Joseph Scott Fullerton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Scott Fullerton
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| Born | December 3, 1835 |
| Died | March 20, 1897 (aged 61) |
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Joseph Scott Fullerton (born December 3, 1835 – died March 20, 1897) was an American lawyer. He was also an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. For a short time, he helped lead the Freedmen's Bureau during the Reconstruction Era. Later in his life, he managed a national military park and developed real estate.
Early Life and Education
Joseph Scott Fullerton was born in December 1835 in Chillicothe, Ohio. His parents were Elizabeth Thompson and Humphrey Fullerton Jr. His family had supported the American Revolution.
He went to Chillicothe Academy. Then, he studied at Miami University, graduating in 1856. In 1858, he finished his law studies at Cincinnati Law School. After working for a lawyer in Chillicothe, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri. There, he continued to practice law.
Service in the Civil War
During the American Civil War, Fullerton joined the Union Army. He started as a private, even though he was offered a higher rank. He felt he needed more experience first. Soon, he became a First Lieutenant in the 2nd Missouri Infantry.
He quickly moved up in rank. He became an Assistant Adjutant General with the rank of Major. He worked for General Gordon Granger. He also served as a Lieutenant Colonel and Chief of Staff for the 4th Army Corps. For his brave service during the Atlanta Campaign, he was given the honorary rank of Brigadier General on March 13, 1865.
After the War
After the Civil War, Fullerton helped to set up and lead the Freedmen's Bureau. This organization helped formerly enslaved people. He did not stay in this role for a long time. President Andrew Johnson sent him to New Orleans in 1866. His job was to help solve problems between different groups of people there.
When he returned to St. Louis in 1867, Fullerton became the Postmaster General for the city. He also bought large areas of land outside St. Louis. As a real estate developer, he helped create new housing areas like Westminster Place and Portland and Westmoreland Places. In the 1890s, he also led the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. This park protects important Civil War battlefields.
His Death
Joseph Fullerton died in a train accident on March 20, 1897. The accident happened near Oakland, Maryland. The train he was on went off the tracks while crossing a bridge. His train car fell into the Youghiogheny River. He was the only person who died in the accident. His body was found three weeks later.
Fullerton was buried at Grandview Cemetery in Chillicothe, Ohio. Many important people attended his funeral, including General David S. Stanley, who he had served under during the Civil War.
