John Fulkerson was born on July 14, 1842 in Ohio and died January 28, 1898 in Marhsall County, Indiana. He was the son of Hyram and AngelineJ. (Beardsley) Fulkerson. John can be located at the age of 8 living with his parents in Fairfield Township in Butler County Ohio in the 1850 census. While it's not known for sure, it seems possible that he was probably born in Butler County. By the 1860 census, John at age 18 is listed with his parents in Clinton County, Indiana. By 1870 has has married and had moved to Clay County, Illinois and is listed as a farmer.

Mahala A. (Clawson) Fulkerson was born October 31, 1846 in Ohio and died August 31, 1873 in Clay County, Illinois. She was the daughter of Oliver and Elizabeth J. (Montgomery) Clawson.

John and Mahala were married on August 14, 1866 in Butler County, Ohio. An entry in the Butler County Marriage Records states that on August 14, 1866, John Fulkerson married Mahala S. Clawson, service performed by Rev. John J. Thompson.

Not long after their marriage in Butler County, Ohio, John and Mahala moved to Clinton County, Indiana. Here in 1867, they suffered what was probably their first heartbreak. Their first child, named Willie, died on or about June 15, 1867. Willie's gravemarker which is located in the Kilmore Cemetery just north of Frankfort, Indiana, indicates that he was born on June 11, 1867 and died at the age of four days.

Sometime between June 1867 and September 1869, John and Mahala moved to Clay County, Illinois. The death of their second child in 1869 must have been another devastating event in their lives. Their second child, named Laura, died on September 23, 1869. Laura's gravemarker is located in the Clay City Cemetery next to Mahalas. The inscription on Laura's marker reads: "Laura; dau of J. & M. A. Fulkerson; died Sept 23, 1869."

Fortunately, for all of us descended from John and Mahala, their third child, Alice was born on September 11, 1870.

An old letter that I received, indicates that Mahala died "when a second baby was born." I believe the reference to 'a second baby' is due to the authors lack of knowledge of the two children who had died during or shortly after birth. From this letter one would assume that Mahala must of died on August 31, 1873 while attempting to give birth to a child. Of coarse one of the mysteries is whether or not the baby she was attempting to deliver lived or died.

Mahala is buried in the Clay City Cemetery, Clay City, Illinois. Mahala gravemarker reads: "Mahala A. Fulkerson; dau of; O. & E. J. Clawson; Died Aug 31, 1873; Aged 26 yrs 10 mos." The letter that I referenced to earlier also states that Mahala is buried next to her parents, Oliver and Elizabeth Clawson, in the Clay City Cemetery but that Oliver and Elizabeth's markers had been removed..

As far as John and Mahala's daughter, Alice, she was raised by grandparents, Oliver and Elizabeth Clawson. In a letter that was written by Oliver Clawson dated August 20, 1888 (see Alice Fulkerson letter page), Oliver states, " we have not had any word form John Fulkerson for some time but we are looking for him to come after Alice we have concluded to let her go her chance for school is so poor here that we thought it would be best for her to go". John apparently never did return to take Alice with him. She married on February 20, 1889 just six months after this letter was written.

After Mahala's death, John Fulkerson returned to Indiana, possibly to the Frankfort, Indiana area to be near his parents. Within a few years after returning to Indiana, John met and married Martha Emily (Williams) Kilgore. Martha had previously been married to Jamison Kilgore and they had one daughter from this union, Elizabeth Kilgore. John and Martha were married on November 7, 1875 in Marshall County, Indiana. It's not known how John, who was from Clinton County, Indiana, and Martha, who was from Marshall County, Indiana, met. However, after their marriage they lived in the Polk Township, Marshall County area where Martha's family was from.

John and Martha had several children over the years including Edward 'Edwin', Blanche, Charles H., Bion, Mary A., Rose, Ruth, Alan and Leon.

John and Martha, along with Rose, Alan and Leon, are buried in the Morris/Center Cemetery, Marshall Co., Indiana. This photo of their gravemarker, which was taken in April 2002, must be a newer stone. An older reading of the marker, which was located at the Marshall County Historical Museum, indicates that John's original stone included 'Co I 83 Ohio'. This would indicate that John was a soldier in the Civil War. Further research will be needed to confirm this fact.

Also located at the Marshall County Museum was an index of newspaper publications for the St. Joseph/Walkerton Independant newspaper which indicates an listing of an obit for John Fulkerson on February 5, 1898. This also would be of great interest.

2001 UPDATE ON SEARCH FOR JOHN FULKERSON We recieved the following post from a GenWeb query posted last year. (Note: I have tried to contact Jennifer Taylor but the e-mail address that she listed with the post is invalid.) Re: John Fulkerson b. 1842 Ohio m. M.Clawson Posted by: Jennifer Taylor Date: February 18, 2001 at 10:20:01 In Reply to: John Fulkerson b. 1842 Ohio m. M.Clawson by Coy Taylor Hi! I am a great-granddaughter of John Fulkerson born born 14 Jul 1842 died 28 Jan 1898 in Marshall, IN. After Mahala's death he married Martha Emily Williams on 7 Nov 1875 in Marshall Co., Ind. (Martha born 18 Mar 1859, died 5 May 1923) They had 10 children, the eldest being my great-grandfather Edwin Fulkerson. I've got a little more info if you'd like it. But I sure would love to learn the details on John's grandfather, Benjamin and his mother, Angeline Beardsley. 1923 Obituary Plymouth Daily Pilot 7 May 1923, pg. 3. Mrs. M.E. Fulkerson (Martha Emily) Mrs. M. E. Fulkerson of Tyner, passed away at the Marshall county hospital at 7:15 Saturday evening, May 5, after a three week's illness of flu, follewed by heart trouble. Mrs. Fulkerson has spent the greater part of her life near Tyner. Her maiden name was Martha E. Williams. She was first married to Jamison Kilgore, and to them was born one daughter, Mrs. Robert Monroe, residing in Oklahome. After the death of Mr. Kilgore, she was married to John Fulkerson, who passed away about twenty-five years ago. To them were born ten children, of whom six survive her as follows: Mrs. Blance Wyland of South Bend; Mrs. John Heckert, Oak Lawn, Ill; Mrs. Otto Impart of Hitchcok, S.D.; Edwin Fulkerson (Jennifer Taylor's great-grandfather), of Highland Park, Ill,; Bion of Plymouth and Charles, now in the west. There are also three sisters; Mrs. Monroe Schroedr, Mrs. Mary Munn, and Mrs. Rachel Cudney, all of Tyner; and threes brothers B.F. Williams of Tyner; Francis of Markleville, Ind,; and Butler of South Bend. Mrs. Fulkerson has been a member of the United Brethren church since early girlhood. The funeral will be held in the United Brethren church in tyner at two o'clock, Tuesday afternoon and burial will be in the Center cemetary.

July 12, 2001 UPDATE ON SEARCH FOR JOHN FULKERSON Diana Gildner, who is a volunteer and researcher for Marshall County, Indiana, has been kind enough to do some research for us on the John Fulkerson listed in Jennifer Taylor's message listed above. She has provided some information pertaining to John's tombstone which may help prove or disprove this to be our John Fulkerson. Diana continues to take time to help locate other information for us that will prove helpful.