church (dozens of Fulbright descendants are buried in the cemetery), the Fulbright Cemetery (on part of Jacob Fulbright Jr's original land patent, and deeded to the public by Jacob's son John), New Salem Methodist Church near Daisy, Missouri, and the burial site of Catherine Fulbright Bollinger and her husband John Bollinger at Patton, Missouri (oldest known marked grave of any Fulbright in America).

We may also include the Concord Cemetery, where John Fulbright (son of William, possibly grandson of Andreas/Andrew) and Barbara Baker Fulbright lie at rest.

Bill can also point out other sites to visit if you have more specific interests in different Fulbright family members. Lunch will be on your own.

Saturday afternoon will feature the general meeting of the Association in the Drury Lodge banquet room at 2 p.m., and presentations on different branches of the family.Saturday Evening Banquet

Our evening meal will be at the Drury Lodge at 6:00 p.m., and will feature a presentation by Ms. Joeline Weber on Benjamin Taylor and Christina Fulbright Taylor and their descendants. Joeline has conducted extensive research on this family (of which she is a descendant). Benjamin Taylor was son-in-law of Johann Wilhelm Fulbright, a Revolutionary War veteran, an executor of Johann Wilhelm's will, and a co-founder of Bloomfield, Missouri (county seat of Stoddard County). Many Taylor descendants are also descendants of John Link and Mary Fulbright Link, as their son John married Nancy Taylor, daughter of Benjamin and Christina. The cost of the banquet will be $16.00.

Plan to socialize, visit cousins, view family pictures and heirlooms, and discuss genealogy after the banquet. We will arrange to have researchers on each line of Fulbrights available after the banquet to handle genealogical questions.Sunday morning

Those of us who want will have the opportunity to worship as a family group at the Old McKendree Chapel near Jackson, Missouri. While the early Cape Girardeau County Fulbrights did not attend church here, Old McKendree is the oldest remaining Methodist church building west of the Mississippi River, and was built in 1819. It is a restored log structure, and is located in a peaceful setting in a grove of trees. There is no electricity, so dress accordingly if it is a warm day.

We encourage you to remain in the area to visit local historic sites or libraries. A series of brochures will be in your welcome packet that will point out local attractions.To reserve your banquet meal write to: Fulbright Family Association;

 Please note this is ONLY for the Saturday evening banquet. The cost of the meal is $16.00, and checks should be payable to the Fulbright Family Association.

Other meals are pay as you go, and breakfast is included with your room.

Bill Needs Help

So far, Bill Eddleman has made most of the arrangements for the Reunion.  He will need some assistance to make this a successful reunion! He would especially appreciate any people who could come on Thursday to help with last-minute arrangements. We need volunteers to help at the registration desk on Friday evening and all day Saturday.

Please call Bill and offer to pitch in!

In addition, the schedule for the reunion is only tentative at this point. If you have any ideas for other activities, let us know! This is your association, so offer your help and ideas!