 |
| Fulbrights influential family at Valley Springs |
|
| Question: Was J. William Fulbright a Boone County native? I say yes, my son says no. What information do you have? |
| Answer: Hate to burst your bubble, but your son is correct. Various sites on the Internet have a multitude of information about Fulbright's life. |
| J. William was born in Summer, Missouri in 1905, and the family moved the following year to Fayetteville. J. William did have family connections to Boone County through a relative who lived at Valley Springs. |
 Daniel N. Fulbright (pictured left), who was born in Missouri and grew up in the town of Springfield, married Emmalet Weaver in 1857. After moving to Lawrence County, Missouri and being elected sheriff - an office he did not want to serve - he promptly resigned and engaged in farming and raising stock.
The same year, he and C. H. Crawford organized a wagon train and took a thousand head of cattle across the plains to California. Beginning the trip in April and arriving in August, the trip was one of thrilling adventures, including his partner Crawford being killed by Indians. After purchasing claims in Plumas County, California, the Feather River and the Sacramento Valley and selling all the cattle, Dan, his wife Emmalet and small daughter returned home by steamer via Panama.
Daniel Fulbright joined Price's Army in 1862. He was wounded twice in the Battle of Pea Ridge, but stayed with Price in all engagements in Missouri. After serving in the war and living for a short time in Izard County, the Fulbrights moved to Valley Springs. |
| Together with Captain T. J. Morrison, they opened a mercantile store in1867 and operated as partners for 16 years. When the store was sold, Fulbright began to farm and raise cattle. He bought and shipped stock to all points in the North and South and acquired large tracts of land - totaling 3,500 acres. |
 A back issue of the Historian on banking in Boone County noted D. N. Fulbright, along with R. S. Armitage and R.F. King, Jr., as founding officers of the Boone County Bank of Harrison. Established in 1886 with capital of $20,000, the bank was located on the site just west of the alley on the south side of the square.
Dan Fulbright was known as one of the wealthiest citizens of the county and was very generous to the Valley Springs community, church and school. He donated land for the school and was a major contributor to the erection of the school building.
The Fulbright's son-in-law was Dr. John G. Hale. Hale's first practice was at Valley Springs. He had married Fulbright's daughter, Judith, in 1870, and that marriage produced five children - one of them being Dan Abbott Hale. Born at Pigg Spring near Valley Springs, Dan Abbott was well known in the area as a farmer, stockman, tax collector and sheriff.
So, this is the Fulbright connection to Boone County. |
| Dr. Hale and his wife were finely educated and moved in the highest social circles. Dan Fulbright graduated from Bethany College in Virginia and gained a reputation as a benevolent liberal with sterling traits of character. |
| In 1911, an anonymous writer had the following to say about Dan Fulbright: "I enjoyed the distinction of being an invited guest at the Hale Hotel of Valley Springs, Arkansas on Sunday, January 8, 1911, which event was to celebrate the 60th wedding anniversary of our much honored and much loved countryman, Uncle Dan Fulbright, who, though 84 years old, is hale and hearty and by odds, the heaviest man in the crowd, weighing 205 pounds. Uncle Dan enjoys, amongst other distinctions, that of being a pupil of the Rev. Alexander Campbell, who was, without question, a great character." |
| "We all are indebted to Uncle Dan for the many kindnesses shown us. Not only we ourselves, but nearly every public institution in our community has felt his influence in more ways than one. Even on this memorable day, he was seen to press a $5 bill into the hands of one of the guests to be used in aiding a nearby Sunday School. We shall never live long enough to forget two of Uncle Dan's expressions: One is that he hoped when the Lord called him, he would be found in the harness; and another in which he acknowledged the fact that 'good habits' are conducive to longevity." |
| "Mrs. Hale, our esteemed hostess, granddaughter-in-law of Uncle Dan, demonstrated to us that she is thoroughly acquainted with the culinary art. To say the dinner was excellent, does not fully express it - it was delicious. Dan Hale, you know him as a jolly, wholehearted fellow, who knows how to make you feel at home, received us at the front gate and even our horses seemed glad to see him." |
| "Amongst the guests who enjoyed the festivities were: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Patrick, Mr. and Mrs. George Willis, Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Hodges, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, Misses Lucy Willis and Posy Minyard, and Messrs. Ferrell and Glen Winstead." |
| "We hope that Uncle Dan may be permitted to enjoy many more anniversaries before being called to join his estimable wife, who passed away some months ago." |
| Stories of lives such as the Fulbright and Hale families are on file at the Heritage Museum, located on the corner of South Cherry Street and Central Avenue. We are now observing winter hours and are open only on Thursdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Come spend a Thursday at the museum. |
| This column appears Fridays in the Harrison Daily Times. Mail questions to Boone County Heritage Museum, P. O. Box 1094, Harrison, AR 72601. Marilyn Breece can be contacted at bchm@alltel.net |
|
|
 |
|
|
