James Monroe Fulton, a Civil war veteran, and an extensive land owner of Harper county, Kansas, is a native of Illinois. He was born on a farm in Menard county, October 17, 1834, and is a son of Isaac and Jane (Bracken) Fulton. The father was a native of Kentucky, born in 1800, and when a young man removed to Illinois where he died in 1875, and his wife passed away in 1884. They were the parents of seven children: John F.; James Monroe, the subject of this sketch; Thomas Newton; Isaac W.; Henry H., Elizabeth, and Theopholis B. James Monroe Fulton is the only surviving member of the family. He was educated in the public schools of Illinois, and spent his boyhood days on his father's farm. In 1882, he came to Kansas, and bought land in Odell township, Harper county. He had very little capital when he came here, but by hard work, and good management became wealthy in a few years, owning at one time over 2,500 acres of valuable land, all well improved, but in recent years he has shifted the form of some of his investments, but still owns 1,240 acres of land. This is all well improved, and equipped with all modern farm buildings. He carries on farming, on an extensive scale, and is considered one of the most successful farmers of the county. When the Civil war broke out, and the call for volunteers came for the preservation of the Union, he enlisted as a private in Company F, Twenty-eighth Regiment, Illinois infantry, and followed the flag in the Southland for four years. When he was in the service about a year, he was promoted to first sergeant. He participated in many important engagements, including the siege of Vicksburg and the battle of Corinth, but was never wounded, although he had many narrow escapes, incident to the life of a soldier, who was in the line of duty, during the stirring days of the early 60's. Mr. Fulton was united in marriage at Wichita, Kans., November 27, 1901, to Miss Elizabeth B., daughter of W. and Delila (Pitzer) Hill, and to this union were born two daughters: Zelma Jane, born October 10, 1905, and Charlotte Belle, born July 23, 1912. Mr. Fulton has been a consistent supporter of Republican principles and policies ever since he cast his vote for Abraham Lincoln, in 1860.