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Dickey Co., NDGenWeb Coordinator
… The first school house in this district was a one room building one and one-half miles east of where Fullerton now stands. The teacher was Miss Marie Herbert of Michigan; the pupils were: Robert and Allan Gregory [,] Stewart, Sidney, and Estelle Parke, Mary Birdsell, Jessie Lehman, Ray and Charlie Porter. Only two of these pupils reside in this vicinity at present; Robert Gregory and Jessie Lehman – now Mrs. R.D. Johnson. The Teacher Miss Marie Herbert became the wife of Benjamin Porter, August 1890 and passed away June 22, 1917.
Maple Township, was at first called or rather was, a part of Porter Township, which was named for the Porter brothers, Benjamin, Oscar, and Charles who were early settlers. In 1913 on petition, the township was divided; the north half 132-62 retaining the name of Porter; the south half given the name of Maple in honor of the Maple River that runs through it from the northwest to the southeast. The village of Fullerton was plotted on land belonging to Mr. E. F. Sweet and named Fullerton in honor of his father-in-law, Mr. Fuller. The “Soo” railroad was offered free right of way through the town site if they would locate a town on Mr. Sweet's land on Section fifteen which offer was accepted and the railroad was completed through here in September, 1887. In a short time a depot was erected and Charles G. Howard of Emmetsburg, Iowa, with his wife and daughter, Bessie arrived to take charge as the first agent. Trains only ran once a week, Sunday afternoons.
The first store was a large building erected by Mr. E.F. Sweet and occupied by George F. Bartlett, who kept a general line of merchandise also a millinery department in charge of Mrs. Bartlett. They had a baby daughter, Immogene, and the family occupied the very nice seven-room apartment over the store. Mr. Bartlett was also the first post-master; taking the place of Benjamin Porter who received the appointment but refused to qualify. The postoffice was located in his store. A building was erected on the east side of main street for a boarding and lodging house, and this was first conducted by Mr. and Mrs. Paxton from Ellendale.
The village school house, a two story building was erected in the summer of 1889 and at the dedication the address was given by Joseph Devine, at the time County Superintendent of schools for LaMoure County and the music was by Mr. and Mrs. James Barrett. Mrs. Fuller, mother of Mrs. E.F. Sweet[,] donated $1,000 toward the expense of the building. The upper room was seated with chairs and used for church and Sunday School, entertainments and socials; while the lower room was used for school. Professor Sorick of Michigan was the first teacher in this building.
The first Church Society organized in Fullerton was the Presbyterian, by Rev. E.E. Saunders of Fargo in March, 1889. The first minister was Rev. Sangree. A Presbyterian Sunday School was organized at the same time in the house of G.F. Bartlett. L.H. Getman was elected an elder in the church, also Superintendent of the Sunday School.
The first hotel the “Carrol House” so named in honor of Mr. Sweet's eldest son Carrol, was erected by Mr. Sweet in 1889 and is a three story structure. The first landlord was L. Getman.
F.W. Teichmann had the first blacksmith shop in Fullerton moving here from Yorktown where he had since 1884. Mr. Teichmann was married December 11, 1888, to Miss Emma J. Wells of Yorktown and they went immediately into their new house – the first residence built in Fullerton. Mr. Teichmann passed away September 14th, 1922, but this is still the home of Mrs. Teichmann.
The first rural mail delivery in the county was established at Fullerton December 1st, 1902 – making a twenty-five mile circuit through the Porter, Wright and Yorktown Townships. It was mainly through the efforts of F.O. Alin that this route was established. Thomas Parke was the first carrier. Route No. 2 was established May 1st, 1905. Frank Van Middlesworth was the first carrier. The first lumber yard was owned by the Sawyer and Arnold Lumber Company and Harry Doney was the first agent. The first elevator was the Atlantic – now the Farmer's elevator – Mr. Coffee was agent.
The Union Church was erected in Fullerton during the summer of 1907. The Committee for soliciting funds were Messrs. G.M. Gamber, Thomas Parke, B.S. Kingley, E.S. Thomas, Benjamin Porter, J.A. Dawe and E. J.M. Wippich, people of all denominations contributed and it was to be used by any religious organization, by each paying a small sum for the up-keep. The two lots on which it stands were donated by Mr. E.F. Sweet. The Church was dedicated August 1907. Among the speakers were Bishop Cammeron Mann and Rev. Cowan, Episcopal Rector here at that time; Rev. C.M. Haas, Presbyterian Church at Monango; and Rev. C.W. Samuelson, Lutheran Church at Oakes.
Two Newspapers – the Fullerton Farmer, edited by J.S. Jensen about the year 1905 and continued a few years by the Fullerton Independent established by R.O. Knowles April 1st, 1915, were sold to other papers of the County.
The first Livery and Feed Stable in Fullerton was put up on Lot 5 Block seven by H.M. Gibson in the spring of 1889, and was well patronized, the “livery” being one horse and buggy.
The first band was organized by James Barret, an arrival in '89 from London, England. Members were: H.J. Oberman, Ike Bachtel, H.M. Gibson, Frank and Anderson Beaver, F.W. Teichmann, Bert Armstrong, George F. Bartlett, Samuel Edward and Ray Porter and C.G. Howard.
Fullerton was incorporated as a village in March 1908.
Dickey Co., NDGenWeb Coordinator