Fulkerson (This name in the native tongue, was Volkerson, but after the removal of the family to America they began to spell it as it is pronounced.) James Fulkerson, of Germany, came to America at an early date and settled in North Carolina. There he became acquainted with and married Mary VanHook, and subsequently removed to Washington Co., Va. The names of their children were Peter, James, John, Thomas, Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, William, Polly, Catharine, Hannah, and Mary. Peter married Margaret Craig, and they had Polly, Robert C., James, Benjamin F., Jacob, Peter, Jr., John W., Margaret, Rachel, David C., and Frederick. Of these children Robert C., Benjamin F., and Frederick settled in Missouri. The former (Robert C.) was born in Lee Co., Va., August 27, 1794. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812, was afterward elected Colonel of militia, and took part in the Black Hawk war in 1834. He first came to Missouri in 1816, with Major Benjamin Sharp, but remained only a short time, when he returned to Virginia, where he resided until 1828. During that period he served his County for seven years in the capacity of Sheriff, an office which at that time was beset with many dangers and hardships, requiring a man of nerve and determination to discharge its duties. So faithful was he in the performance of his labors, that he received the special commendation of the Judge who presided, by an order entered upon the records of the County. He was married in 1827 to Lavinia Dickerson, and the following year he came with his family to Missouri. He settled first in Randolph County, where he remained only a short time, and then removed to Grand Prairie in Callaway County. In 1836 he removed to Montgomery County, and lived for a short time on the old Isaac VanBibber farm. In 1840 he purchased and removed to a farm near Danville, where he resided until his death, with the exception of a portion of the years 1851-52, when he crossed the plains to Oregon. He served as Treasurer of Montgomery County for ten years, and the people never had a more faithful and vigilant officer. His first wife died in 1852, and the following year he married the widow Davidson, who survives him. He had seven children, whose names were Peter, John, Robert, Margaret, Rebecca, Amanda, and Anna. Only three of the children are living, two sons, one in Oregon and one in Missouri, and a daughter, Mrs. Samuel A. Wheeler, who lives on the old homestead near Danville. Colonel Fulkerson died at the latter place on the 17th of March, 1876, and was buried in the family graveyard, close by the side of a number of the intimate associates of his earlier life. The funeral ceremonies were conducted by the Masonic fraternity, of which he had long been an honored member. He had also been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for a number of years, and died in the full faith of the Christian religion.
