Alexander Fulton (Louisiana)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Fulton was a merchant
, planter
, and local politician
originally from Washington
, near Pittsburgh
in western Pennsylvania
, who in 1805 founded the city of Alexandria
, Louisiana
, which he named for himself.
Fulton came to Alexandria, the seat of Rapides Parish
and the largest city in Central Louisiana
, about 1785 in partnership with land speculator William Miller. Fulton, who held a land grant from the government of Spain
, purchased merchandise and built the first store in Rapides Parish and located it beside the Red River. On May 4, 1805, he was appointed coroner
of Rapides Parish by then territorial
Governor William C.C. Claiborne
. He became the area postmaster
during the Jefferson
administration in 1807. In 1805, he laid out the townsite of Alexandria in collaboration with his business partner, Thomas Harris Maddox.
In 1793, Fulton married the 15-year-old Mary Henrietta Wells, daughter of Samuel Levi Wells, I, and the former Dorcas Huie. Alexander and Mary Fulton had six children: Samuel, Eliza, William, Benjamin, Marcus, and Courtney Ann Fulton. Mary Wells Fulton was the aunt of later Louisiana Governor James Madison Wells
, who was born near Alexandria in 1808. Governor Wells was a son of Samuel Levi Wells, II.
Fulton died about 1818 and is believed to have been interred, with no grave marker remaining, at Rapides Cemetery in Pineville
, the smaller city on the eastern side of the Red River.
Fulton is honored by the naming of Fulton Street and the Fulton Street Bridge, which links Louisiana Highway 28
across the Red River between Alexandria and Pineville. The founder is further recognized by the naming of the 7-story, 83000 square feet (7,711 m²) complex, the Alexander Fulton Hotel and Convention Center, located at 701 Fourth Street in the riverfront district. The complex, formerly a Holiday Inn
, is near the historic Bentley Hotel
, founded in 1907 by a timber magnate, Joseph Bentley.
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
, planter
Plantations in the American South
Plantations were an important aspect of the history of the American South, particularly the antebellum .-Planter :The owner of a plantation was called a planter...
, and local politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
originally from Washington
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
, near Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
in western Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, who in 1805 founded the city of Alexandria
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, which he named for himself.
Fulton came to Alexandria, the seat of Rapides Parish
Rapides Parish, Louisiana
-Military Installations:*Camp Beauregard *Esler Airfield *England Air Force Base *Camp Claiborne *Camp Livingston -Demographics:...
and the largest city in Central Louisiana
Central Louisiana
Central Louisiana , also known as the Crossroads region, is the part of Louisiana that includes the following parishes: Allen Parish, Beauregard Parish, Catahoula Parish, Concordia Parish, Grant Parish, La Salle Parish, Natchitoches Parish, Rapides Parish, Sabine Parish and Vernon Parish.The five...
, about 1785 in partnership with land speculator William Miller. Fulton, who held a land grant from the government of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, purchased merchandise and built the first store in Rapides Parish and located it beside the Red River. On May 4, 1805, he was appointed coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
of Rapides Parish by then territorial
Louisiana Territory
The Territory of Louisiana or Louisiana Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1805 until June 4, 1812, when it was renamed to Missouri Territory...
Governor William C.C. Claiborne
William C.C. Claiborne
William Charles Cole Claiborne was a United States politician, best known as the first Governor of Louisiana. He also has the distinction of possibly being the youngest Congressman in U.S...
. He became the area postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
during the Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
administration in 1807. In 1805, he laid out the townsite of Alexandria in collaboration with his business partner, Thomas Harris Maddox.
In 1793, Fulton married the 15-year-old Mary Henrietta Wells, daughter of Samuel Levi Wells, I, and the former Dorcas Huie. Alexander and Mary Fulton had six children: Samuel, Eliza, William, Benjamin, Marcus, and Courtney Ann Fulton. Mary Wells Fulton was the aunt of later Louisiana Governor James Madison Wells
James Madison Wells
James Madison Wells was elected the 20th Governor of Louisiana during Reconstruction.-Early life:Born near Alexandria, Louisiana, on January 8, 1808, Wells' father was Samuel Levi Wells, II, a member of the constitutional convention in 1811. His mother was the former Dorcas Huie. A brother, Thomas...
, who was born near Alexandria in 1808. Governor Wells was a son of Samuel Levi Wells, II.
Fulton died about 1818 and is believed to have been interred, with no grave marker remaining, at Rapides Cemetery in Pineville
Pineville, Louisiana
Pineville is a city in Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is adjacent to the city of Alexandria, and is part of that city's Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,829 at the 2000 census....
, the smaller city on the eastern side of the Red River.
Fulton is honored by the naming of Fulton Street and the Fulton Street Bridge, which links Louisiana Highway 28
Louisiana Highway 28
Louisiana Highway 28 is a state highway in Louisiana. It spans and runs from west to east. From the west beginning in Leesville to Alexandria LA 28 is almost completed as a 4 lane divided highway with a 65 miles per hour speed limit. The highway has a bottle neck and is two lane through an area...
across the Red River between Alexandria and Pineville. The founder is further recognized by the naming of the 7-story, 83000 square feet (7,711 m²) complex, the Alexander Fulton Hotel and Convention Center, located at 701 Fourth Street in the riverfront district. The complex, formerly a Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn is a brand of hotels, formally a economy motel chain, forming part of the British InterContinental Hotels Group . It is one of the world's largest hotel chains with 238,440 bedrooms and 1,301 hotels globally. There are currently 5 hotels in the pipeline...
, is near the historic Bentley Hotel
Bentley Hotel
Bentley Hotel is located near City Hall in downtown Alexandria, Louisiana. Built by the timber baron Joseph Bentley, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 15, 1979....
, founded in 1907 by a timber magnate, Joseph Bentley.