The Infamous John H. Fuller: The End

While it's been challenging and retrospective, I'm ready to offer the last installment on John H. Fuller-three times great-grandfather and murderer-and move on to other topics.  If you haven't read the other three posts, stop here and go back to the beginning!

As you already know, on October 26, 1875 old man Fuller changed his plea and confessed his part in the murder of Wilson Pound.  However, first let's back up to summer 1875 after his arrest, his arraignment on June 30 and his incarceration while awaiting trial.  The Holland City News was on this story big-time and on July 3, 1875 wrote, "The prisoner in his cell, when he is left alone in his meditations, seems to feel the enormity of his crime and is often heard to burst out into tears and prayer".  Then two weeks later on July 17 "The old man looks like a corpse and his hands and whole body tremble like a person afflicted with delirium tremens.  He has been under arrest but three weeks yet this short time and the "gnawings of the worm that never dies" have rendered such a change perceptible in him that the John H. Fuller of the past would scarcely be recognized.  He is not insane in the full meaning of the term but soon will be either dead or crazy".  This was followed by the July 24 update "J. H. Fuller looked very much better than when we saw him last.  At Grand Haven it is generally believe that his insanity was all put on.  At any rate the cure was something marvelous.  He started out for a ride with the Sheriff.  His groans and lamentations during the drive were terrible...until on approaching the Cutler House he suddenly swung his arms heavenward and said "Oh! the eagle is coming down to carry me off to freedom"-referring to the eagle on top of the hotel.  The sheriff kindly insinuated that his insanity was too transparent and that is would be better for him to drop it and appear "clothed in his right mind".  He has not seen any angels since that hour".  Wow!  I mean gosh, you want to believe he was remorseful but it's just so hard after reading these newspaper stories!

No surprises at the October 29 sentencing of Fuller, imprisonment for life.  He was immediately taken to Jackson Prison by Sheriff Woltman and became known as prisoner #823. I was hoping for a photo when I obtained Fuller's prison records from Archives of Michigan in Lansing however it was not standard procedure at the time.  Fuller would spend the first two weeks in solitary confinement in the basement.  

Eight months later, in 1880, a United Stated Census year, we find him back to his trial shenanigans and listed as "white, male, 60 years of age, widowed and under the "occupation" category-INSANE!  This is highly relevant since most of the other convicts are enumerated with occupations such as barrel maker, wagon maker, carpenter, laborer, etc. as numerous businesses were located on prison grounds (cheap labor).  Of the 816 prisoners on this census, only 12 are listed insane.  Faking insanity could lead to an extremely long and worthless prison existence with plenty of time on your hands.  In fact, enough time to plan a prison escape! 

On May 19, 1880 at 5:00 am old man Fuller did in fact escape however was recaptured just 2 hours later.  Whether or not he was punished further is unknown, but on September 30 he made a second escape and was never recaptured, ever!  He lived the remainder of his life a free man.  

Jackson Daily Citizen, September 30, 1880, No. 159, page 4.  Jackson Districk Library Carneige Branch.

Yes! Absolutely! Give the man who tried to escape 4 months ago "the run of the corridors"!   

"The Nightkeepers Reports" (1882) by John H. Purvis is a publication of the partial journal Mr. Purvis keep as the nightkeeper of Jackson Prison to inform the warden of the evenings events. Purvis mentions several times that "free men in the shops leave their clothing lying about at quitting time.  He actually warns the warden that "the practice must be stopped" and "the last escapee took clothing like this which greatly aided his getaway".  Maybe that's where Fuller got his hands on "the blue flat-top hat"?

In 1880 in Jackson, Michigan was a railroad hub having three depots-Michigan Central Railroad Depot Union Station (now called Jackson Station and the oldest, continuously operating passenger train station in the United States), Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Depot and Fort Wayne & Jackson Railroad Depot and all within 2 miles of the prison.  In fact, the Michigan Central line served the prison and the track ran directly on the west of the it!  Seriously, just yards away!  So, in fact, it probably wasn't hard for Fuller to escape as long as he made it to the train tracks and hopped a car.  

