• General Notes

  Cause of Death:<CAUS> Dysentery complicated by paralysis
  REFN: 86
  Around 1856-1859, James Fuller was the lighthouse keeper at Barnegat Bay,
  NJ, where their daughter, Harriet was born; but later moved to Iowa with
  his wife, Hannah B. Southard and family.  They lived at Genoa Bluffs,
  Iowa County, IA, where James ran the post office there for a time.  Both
  James & his wife are buried in the Genoa Bluffs Cemetery  They had 5
  children.
  1860 New Jersey, Federal Census Index, page 244, Federal Population
  Schedule, lists James Fuller in Ocean County, NJ, Union Long Beach Twp.,
  # NJ24334978.
  1870 Iowa, Federal Census Index, page 316, Federal Population Schedule,
  lists James Fuller, in Iowa Co., IA, Sumner Twp. # IA018127190.
  A history of the Barnegat Lighthouse, also called "Old Barney" states
  that the first lighthouse at Barnegat Light was built around 1834 but by
  1855, it had deteriorated considerably, being built of inferior materials
  and it was recommended that the structure be replaced.  This necessity
  was clearly demonstrated the following year, 1856, when the old
  lighthouse toppled into the sea  during Keeper James Fuller's watch. 
  This had been anticipated & the lighthouse had been abandoned, and the
  lamps removed to a temporary wooden tower.    A new lighthouse (a red &
  white tower) was built 900 feet south of the old site, completed in 1858,
  overlooking Barnegat Inlet in New Jersey.   It was commissioned on
  January 1, 1859.   
  "***The lamp that had to be filled with kerosene each day and kept
  burning through all kinds of weather.  The Keeper had to carry a large
  can of fuel up the 217 winding stairs to the top each day.  He also had
  to polish the lens each week, and keep the rotating mechanism operating
  smoothly.  The lens was rotated by means of a weight on a rope that ran
  down through the iron central core of the stairway and worked like the
  mechanism of a grandfather's clock, only this one had to be wound every
  hour.  In severe storms, the tower would sway so badly that the lens had
  to be turned by hand since the mechanism would not work under such
  adverse conditions.
  The task of a lighthouse keeper was not easy, and, as the
  lighthouses were usually in remote areas, it was also a lonely one. 
  Sometimes, as at the Barnegat Light, the Keeper and his assistants were
  able to bring their families with them."
  Tombstone Inscription -- Genoa Bluffs Cemetery, Sumner Twp., Iowa Co., IA:
  FULLER
  James Fuller             Hannah B.
  Died April 17, 1896           wife of James Fuller
  Aged 80 yrs 8 mos 4 das       Died February 13, 1896  
  Aged 75 yrs 10 mos 2 das
  Jame's side of the tombstone (South side) contains the following
  inscription:
  "One by one our hopes grow brighter as we near the shining shore for
  we know across the river wait the loved ones gone before"
  Hannah's die of the tombstone (North side) contains the following
  inscription:
  "One by one Earths ties are broken as we see our love decay and the
  hopes so fondly cherished brighten but to pass away"
  Probate Record 4254, Iowa County, Iowa, Docket 3 page 287, shows that
  James Fuller died April 17, 1896 survived by Elizabeth Morse, 58,
  Louisian; S.M. Fuller, 50, Nassau, IA; Mary A. Andrews, 42, Tiffin, Mo;
  Hattie S. Bean, 37, Genoa Bluffs; Amanda J., widow of Geo E. Fuller and
  grandchildren:  Ella A. Fuller, 22, Miner Fuller, 20, Clayton B. Fuller,
  19, Edward O. Fuller, 18, Mae B. Fuller, 16, and Etta A Fuller 13, all of
  Genoa Bluffs.  He died seized of W3A N 1/2 & NW SE Sec. 32, Twp. 80, Ra
  11.
  Deed to James Fuller in Land Deed Record 24 page 407, Iowa County, Iowa, 
  for NE SW Sec. 32, Twp. 80, Ra 11, (which is directly East of Genoa
  Bluffs) dated June 18, 1870.
  Deed to James Fuller in Land Deed Record 24 page 408, Iowa County, Iowa,
  for a 2 acre tract in NW SE Sec. 32, Twp. 80, Ra 11(which plat records
  for that time show as being location of post office for Genoa Bluff

Details of James' family with Hannah Berry Mathis