Azariah Bemis Fuller was born 9 Dec 1821, in Erie County, Pennsylvania. He was known almost exclusively by his initials, A.B. Fuller. Although the names of his parents are not known to me, I have been told that a Fuller family genealogy has been written and that it includes this Fuller family. Sorry I cannot supply the citation. I am grateful to Frances Jean (Major) Hardy (Mrs. John A. Hardy) of Davis California, for sending information on these Fuller, Crawford and Rogers families.

Frances (Major) Hardy is not directly related to this Choyce family, but she says that she has Mary Ann Crawford as an ancestor in common. Frances said that her mother Alice Crawford (Wilson) Major (Mrs. Alford Major, Sr.), compiled the bulk of the Crawford and Rogers genealogies. Alice based her research on that begun by her first cousin, Mildred Kate (Rogers) Russell (Mrs. Samuel L. Russell). Then, Frances built on her mother's contributions.

Frances said that this Crawford/Rogers line has already been accepted by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) for acceptance into their organization. File number is 593 438. Work was submitted by Mrs. Mildred Kate (Rogers) Russell.

Thanks go to Frances for copies of pages from the A. P. DeMilt book, A STORY OF AN OLD TOWN,pertaining to this Choyce family.

This would be a good place to thank Velma Cooper, one of the three people interested in reprinting A STORY OF AN OLD TOWN, thereby creating Trio Reprints, Box 311, Decatur, Nebraska, 68020. Velma says the book has been reprinted in its original size, 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, and runs to 192 pages. It has a red leatherette cover. The book concerns early Nebraska in general and Burt County in particular. Velma Cooper has added an every-name index to the reprinted volume which was selling for $10.00 in the early 1980s.

Azariah Bemis Fuller married Mary Ann Crawford, probably 19 Nov 1846, in Erie County, Pennsylvania. Mary Ann (Crawford) and Azariah Bemis Fuller had eight children: Ella C., born 9 Oct 1847; Helen G, Oct 1849; Mary Annette, 29 Jun 1851; Lizzie, Nov 1855; Kate, 25 Feb 1858; Clyde H. 16 Sep 1861; Mary C. 24 Sep 1866; and Harriett Marion Fuller born 23 Jul 1868. The first four children were probably born in Erie County, Pennsylvania, while the youngest three were probably born in Decatur, Nebraska. Kate Fuller was born the year the family moved so she could have been born in either place, or on the trip west. Harriet Marion Fuller married John Thomas Choyce. See earlier pages in this chapter.

This Fuller family was one of the pioneering families of the new open territory which did not have its first permanent settle-ment until the year 1823. Nebraska did not achieve statehood until 1 Mar 1867. A.B. Fuller made substantial contributions to the development of the town of Decatur, Nebraska, through his building and contracting business, among other businesses. His indomitable spirit and optimistic personality created a strong positive influence upon the town fathers and the town residents, according to author DeMilt.

DeMilt discusses many of A.B. Fuller's building projects. Some were private homes, others were public buildings. DeMilt says:

In the summer of 1875, the present handsome brick school building was erected under the supervision of A.B.Fuller, this gentleman turning out his own brick, and it was in the same year he built the splendid brick residence, which his widow lives in now, at a cost of $5,000; and early in the morning of May 30, "Decoration Day", the Brown Hotel, built in 1857, caught fire and burned to the ground, then the property of Fuller, and his loss on furniture alone was over $1,200."

Author DeMilt (who apparently wrote before the period came into popular use) had explained the origin of the Brown Hotel, which may prove of some interest here:

Brown, a New Yorker, built a three-story frame hotel in 1857, 24 x 40..., on this investment, he went broke..., went to Denver, Colorado, jumped a claim, part of the townsite, and held it, it was one of those lucky moves which makes a man rich in a day, Brown built the famous Brown Palace of Denver City, a structure that cost over $1,000,000, his Decatur property was purchased by A. B. Fuller.

Author DeMilt also said, "In the forepart of the eighties, Mr. Fuller built a large two-story merchandise store for Mr. Hobbs, now occupied by John T. Choyce and Ernest Rohde...." I have no information concerning Mr. Rhode.

Mr. DeMilt also said that A.B. Fuller had contracted to furnish the railroad ties for the great Union Pacific Railroad which everyone expected to run within the boundaries of the Town of Decatur.