Fuller disappears from all records (with one exception, I will explain later) from the time he escaped until his death in Wisconsin on June 10, 1900 or maybe I should say I just haven't found any more yet.  Curiously, he did not change his name, evident from his death certificate, and last known residence was in a town called Byron, Monroe County. (If you remember, the old man was no stranger to Wisconsin The Infamous John H. Fuller-The Beginning). This small village just happened to all but share a county line with Sauk County his previous residence before removing to Michigan. A little more collateral research on Fuller reveals a sister Julia Wood lived in this same county and is buried near him in the Wood Family Cemetery in Tomah, Monroe County.  Did she know he was a murderer? In 1880, no cars, phones, internet and just newspapers, telegraph and mail it would be hard to know for sure.

Last weekend I located a warranty deed land record from Ottawa County containing the signature of  John H. Fuller, notarized while in prison on March 22, 1876, for the sale of his 160 acres in Holland, Michigan. Interestingly, the land was sold to George C. Stewart, Melvin Fuller's attorney, for the sum of $1,000.  Obviously, someone collected the money from the sale for Fuller, most likely his acquitted son Melvin. One thousand dollars would have been quite a sum to have in your "back pocket" when planning an escape, comparable to almost $23,000 in today's currency.  Would Fuller have risked making Holland his first stop after escape to collect his money?  Would you?  Or just maybe, all that money went to Melvin's defense.  There are so many unanswered questions.

Pilgrim Home Cemetery, Holland, Michigan.

Lastly, I would like to remember the innocent victim, Mr. Wilson Pound, the old bachelor who lived on the shores of the Black Lake spending most of his days fishing and trapping. Regrettably, his final resting place is in the same cemetery in Holland as Melvin Fuller, acquitted...ahem...for his murder. 

Next Month:

Guest blogger William H. Atwell

The Infamous John H. Fuller, The Beginning

This month, I thought it could be worthwhile to exam John H. Fuller's early life in an attempt to find clues about what may have took him down the path of murder.  As I've been thinking and writing for the last couple months about the murder committed by my third great-grandfather and his son, it's led me to wonder what makes a killer. Is it greed or money and are murderers born or made?   

Genetic sequencing has found a gene in 30% of the male population that is associated with aggressive behavior.  While the gene is found in some convicted murderers it is also found in full-functioning law abiding citizens as well.  The gene alone doesn't create a killer. Brain scans of some, but not all, murderers also show abnormal prefrontal cortex, an area associated with impulse control, the bigger puzzle is trying to figure out how their brains got that way.  We will never know what made John H. Fuller do what he did.  I tend to believe killers are born and made, not exclusive to each other.  Individuals are such complex mixes of their socio-economic situation, upbringing, genetics, lifestyle, personality, etc. that it seems impossible to pinpoint any one mechanism. 

John was born in 1824 in China (town name changed to Arcade in 1866),Wyoming County, New York to Nathaniel and Lydia (Ames) Fuller, one of 12 children. Unfortunately, details of his early childhood are unknown.  John married for the first time, while still residing in New York, in 1843 to Sarah Almia Preston.  He was 18, she 15. Their first child William was born in New York about 1845, followed by Seymour in 1846 and Melvin in 1847.  Finally, a daughter Sarah was born on 14 February 1854 but two days later her mother Sarah died, most likely from infection and complications of childbirth.   John is now a widower with 4 children. However not for long, he marries his sister-in-law, Mary Angeline Preston four months later on June 13, 1854.  

So, if you haven't managed to visualize the timeline yet here is a simpler, extended, version and it gets crazy (new information will be in bold).  Looking at his life events in a timeline I'm struck by the amount of loss John endured and curious if these stressors affected his brain and mental health; although this would never justify murder of another human.  

1843:  John and Sarah marry.

1845:  William born.

1846:  Seymour born.

1854:  Daughter Sarah born, February 14.

1854:  Mother Sarah dies February 16 at age 26. 

1854:  John and Mary marry June 13.

1854-1858:  Family relocates to Dellona, Sauk County, Wisconsin

1858:  John and Mary welcome their only child, Mary Allena (my 2 x great grandmother) June 22.

