The Death of James Frank Fuller of Wells

Generously donated by Harry Buyce!
The following information was compiled from "A Brief History of the Nineteenth Century Hamilton County, New York Families Morrison, Buyce & Gallup; An Unpublished Work," by Harry E. Buyce, copyright April 2000.
Posted with express permission of the author. This work may not be copied in part or whole for publication or internet posting without the express permission of the author. All rights reserved.

Obituary of James Frank Fuller
Adirondack Herald, April 1919
BODY OF JAMES FRANK FULLER FOUND IN JESSUPS RIVER
    The search in Jessups River for the body of James Frank Fuller came to a close on Sunday about noon when Charles Harrington of Johnsburg came upon it above Jessups River Falls, about eight rods from where he was last seen at work. The water was considerably lower than it had been, and as Mr. Harrington glanced in, he noticed a tobacco can which upon investigation he found protruded from Fuller's pocket.
    As briefly stated in the previous issue, James Frank Fuller went to work on the log drive on Jessups River, leaving his home at Wells on Monday. On Wednesday, the 9th, he was at work as usual, he and Alfred Simonds were working together at a jam and it appeared as tho' the obstruction was on the opposite side, so Fuller remarked that he'd go across and loosen the jam. It was about four o'clock when he left Simonds. Men stationed lower soon had a swift run of logs due to Fuller's efforts. Mr. Simonds became occupied with his work. Nearly two hours later the logs became obstructed again, and after waiting a while the men decided to ascertain the cause of the delay and were surprised that Mr. Fuller was not there. They began breaking the jam and then the pike pole which Fuller had been using came into view and fear was felt for the safety of the young workman. They began searching immediately but the mother was not notified until the next morning.
    Every effort was made to find the remains of the unfortunate young man but continued rain and high water made the task a difficult one. The dam which had been closed, gave away on Saturday, increasing the difficulty. When Mr. Harrington discovered the body, it was more than half covered with sand, face down. Had it not been for the bright colored tobacco can, it might very easily have been overlooked and in a very short time would have been entirely covered. There were no marks upon the body to indicate any particular accident and as no one was present, it will never be known just what happened.
    James Frank Fuller was the youngest son of Mrs. Belle Fuller, now the wife of Thomas Girard. He would have been twenty two years of age in May. He cheerfully responded to the draft and September 7, 1918 he entered Camp Dix. His brother William was also there, and they were drawn into even a closer comradery. He was transferred to Camp Meigs, D. C., November 7th, and again transferred on December 19th to Roland Park, Baltimore. During this time he was promoted from "Private" to "Sergeant" and was honorably discharged the 3rd day of April.
    He had been at home only two days when he went to work on the river where he met death. A young man of good habits, physically perfect, with a happy, fun-loving disposition, he was universally liked. And everywhere were heard expressions of sincere regret and awe at his untimely passing.
    He is deeply mourned by his mother and two brothers, George H. and William I. Fuller.
    The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon in the Methodist church and was largely attended. Rev. TenBroeck of Northville officiated. The funeral was military in aspect. Six men returned from service, in uniform, were bearers. The deceased was clothed in his uniform. Interment was made in the local cemetery.

Biographical Data
George Nicholas Fuller^{1, 2} was born 24 May 1866 in Johnsburg, Warren, NY and died 27 Apr 1901 in the Town of Wells, Hamilton, NY. He married Susan Belle Gallup^{3, 4, 5} on 22 Jul 1889. "Belle", as she was universally known, was born on 30 Sep 1873 to Jesse B. and Hannah [Mc Carthy] Gallup in Wells, Hamilton, NY. She died on 20 Jul 1968 in the Town of Wells, Hamilton, NY. After the death of George, Belle was then married on 21 Feb 1903 to Wallace Wager and later on 4 Apr 1916 to Thomas Girard.
I met Belle at an "Old Home Day" in Wells. We talked for quite awhile and I enjoyed her stories. Somehow she started on a lengthy explanation of the settlement on the old Hamilton Lake Road. It has been gone for close to a hundred years now. She explained how the settlement started, who lived there, the old gossip, etc. I listened carefully but did not write anything down. I guess that I had too much of the "Old Home Days" beer.

George and Belle Gallup Fuller had the following children:

1. George H. Fuller⁶ was born in 1890 and died in 1973 and was buried in the Methodist Cemetery in Wells, Hamilton, NY. He first married Grace Duane and later Kathleen Brooks.
2. William I. Fuller^{7, 8} was born in 1892 and died in 1946 in Richfield Springs, Schoharie, NY and is buried there. He was first married to Lucy Colder and later to Nellie Madison.
William was in the Army with his brother James during World War 1, though I have not found that he went to Europe. He and his first wife Lucy lived in Glimantown where she became quick with child. She died enroute to the Gloversville hospital, where she was to have delivered triplets. William and his second wife Nellie moved to Richfield Springs, and lived there the rest of their lives.

3. James Frank Fuller^{9, 10} was born in May 1897 in the Town of Wells, Hamilton, NY and died on 9 Apr 1919 in the Town of Indian Lake, Hamilton, NY and was buried on 15 Apr 1919 in the Methodist Cemetery, Wells, Hamilton, NY.
On 7 September 1918 James reported to what is now, Fort Dix, New Jersey as a new twenty one year old draftee into the U. S. Army. By December he was transferred to Roland Park, Baltimore, Maryland, and was subsequently discharged as a Sergeant on 3 Apr 1919, which was a Thursday.
By Saturday the 5th he was back home in Wells, and on Monday the 7th he left home to work on a log drive on the Jessups River by Indian Lake. On Wednesday the 9th he and another workman were clearing a log jam when Fuller decided to cross the river. Working from both sides, the two men then cleared the jam. The other man then went about his business and did not notice that Fuller was missing until a couple of hours later at another jam. Other workmen came and they soon found Fuller's pike pole in the water.
There was flooding and high water, so his body was not found until Sunday the 13th, when a searcher spotted a bright colored tobacco can in the water. The body was quite close to where he was last seen and the can was sticking out of his pocket.
On Wednesday the 16th he was carried to his grave by six uniformed Hamilton County men, just home from the war. A sad story that lasted just twelve days, from beginning to end.

Sources:

Death certificate. Clerk, T/O Wells.

Leona Aird, T/O Wells Historian. Methodist cemetery records.

Death certificate. Clerk, T/O Wells.

Marriage certificate. Clerk, T/O Wells.

Leona Aird, T/O Wells Historian. Methodist cemetery records.

Ibid. Methodist cemetery records.

Ibid. Methodist cemetery records.

Family records & personal knowledge. Harold and Sherrill Gallup.

Leona Aird, T/O Wells Historian. Obituary, Adirondack Herald, April 1919.

Family records & personal knowledge. Harold & Sherrill Gallup.