BIOGRAPHY: John FULTON, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 37-8
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JOHN FULTON. In reviewing the family history of John Fulton, a notable engineer 
of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, we are constrained to admit the truth of the old 
saying, "blood tells."  The father, Rev. Thomas Fulton, was an honest, 
industrious, intelligent, God-fearing man; the son possesses the finest 
characteristics of the father.
     The Rev. Thomas Fulton was born in Ireland, May, 1797, and died in Campbell 
county, Virginia, June 24, 1890.  At about nineteen years of age he professed 
religion and joined the Methodist Episcopal church, and soon afterward was 
licensed to preach.  He was not loth to begin the work for God and his church as 
a minister, and he continued in it faithfully, until his death.  The first part 
of his labor was in Ireland, but about the year 1848 he moved with his family to 
America, first settling in Pennsylvania, but in 1867 went to Campbell county, 
Virginia.  He never became a circuit preacher after coming to this country, but 
remained an elder in the local ranks, and yet as long as he was able he kept up 
regular appointments, preaching with such zeal and earnestness that the people 
heard him with gladness.  He was never a dead preacher, and although he made no 
pretentions to oratory, he had the eloquence which comes from a burning soul.  
By this very force he commanded the attention of his hearers, and again and 
again were they heard to say:  "I love to hear Brother Fulton preach."  He was a 
man of prayer and great patience, who never flinched nor complained when 
reverses came upon him.  He was a firm believer in the old-time religion and its 
forms, prayer meetings, class meetings and all the details of the old Methodist 
service.  He was also a man of unbounded faith in God, and to his death never 
wavered in his trust in Him who is able and willing to save unto the utmost.  
His end was a complete justification of his godly life, for he died peacefully 
and in the full assurance of his eternal reward.
     At his funeral a large crowd gathered and wept with his bereaved family, 
and they were tears of genuine sorrow for the gentle, loving man, the kind 
father and affectionate husband who had passed from them.  For his wife and 
children, who are esteemed and honored members of the church there is the sweet 
joy of living so that they may meet him in heaven.
     There were born to the marriage of Rev. Fulton and Maria (McKeon) Fulton 
six sons and one daughter.  John (subject), Thomas, William, James, Alfred and 
Adam, are all residents of Concord, Virginia.  Sophia, deceased, was the wife of 
Samuel Dilworth, of Wayne county, Pennsylvania.  Edmund, who died in Saxon, 
Bedford county, Pennsylvania, was at the time of his death agent and telegraph 
operator for the Huntingdon and Broad Top railroad.
     His ancestors on the paternal side were of the Lowlands of Scotland, living 
at the time in history of Scotland when there was a general movement of the 
Scotch to the north of Ireland.  His ancestors on the maternal side being from 
the Highlands of Scotland, Mr. Fulton is therefore one of the those fortunate 
persons who can claim Scotch-Irish descent.
     Mr. Fulton was carefully educated in Erasmus Smith's school, a high school, 
and at Ardtrea Classical seminary, Ireland. He studied civil engineering in 
Dublin, and was employed in the construction of the Midland Railroad from Dublin 
to Galway, this being his first professional work. In 1848 he came to America 
with his father, and began his professional career by superintending the work in 
the completion of the old North Branch canal, Pennsylvania. This lasted from 
1848 to 1852. From 1852 to 1854 he was assistant in the construction of the 
Junction canal, which connected the Pennsylvania system of canals with the New 
York system. For the next two years he was assistant engineer of the Barclay 
Railroad, in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and from 1856 to 1874 was resident 
civil and mining engineer of the Huntingdon and Broad Top Railroad and Coal 
company, and from 1870 to 1873 he was chief engineer for the Pennsylvania 
Railroad company, of the Bedford and Bridgeport Railroad under the Pennsylvania 
Railroad company. In 1874 he came to Johnstown, and until 1887 was general 
mining engineer of the Cambria Iron company.
     He was general superintendent of the Cambria Iron company from 1887 to 
1888, and general manager of the company from 1888 to 1892. On account of 
failing health and requiring more out-door exercise he was, upon the advice of 
his physician, relieved from the service of the company in 1893. During the 
second geological survey of Pennsylvania he was assistant geologist, reporting 
on Cambria and Somerset counties under Prof. J. P. Lesley.
     Now (1896) he pursues the occupation of mining engineer, and also has a 
half interest in a coke manufacturing plant in the Connellsville coal and coke 
region. He is a member of the American Institute of Mining Engineers and of the 
American Philosophical society of Philadelphia. He is the author of a treatise 
on the manufacture of coke, comprising about three hundred and fifty pages and 
containing many important facts. He is also the engineer of the State Board of 
Health and Vital Statistics.
     Mr. Fulton is a member of the Board of Trade of Johnstown, before which 
body he delivered an address setting forth the advantages of the city of 
Johnstown as a manufacturing centre and a desirable place for all such 
enterprises. He is an ardent republican and is president of the park 
commissioners.
     His church connections are with the Presbyterians, he being a ruling elder 
of the church at Johnstown, a teacher in the Bible-school, and an active, 
earnest participant in all church work, in this respect most clearly showing the 
traits of his excellent father.
     He is also president of the Young Men's Christian Association organization 
of Johnstown.
     Mr. Fulton was married in 1855 to Ann Mackay, a daughter of James Mackay, a 
man of "gude Scotch blood." To this union have been born two sons and two 
daughters: Maria, the wife of J. D. Ligon, an employee in the printing 
department of the general government at Washington, D. C.; James E., deceased; 
Thomas W., also deceased, and Ann West, who lives at home.
     The best monument to the memory of a man is the record of his good deeds; 
so are the responsible positions that he has held and the work he has done the 
best evidence of Mr. Fulton's superior attainments in his profession and of his 
character as an honorable citizen and Christian gentleman.