Page 310

 

K. L. FULLER

 

Near the town of Blockton, Jefferson township, is the home of K. L. Fuller, whose prosperity is indicated in his ownership of a valuable farm property of two hundred and eighty acres.  Thereon he engages in the raising of grain and stock and is also well known as a buyer and shipper of stock.  He is unfaltering in his business activity and seems to know exactly when and where and how to invest that his labors shall bring the best possible return.  Iowa has numbered him among her residents since 1881 and after living in Mahaska county for about eight years he took up his abode in Taylor county in 1889.

 

Mr. Fuller was at that time a young man of twenty years, his birth having occurred in Greene county, Pennsylvania, July 27, 1869.  His father, D. E. Fuller, was also born and reared in the Keystone state and when he had obtained his majority he was married there to Miss Amy E. Lynch, a native of Pennsylvania.  The young couple began their domestic life upon that farm in Greene county where they lived for a considerable period, during which time six children were born unto them.  The tales which he heard concerning the middle west, however, proved to him irresistibly attractive and, believing that he would have better opportunities beyond the Mississippi, he removed to Iowa about 1878 and settled in Mahaska county, where he resided for five or six years.  He made his home during that period near Oskaloosa and subsequently he took up his abode in Taylor county, where he resided for a number of years and then went to Rena county, Kansas.  He continued a resident of that locality until his demise which occurred about 1895.  He is yet survived by his widow, who is still making her home in the Sunflower state.

 

K. L. Fuller spent his youthful days in Pennsylvania and in Iowa, accompanying his parents on their removal westward.  His educational opportunities were those offered by the public schools of the two states.  He remained with his father until about twenty years of age and in the meantime accompanied his parents to Kansas, where he lived for about three years.  He then returned to Taylor county, where he sought and secured employment as a farm hand, working by the month for four years, the entire time being spent in the employ of Mr. Keenan.  This fact alone indicates his faithfulness and the ability with which he served his employer.

 

On the 22d of February, 1883, desiring to have a home of his own, Mr. Fuller was married to Miss Dora E. Babson, who was born and reared in Franklin county, Iowa.  Following their marriage Mr. Fuller rented land which he cultivated for three years and then for seven years rented the farm, upon which he now resides.  At the end of that time his wife inherited one-half of the amount (page 311) and Mr. Fuller purchased the other half.  He has bent his energies with indefatigable purpose to the further development and improvement of the place, has erected a commodious and substantial residence there, has also put up a good barn and set out a nice grove of forest trees upon the place and his farm altogether presents a most neat and well kept appearance.  As he has prospered in his undertakings he has made other investments in property and is now the owner of three-fourths of a section of land in Texas and an eighty-acre farm in Oklahoma and one hundred and sixty acres in Nebraska.  In addition to the cultivation which he bestows upon his Iowa land, he is engaged in buying, feeding and dealing in live stork, which business has claimed much of his attention for a number of years.  His judgement is seldom, if ever, at error in regard to the value of live stock and he has thus been enabled to secure good profit on his labors as a dealer.

 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Fuller has been blessed with four children but Gale E., the eldest, died at the age of seven years.  The others are: James Clifford, Dorothy M. and Amy Marie.  The family are well known in their part of the county and the hospitality of the best homes of the neighborhood is freely and generously accorded them.  Mr. Fuller, since age conferred upon him the right of franchise has voted with the democracy but, though having firm belief in its principles, has never been ambitious to hold office.  He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Blockton and in social, business and political circles is well known, being regarded throughout southwestern Iowa and northeastern Missouri as a man of good business capacity and of exemplary habits, whose industry and determination have constituted the salient features in his success and made his example one well worthy of emulation.