birth: February 12, 1836
location: Mississippi
death: February 17, 1903
location: Van Zandt County, Texas
father: Edmond Brantley Fulgham
mother: Caroline
spouse: Catherine Smith
burial
In 1824 President James Monroe wanted to motivate Americans. Monroe invited the only living Revolutionary War general and a Frenchman, Marquis de Lafayette, to tour the United States. From July 1824 to September 1825, Marquis de Lafayette made a famous tour of the United States.
Marquis de Lafayette had fought alongside George Washington during the Revolutionary War over 40 years earlier. Marquis de Lafayette fought in notable battles including the battle of Brandywine. After the war Marquis de Lafayette returned to France to pursue a career in politics.
From August 1824 - October 15 1824 Marquis de Lafayette toured the Northern states. Finally, in October, Marquis de Lafayette began his way south, stopping at Mount Vernon, Virginia to visit George Washington’s tomb. A few days later he arrived in Norfolk, Virginia where he spent 4 days. On November 4, Marquis de Lafayette visited Thomas Jefferson at Monticello.
Finally on March 19, 1825 Marquis de Lafayette arrived in Savannah, Georgia. Documentation isn’t available about his travels west, but during that Spring Marquis de Lafayette travelled 150 miles west, close to Myrick’s Mill, Twiggs County, Georgia and left a lasting impression on Edmond Brantley Fulgham.
“This old mill has been in operation in the same building for at least 150 years. In 1825 on his visit to Georgia, Marquis de Lafayette stopped here and found this mill grinding corn and making unbolted flour.”
- Myrick’s Mill Historical Marker, Twiggs County, Georgia
Edmond Brantley Fulgham would have been almost 19 when Marquis de Lafayette visited Myrick’s Mill, located only 13 miles from his father’s church. Marquis de Lafayette would have been a spectacle. He was regaled in Revolutionary War attire, accompanied by a large entourage, including his son, George Washington de Lafayette. Most towns welcomed him as a hero. School children were brought out to see him. Some towns even gave parades.
In 1825 Myrick’s MIll was grinding corn and making unbolted flour. Unbolted flour is flour that isn’t sifted, allowing debris to contaminate the flour. In a fairly rural area, the settlers probably thought unbolted flour was better than no flour.
“As soon as he [Marquis de Lafayette] reached a city market, he sent back a piece of silk so the mill could bolt its flour and provide the people of their section with better food. The General’s thoughtfulness was greatly appreciated by the early settlers”
- Myrick’s Mill Historical Marker, Twiggs County, Georgia
Silk from a Frenchman was more than many Twiggs County settlers could have imagined. Now their flour would be bolted they could eat more nutritious food.
While in Lawrence County, Mississippi Edmond Brantley married a woman. Her name might have been Caroline. Edmond and Caroline had their first child, a son, Francis Marion in 1833.
Three years later in Choctaw County, Mississippi they welcomed another son, Marquis de Lafayette Fulgham. Eleven years after Marquis de Lafayette’s tour of American and his kind gesture of silk, Edmond Brantley named his second son the same name, in honor of him.
children with Catherine Smith:
Burial: New Harmony Cemetery, Van Zandt County, Texas
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