John Buchannan Fuller is my husband’s great great grandfather.
I do not know much about John B Fuller. What I do know is that after Percy Fuller and Loretta Palmatier split up in 1920’s, the couple’s daughter went to live with her mother in Chicago. The couple’s two older boys, Raymond and Marshall, moved in with their grandparents, John and Emma Fuller. The household was not an easy place for the grandsons to grow up in.
I recently found an index to obituaries in Custer county, Nebraska. Using the index, I contacted the Nebraska State Historical Society to order a copy of the obituary for John B. Fuller. I am so thankful for the archivist who I contacted. Not only did she locate obituary from the Comstock News, she also let me know that there was an additional obituary in the Sargent Leader. Both obituaries have plenty of drama to share.
J B FULLER LAID TO REST MON., DEC. 12
Passed Away Suddenly Thursday Morning at Age of 82 Years.
With the suddenness of a bolt of lightning came the death of J.B. Fuller, occurring about nine o’clock last Thursday morning, December 8, death being attributed to a heart attack.
Mr. Fuller came to work last Thursday morning, evidently in good health, and during the early hours of the morning he joshed with several of his friends. About nine o’clock he was found, by one of the Reckling boys, in his hardware store, sitting in a chair, the boy thinking he was asleep. Being unable to awake him, the boy went for assistance, and it was then found that he had quietly passed away.
Mr. Fuller was one of the pioneer hardware dealers of this community, was the oldest businessman in Comstock, and one of the oldest, if not the oldest, hardware dealers in the state. He began his hardware business in the old town of Wescott in 1898, later moving to Comstock. In 1906 he disposed of his store here and farmed west of town for several years. He opened another hardware store in Comstock in July 1925, and operated this business enterprise until his death Thursday morning. Of him it can be said, “a man who did his work well.”
John Buchannan Fuller, son of John and Marietta Wilson Fuller, was born in Lapeer, Lapeer county, Michigan, November 5, 1856, and departed this life on December 8, 1938, at the age of 82 years, one month, and three days.
When a small boy he moved with his parents to Illinois. From Illinois he moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he grew to manhood.
In the year 1878 he came to York, Nebraska, where he met and married Miss Emma Jane Shipman on January 8, 1880, and to this union ten children were born, the three elder dying in infancy.
In the year of 1890 he moved with his family to a homestead near Wescott, Nebraska, living there until the spring of 1898 when he moved to Wescott, Nebraska, and engaged in the hardware business. After the railroad came up the valley, he moved his business and family to the new town of Comstock, Nebraska.
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J.B. FULLER LAID TO REST MONDAY, DEC. 12
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Disposing of his business in 1906 he engaged in farming until 1918 at which time he disposed of his farm and moved to Comstock. In July, 1925, he again entered into the hardware business which he owned and operated up to the time of his death.
While living in Wescott he was active in the Congregational church and Sunday school, and after moving to Comstock he transferred his membership to the First Congregational church of Comstock, Nebraska.
He leaves to mourn his loss, his wife, seven children: Percy E. of Divide, Wyoming, Gladys Eggers, Myrtle Point, Oregon, Clara Smelser, Lincoln, Nebraska, Clarence E. of Martin, South Dakota, Roy R., and Irene Day of Comstock, and Alma Mathauser of Omaha, Nebraska. One brother, Irving Fuller of York, Nebraska; 19 grand children; eight great grand children; and many other relatives and a host of friends.
Funeral services were held from the Community church in Comstock Monday afternoon, December 12, conducted by the Rev. E. G. Samuelson of Elmcreek, Nebraska, and internment was made in the Douglas Grove cemetery.
COMSTOCK HARDWARE DEALER DIES FROM HEART ATTACK
Thursday, December 8, John B. Fuller of Comstock passed away while sitting in a chair in his hardware store. Mr. Fuller had arisen that morning and at the usual time went to his hardware store and built the fire and swept out. In the course of time he was arranging some money in its accustomed place for the days use. While doing this he probably felt coming on the heart attack or whatever it was that caused his death, for we are told that he sat down on a nearby chair, placed is arm over the back and then put his hand in his pocket. This kept him from falling to the floor.
Sometime afterwards a small boy went into the store and not being able to get Mr. Fuller to answer his questions, he ran into Orin Mutter’s store and said Mr. Fuller wouldn’t talk to him. Mr. Mutter sensing that something was wrong, sent word to someone else to come and when they entered the store, they found that Mr. Fuller was dead.
Mr. Fuller was 82 years of age. He first entered the hardware business at Wescott in 1898, forty years ago. When the railroad came up the valley in 1899 and the new town of Comstock was started, Mr. Fuller moved his store to Comstock and continued to operate it until 1906 when he sold the business to Tom Arthur and Jason Evans. He then moved to a farm southwest of Comstock and farmed for twelve years and then moved back to Comstock. About the year 1926 he started into the hardware business again in Comstock, being sixty eight or sixty nine years old at the time. He continued to operate this business from then until his death at the age of a little more then 82 years.
Mr. Fuller’s funeral was held Monday, December 12, from the Comstock church and interment was made in the Douglas Grove cemetery.
Fay Spooner was the funeral director. Loy E. Hersh of this city was one of the singers.