1859:  William dies at 12 years old.  Cause of death is unknown accident.

1862:  Wife Mary dies on March 13. She was 32.

1863:  John marries Matilda Trowbridge on May 6 in Dellona, Wisconsin.  John's son, Melvin, married Matilda's sister, Jennie, in 1868.

1868:  Seymour dies, aged 22, buried in Pioneer Cemetery, Bluffview, Sauk County, Wisconsin.  Cause of death unknown.

1870- Approximate time the family relocated to Holland, Michigan.

1874:  Wife Matilda dies on 13 December 1874, about 6 months before her husband murders Wilson Pound.

1875:  John Fuller pleads guilty to murder on October 29.

1877:  Daughter Sarah died at the age of 24 on February 14 from "congestion of the brain" (this could mean stroke, infection, brain swelling due to trauma etc.) 

Quite a timeline so far, don't you agree?

1880:  Next Month-The Infamous John H. Fuller-The End.   Find out what happened to John Fuller on September 30!

References:

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31714853

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/science/killers-born-murder-gene-scientists-4528684

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-29760212

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/may/12/how-to-spot-a-murderers-brain

Christian Hiller and the Michigan 9th Infantry, Part Two

Last month we left off with the Michigan 9th Infantry in the middle of the Atlanta Campaign and marching toward Atlanta.  Remember, the 9th was provost guard to General George H. Thomas and his headquarters, a position that was envied by their peers because their general location was away from the front lines. Between August 30 and September 1, 1864 the regiment found themselves in the strategically located town of Jonesboro, Georgia approximately 20 miles south of Atlanta.

Union troops destroying Macon & Western Railroad tracks. (The 9th took an active part in destroying the railroads here).

The  Macon & Western Railroad, situated in the town, was an important Confederate supply route into Atlanta and the target of Union troops. The Battle of Jonesboro was a lopsided, two day battle, 70,000 Union troops to 20,000 rebels.  Once Jonesboro fell, Atlanta followed.  Over 1,600 prisoners were taken and sent north on trains, 500 a day, and guarded by members of the 9th and two other regiments under the command of Colonel Parkhurst(1).

Historians recognize this as one of the decisive turning points in our nation's history which set in motion Abraham Lincoln's re-election two months later.

On September 8, the 9th marched to Atlanta "and went into a very comfortable camp in the north part of the city, and resumed its duties as provost guards which became quite arduous"(2).  Frank Lester of Company C wrote "

Atlanta, Monday, October 24.  The regiment is still with General Thomas' Headquarters.  The boys are interested in the coming election.  Every loyal soldier will vote for Lincoln.  The rebels want McClellan elected and when our prisoners heard he had been nominated they gave him three cheers"(3).

While General Thomas had previously left for Nashville to organize an army to oppose Confederate General John B. Hood, the Michigan 9th along with the 22nd left for Chattanooga on October 31 with headquarters train (train in this case means a walking procession and not an actual railroad train) and office equipment which included 96 wagons and 6 mule teams and 32 ambulances.  The tedious, muddy march lasted six days before arriving in Chattanooga November 6 in time to give all the rank over the age of 21 to "vote for Lincoln"(4) on Tuesday, November 8.  It is worth noting here that Christian Hiller was not yet of voting age, he was only 20, which I imagine would have been a huge disappointment for him to not be able to vote.  Lincoln won 55% of the popular vote but 90.99% of the electoral college votes(4).

With General Thomas and Colonel Parkhurst both in Nashville (read more about The Battle of Nashville) the 9th was left as part of the encampment to hold Chattanooga throughout the winter.  "The guard duty of the never-to-be-forgotten winter campaign at Chattanooga, with Hood's despairing forces preying upon our outskirts, was arduous in the extreme". (5)  However, as winter eased, Christian and the 9th arrived in Nashville by rail on March 29, 1865 and assigned to General Thomas' headquarters once again as well as at the military prison there.

On April 9, just 11 days after Christian's arrival in Nashville, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse. Five days later President Lincoln would be shot and one day later he would die.

