Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-George Fullington
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
GEORGE H. FULLINGTON, County Treasurer
of Clay County. The life of a prominent
man is at all times an interesting study
and not only may we read the record of such a one
with pleasure, but with profit, as setting forth the
results of energy rightly directed and quickness of
decision controlled by prudence. It is therefore a
matter of interest and instruction to review briefly
the life and works of him whose name introduces
this sketch. Holding the office of County Treasurer
for the second term, the fact of his re-election is
sufficient evidence of his established worth with the
people of his vicinity. For the last twenty-three
years he has been an important factor in the political
and business life of Clay County, and receives
merited respect from all who know him. Socially
he and his family occupy a conspicuous position,
being leaders in all good works. Mrs. Fullington is
a worthy and influential member of the United Presbyterian
Church, and to the maintenance of that
church Mr. Fullington contributes regularly and
liberally. He is a firm supporter of the principles
of the Republican party, and is numbered among
the Knights of Pythias. lie owns a grain elevator
in Indiana, and has large farming interests, including
300 acres of fine land in Clay County, adapted
to agricultural products as well as to stock raising.
This estate is used to some extent as a stock farm,
and on it high grades of stock are raised and fed.
Mr. Fullington has a worthy helpmate in his wife,
who was formerly Miss Maggie Scott, daughter of
Rev. James Scott of Blaine Township (for further
parental history see sketch of her father). The
wedding of our subject and his wife was celebrated
Sept. 15, 1875, and there have been born to them
four children, all living, and named respectively:
Scott J., who was born Oct. 4, 1878; Clayton B.,
Dec. 11, 1880; Augusta, in 1884; and Lynn G., in
July, 1888. Mrs. Fullington was born in Illinois, and
when an infant was taken to St. Lawrence County, N.
Y., and thence to Pennsylvania at an early day. In
the Keystone State Mr. Scott was a minister of the
United Presbyterian Church, but after moving here
became interested in farming and also preached up to
1887. He made his home on a farm until his death in
July, 1889, at the age of sixty-five years. A family
of eleven children had been born to him and his
wife. Mrs. Fullington inherits many of the excellent
qualities of both parents, and is a favorite in social
circles, which she graces by her varied accomplishments
and charming disposition. However, like
all good women, she is seen to best advantage in
the midst of the home circle, where her affections
are centered, and to the interests of which she devotes
her life.
The father of our subject was John T. Fullington,
a native of Vermont, where his father was one of
the early settlers of Cambridge, Lamoille County.
John T. was born in 1805, and is living at present
on the farm where his entire life has been passed.
He married Miss Betsey Balch, and the only child
born to them was our subject, who was born
in Cambridge, Lamoille Co., Vt., July 12, 1846.
When George H. was only two and one-half years
old his mother passed to her final rest, and his father
married again. Our subject passed his boyhood
with his father and remained at home until he
was twenty years of age, receiving a good practical
education in his native county, but never going
further than twenty miles from the homestead during
all this time. His first trip was made to Kansas in
1866, and upon reaching the State he stopped for
a short period in Riley County, where he engaged in
teaching school for one term. He purchased school
land in Clay County, and also 160 acres on the
present site of Wakefield, his farm comprising 240
acres of land, partially improved and having on it
an old log cabin which served as a shelter from the
elements and wild animals. When our subject settled
on this homestead, his nearest neighbor was four
miles west, and for two years he remained on his
claim, improving it gradually, until he was able to
sell at a fair profit; he then bought another farm,
where he located and lived for a year alone. Then
he determined to change his solitary condition
accordingly, he was united in marriage Feb. 10,
1868, with Miss Emma Walbridge, who lived only
a little more than two years after marriage.
Residing for a time at Milford and also in Republican
City, our subject was engaged in the general
mercantile business in the latter city for a
year. It was at that period of the county history
a thriving town, and contained more residences
than Clay Center, but the Latter place being made
the county seat, of course from that time Republican
City lost its business influence, though it had been
beaten in the contest by only one vote. When the
bridge was built in 1875, Mr. Fullington saw that
his prosperity in life demanded that he should
change his location, and he therefore crossed the
river to Clay Centre, and engaged in general merchandising.
He bought out and established a good
book and stationery store, which was the first of
any note in the city, and was continued in the postoffice.
Mr. Fullington was also engaged in the
furniture and undertaking business, and was for
two years the only undertaker in the town, having
bought out all the others. He continued to engage in
this business until his election in 1886 as Treasurer
of Clay County, since which time he has given his
sole attention to the duties of his office.
Having been appointed County Commissioner
in 1880 to fill a vacancy, so well did our subject
discharge the duties of the position that the following
year he was elected for a second term by the
unanimous vote of the citizens. He, however, refused
to accept another nomination on account of
other duties. Mr. Fullington has also been a member
of the council for several terms, serving with
characteristic zeal and enterprise. To him not less
than to others, Clay County is indebted in a large
measure for its prosperity and high standing among
the counties of Kansas.