JOHN A. FULLINGTON, who is one of the honored residents of Carlinville Township, was born in East Tennessee, December 17, 1858. When he was twelve years old his father, the late Elijah Fullington, with his wife and children emigrated some three or four hundred miles farther west to the State of Arkansas. Here they established their home. In the hard toil of the farm, John A. Fullington spent the years of his childhood and youth. Very early in life he developed a taste for agriculture and felt a strong desire to become an able farmer. Upon his arrival in Macoupin County, Ill., in August, 1877, he obtained a situation as a farm laborer with a view of becoming, at no distant day, manager of a farm in his own behalf. He remained in this occupation for two years. He was a most exemplary young man, punctual in every duty, never allowing his services to be called for without a ready response. Genial and sympathetic in his nature he has drawn around him troops of friends. Mr. Fullington's father was a Democrat and he adheres to the same faith.

On December 25, 1879, he married Miss Melissa Anderson, of Carlinville, Ill., a lady altogether worthy of him, cultured and refined. She is the daughter of M. M. and Melvina Anderson, a sketch of whose lives is presented on another page of this volume. She was born in Carlinville, January 19, 1857, and is the mother of six children: Carrie B., Malcolm E., Ora M., Walter G. and Lorin E. Death carried away one child in infancy. At the time of his marriage our subject took upon himself the responsibility and management of a farm, renting one hundred and sixty acres in Carlinville Township on Section 18, where he has since been a resident. Much of his time is given to stock raising, which he makes a special feature in his list of profitable productions. He is laborious in the care and attention which he bestows upon the acres entrusted to him, the performance of his arduous duties bringing him a very satisfactory return. In the prosecution of his work he expends his energy judiciously allowing himself ample time to cultivate mind and heart as well as those domestic ties of the dearest nature. Mr. and Mrs. Fullington are members of the Baptist Church of Carlinville.