Frank Lester, a soldier in the 9th and member of Company C, wrote his account of the terrible news:

"Nashville, April 16, 1865

Yesterday morning there was to have been a grand military parade here and at night an illumination of the city.  That morning the flags floated from every house and everyone was rejoicing over the good news of Lee's surrender.  Just then the news came that the President was dead-that he had been assassinated!  Then everything was in turmoil.  No one believed it at first and the men rushed to the telegraph office and to Headquarters to learn if it was true.  Everyone was dumbfounded and did not know what to say.  At noon every flag

Nashville Daily Union newspaper, April 15, 1865, Second Edition.

was at half mast and was tied with black crepe.  All the business places in the city were closed and every military headquarters was a place of mourning.  There were several men shot by guards because they rejoiced over the death of Lincoln.  A strong patrol was kept through the city all night".

Nashville, April 23.

 There was a grand display here on Wednesday, the 19th.  All the soldiers in the city led the procession, then came Gen. Thomas and his staff and others with their staffs, then the hearse-wagon drawn by twelve horses, one black and one white horse in each span.  The wagon had three platforms.  On the top one was the Stars and Stripes.  The wagon was trimmed with black and white.  After this came the fire companies and all the other societies, and then came the citizens.  It was estimated that there were 40,000 in the procession, as it took an hour and 40 minutes to pass a given point.  The soldiers all mourn the loss of Lincoln, our great martyred leader." (6)

So, there it is, the war is over and their leader dead at the hands of a Confederate sympathizer.  Grief, anger, and vengeance felt on the Union side; jubilance on the Confederate side.  Many thought it was a hoax or rumor.  You have to wonder what both side thought the future would bring.

We've followed Christian from Michigan to Chattanooga, the Siege on Atlanta, back to Chattanooga and on to Nashville where he hears the joyous news of surrender and the fateful news of Lincoln's assassination.  I intended for Christian's Civil War story to be a two-part entry however, since I am still waiting on material from the National Archive and would like to chronicle his life from May through his discharge from military service in September, I will be making the third and last post in September on this subject.  See you next month!

References & Footnotes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonesboro,_Georgia

Macon & Railroad, Harper's Weekly, October 1, 1864

 (1), (2, 5 page 41) Historical Sketches of the Michigan 9th Infantry

(4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1864

(3) Frank Lester, Company C, page 41 9th Michigan 9th Infantry Roster

(6 Frank Lester, Company C page 42 9th

Michigan 9th Infantry Roster

Life of Major General George H. Thomas by Van Horne

1864 Campaign Poster

Christian Hiller and the Michigan 9th Infantry

Note:  For the purposes of this blog, I will begin the history of the Michigan 9th Volunteer Infantry with Private Hiller's enlistment  until his discharge.  For complete perspective on the regiment please see any of the links below for service from November 1861-December 1863.

Christian Hiller in Civil War Union uniform, circa 1865.  Photo courtesy of Michigan Hiller Family.

Christian Hiller began his Civil War military career enlisting for 3 years in the Michigan 9th Volunteer Infantry on February 8, 1864 in Lake Odessa, Michigan.  Each company in the regiment was supplied with men from the same one or two counties (3 companies had 2 counties each) in Michigan with Christian being assigned to Company H from Ionia County.  In all, it was armed with soldiers from Macomb, Berrien, Jackson, Ionia, Wayne, Calhoun, Branch, Cass, Shiawassee, and Livingston Counties.  Considering the conflicting resources I have read, the Regiment left Coldwater on either February 10 or 20 (more likely February 10) under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Wilkinson.  Previously, the 9th had returned in January from Chattanooga where the Regiment was veteranized, 306 of these men re-enlisted.  After a 30 day furlough and the addition of about 200 newly enlisted men (one being Christian) they headed to their prior post in Chattanooga receiving their orders from General Thomas.  

Detroit Free Press, February 24, 1864

The newly re-formed 9th was off to a rocky start, however. As the Regiment's train neared Lafayette, Indiana, it ran off the track demolishing four cars and then just 25 miles later south of Indianapolis the train derailed a second time with 8 cars being smashed or tipped over "but fortunately not a man was hurt"(1).

