Biographical Memoirs of
Wells County,
Indiana, 1903. pp. 104-105.
HON. GEORGE E. FULTON.
The family of which the subject of this review is an honorable representative has long been identified with the history of northeastern
Indiana and in each succeeding generation it has furnished the business and professional world with men of eminent ability and sterling worth. Prominent among these is
Hon. George E. Fulton, whose position as a distinguished physician and surgeon rests upon an assured foundation and whose career as a legislator is creditable alike to himself and to the county honored by his citizenship. The Doctor is proud to claim the county of
Wells as his native home, having spent the greater part of his life and achieved his professional success within its borders. His father, John
Fulton, and his mother, who bore the maiden name of Sarah
Egbert, were born in
Westmoreland county,
Pennsylvania, the former a son of James
Fulton, of whose family history a more complete account will be found elsewhere in these pages. The subject was born in the town of Ossian on the 8th day of October, 1855, and at the age of three years lost his father, the mother dying when he was a lad of eight. The severing of family ties by the ruthless hand of death caused the youth to find a home with relatives who took him to
Illinois and later to
Iowa, in which state his early educational discipline was acquired. After completing the common school course he pursued his studies for some time in the Sioux City high school, after which he spent several years steamboating on the
Missouri and
Mississippi rivers, finally stopping at the city of New
Orleans, where for a period of three years he served in the capacity of hotel clerk. After these varied experiences it became necessary for him to make choice of some profession or vocation for a life work. His tastes and inclinations leading him to decide upon medicine, he took a preliminary course of reading under the direction of competent instructors and then entered Miami Medical
College at Cincinnati,
Ohio, from which he graduated with an honorable record in the year 1878. Receiving his degree, Dr. Fulton returned to his native city and entering the office of his brother, J. C. Fulton, at
Murray, was soon in the enjoyment of a lucrative practice, which continued unabated until his removal to a large and more inviting field at Bluffton four years later. During the last twenty years he has maintained an office in the latter place, building up an extensive business, second to that of no other medical man in this part of the state, and continually adding to his reputation as an eminent physician and surgeon. Dr. Fulton stands admittedly in the front ranks of
Wells county's distinguished professional men, possessing a thoroughly disciplined mind and keeping in close touch with the trend of modern thought relating to the noble calling to which his life and energies have been devoted. He has ever maintained his high standing, never descending beneath the dignity of his profession nor compromising his usefulness by countenancing any but noble and legitimate practice. The apparent ease with which he has mounted to his present a commanding position in the healing art marks him as the possessor of talents beyond the majority of his professional brethren and, being a close and critical student, he experiences no difficulty in sustaining the high reputation which his professional abilities and marked success have earned for him.
While primarily interested in his life work, Dr. Fulton has not been unmindful of the duties which every citizen owes to the public. He has ever taken an active part in promoting the material welfare of his city and county, aiding with his influence and means ail enterprises with that object in view. In politics he is pronounced in his allegiance to the Democratic party and for a number of years has been one of its recognized leaders in this section of the state. He has never been an aspirant for official honors, but in 1888, at the earnest solicitation of many friends he permitted his name to be placed on the ticket as a candidate for representative to the lower house of the general assembly. He was easily elected and his career as a lawmaker proved eminently satisfactory to his constituency regardless of party affiliation, resulting in his re-election in 1890. While a member of the legislature he served on some of the most important committees, took not only an active but influential part in the general deliberations of the body his ability as a public speaker always commanding the most respectful attention from both sides of the house. He introduced a number of bills which became laws, beside being instrumental in bringing about much important legislation which has had a beneficial influence upon the state in many ways. Dr. Fulton is an accomplished campaigner, contributing greatly to the success of the cause on the dustings as well as by judicious advice in party councils. While deeply interested in public matters in general, he does not let these things interfere with the successful prosecution of his professional duties. He holds himself in readiness to answer the numerous calls for services at all hours and rarely does he permit the matter of remuneration to prevent him from alleviating suffering, be the patient ever so poor or humble. Some years ago he served as health officer to
Wells County and for the city of Bluffton for six years. He is a member of the county and state medical societies, having served as president and secretary of the former, and not infrequently has he read before these bodies carefully prepared papers evincing ripe scholarship, critical analysis and original and profound investigation. For a period of twelve years he has been holding the position of surgeon for the
Clover Leaf Railroad, during which time he has performed many delicate operations and saved lives which but for his skill would have been lost. Fraternally the Doctor is a member of the Pythian order and religiously subscribes to the Presbyterian creed. Believing that religion is largely a matter of the conscience, he is tolerant in his opinion, believing all churches to be great moral and spiritual forces calculated to save men from their sins and win them to a high life here and an infinitely better and grander state of existence hereafter. Dr. Fulton was married in 1881 to Miss Mary Mosy, who departed this life on the 20th day of June, 1892, the mother of two children, Anna and Jane, the latter dying January 16, 1892. The Doctor's present wife, whom he married in 1894, was formerly Miss Elizabeth
Muth.