On February 29, under the command of General George H. Thomas' Army of the Cumberland, the Regiment reported to Chattanooga and resumed provost duty (military police of the Union army) for the General as well as his headquarters as they began the Georgia Campaign (also known as the Atlanta Campaign). The following is a quote from the book "Michigan In The War" (link below)

"The 9th Infantry during a large portion of its service was the trusted body guard of General Thomas and provost guard of the Army of the Cumberland, receiving his entire confidence for courage and fidelity in the discharge of duty.  Compliments coming from such a service gives the regiment an endorsement scarcely equaled by that of any other regiment".

Quick history refresher here: The Atlanta Campaign was fought between May and September, 1864 in northwest Georgia as a series of battles ending in Union troops taking Atlanta.  When Atlanta fell on September 2, General William Tecumseh Sherman would continue his push, leaving Atlanta on November 15 in what is now famously known as "Sherman's March to the Sea".  

Atlanta Campaign showingmovements of General Thomas and the Michigan 9th while under his command.  Taken from Wikipedia page on "Atlanta Campaign" (link below).

As well as being tasked as provost guard, the regiment's other responsibility was prisoner (rebel soldier) transport on the field and on trains to the north bound for military prisons.  Significant battles between Chattanooga and Atlanta were:

May 8,  Rocky Face, Georgia "Battle of Rocky Face Ridge"

May 14, Resaca, Georgia "Battle of Resaca"

May 27, Dallas, Georgia "Battle of Dallas"

June 25, Kenesaw, Georgia "Battle of Kenesaw Mountain"

July 5-6, Chattahoochee River, Georgia "Skirmish at Pace's Ferry"

July 22-August 25, Atlanta, Georgia "Siege of Atlanta"

September 1, Jonesboro, Georgia "Battle of Jonesboro"

While researching for this topic and with regards to the Siege of Atlanta, the following extract is the only time I found reference to Company H:

"One day during the siege the headquarters camp was so near thhe front that the rebel sharp shooters and artillery recognized it as of some headquarters and directed a fire on it.  Private James Quinn, Company H, was wounded so that he died September 18.  General Thomas directed that the camp be moved to one side out of range of rebel fire"(2).  

Worthwhile to mention here, considering the Veteran's Schedule from Ancestry.com it appears Christian sustained damage to his hearing and eyes during his time in the war.

Christian Hiller, line 6, on both schedules.

Interesting side note, Christian's post office address is listed as "Rosina" which I have never heard.  Curiousity raised, a Google search resulted. Apparently, Rosina Post Office underwent a number of name changes-Richmond Corners and Lake City, and finally by 1890 when the Veteran's Schedule was taken, Rosina.  The map name for this small area/community was called Woodbury which I have heard of and exactly where Christian lived.

Next Month...

1.  What happened to the 9th after the Seige of Atlanta.

2.  Hopefully, fingers crossed, more detailed accounts from the National Archive of Christian's personal military history.

3.  Find of where Christian was when he heard the news of President Lincoln's assassination.

References and Footnotes

1, 2 

Historical Sketches of the Ninth Michigan Infantry

Georgia/Atlanta Campaign

Michigan 9th Infantry

Michigan In The War

Rosina Post Office

Grandfathers Who Served

Today is Memorial Day and I thought it timely to recognize my grandfathers who have served our country.  I'm sure this list is not complete as there is ALWAYS ongoing research. Their sacrifice leaves me with lasting gratitude.

Civil War (1861-1865)

John Thielen, circa 1869.

Civil War (1861-1865) 

John Thielen (1843-1929)

 Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, 34th Regiment, Company D.  Enlisted November, 1862 at age 19 and discharged April 16, 1863 due to disability (no details).  John  immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1854 and had only been in this country for 8½ years before his enlistment.

Christian G. Hiller (1844-1918) 

Michigan 9th Infantry Regiment, Company H.  Enlisted February 10, 1864 and discharged September 28, 1865 in Jackson, Michigan.  Christian was a Germany immigrant as well, arriving in the United States at the age of 13 in 1857.  Seven years later, age 20, he would be a Union soldier.

Revolutionary War (1775-1783)

Timothy Barton (1732-1791) 

 Massachusetts Militia.  Private in Captain David Chadwick's Company marching to Bennington on alarm.  Service 5 days, discharged September 23, 1777.

Oliver Burton (1740-1813) 

Connecticut 16th Regiment.  Enlisted and served 3 months.

Samuel Kenyon (1720-1801) Noyes' Regiment, 

Rhode Island Militia, service date 26 August 1778.

John Clarke (1740-1836) 

Lieutenant and captain with Rhode Island troops.  Enlisted in Richmond, RI and served as a Lieutenant, May 1776-May1778 and Captain under Colonels Dyer and Maxon, May 1778-May1883.

Solomon Fuller (1757-1847) 

Private and sergeant with Vermont Militia.  Served as a private in Captain William Dyre's Company, October-November 1780 and sergeant in Captain Bigelow Lawrence's Company, Colonel Walbridge's Regiment.  Four days service, July 1781 and ten days service with the same company October 1781.

Elijah Fuller, father of Solomon (1724-1799)  

Vermont Militia. Private in Green Mountain Boys, Captain Brownson's Company, Colonel Warner's Regiment.

Edward Preston (1733-1823) 

Massachusetts Militia.

William Brown, Jr. (1740-?)

Massachusetts Militia, 17 April 1776.  Private in James Patch's Company of Minute Men who marched on alarm from Ipswich to Mystic.  Four days service.

Don "Red" Hiller, A Sailor's Story

Don Hiller, circa 1909

Born in 1909 in Charlevoix, Michigan my grandfather's first three years of childhood were traditional.  But in 1912, his mother and sister both died shortly after childbirth leaving his father to raise a toddler alone.  Not much is known about who cared for him while his father worked but my guess is that his great Aunt Barbara did at least part-time.  Her home was in Lake Odessa, Michigan (also the hometown of my grandfather's parents) and she was unmarried and could have been available on sudden notice.  Interestingly, my grandfather has a photo of himself with Aunt Barbara, taken before his mother's death (shown),  but I have yet to find one with him together with his mother.  My grandfather named his own daughter Barbara, so his aunt must have held a special place in his heart.  Don spent his childhood summers in the Lake Odessa area working and playing on the farms of his mother's siblings, rotating through them all during the summer.

Catherine Barbara Hiller & Don C. Hiller, Sept. 1911

His education ended at 6th grade and at some point he joined the United States Lighthouse Service on the Great Lakes working on maintaining lighthouses and buoys.  

A sailor walks into a bar.....and meets his future wife.  It's no joke, that's how it happened!  My grandma, Anne, was working part-time at Frank & Mary's Place  (a tavern owned by her sister and brother-in-law) and he was a sailor who....well....enjoyed drinking.  They married in July 1935 and by 1936 had a son.  When Anne became pregnant again in 1937 with twin daughters,  Red's sailing days were over.  In an effort to find a career more suited to a family man, he attended technical school and was eventually hired in 1938 as a welder for Allis-Chalmers working for a time building equipment for the Manhattan Project.  

"Red Sky in Morning, Sailors take Warning, Red Sky at night, Sailor's delight" Red Hiller, middle, with shipmates aboard the Sumac.

Unlike today's standard, he spent his entire career at Allis-Chalmers eventually retiring in the early 1970's.  After retirement, to keep busy, he and my grandma attended church daily followed by lunch with friends afterwards.  

I remember my grandpa as a happy-go-lucky, easy-going man who enjoyed a good time, his family and friends, and beer.  Always helpful in the kitchen, he was my grandma's eager assistant while making strudel or potica for the holidays or a church bake sale.  There were many Yahtzee and card games at their kitchen table and if my grandpa wasn't playing he would always walk in and ask "Who's cheatin' the most?"  My grandparents and their homes, Walker Street and 88th Street, have special memories for me that I still recall today.