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RICHARD E. FULLERTON SODA BOTTLER: KENDALLVILLE, INDIANA

Richard E. Fullerton was born in 1861. He started brewing in the late 1880s. Its listed that Fullerton and Neubauer as brewing in Jordan Minn. but the starting date is unknown. The book The Bottles, Breweriana and Advertising Jugs of Minnesota Vol 1 lists R. E. Fullerton as brewing in 1892 to 1894 in Jordan. He sold this company in 1894 and would move to Albert Lee, Freeport County, Minn. in 1896. This is were he would start bottling soda. Below is a pint size Hutchinson soda bottle Embossed Richard E. Fullerton Albert Lee Minn. in a slugplate.
fullerton_art_albert
Around 1900 he would move His Family to Kendallville, Indiana and would start bottling soda at the address of 225 S. Railroad St. While bottling soda in Kendallville he would use a Pint size and a Quart size Hutchinson style bottle embossed Richard E. Fullerton Kendallville, Ind. in a slugplate. Below is a picture of one of his pint size bottles. These bottle were either clear or aqua.
fullerton_art_lee

fullerton dThis quart size in aqua courtesy of Dennis Easterday. The bottle is 9 5/8 inches tall. Embossed Richard Fullerton / Kendallville, Ind. ( in a slug plate )

In 1910 Mr. Fullerton was listed in the Indiana State board of Health as a maker of summers drinks. He was making Strawberry, orange, cherry, lemon sodas. When he quit using the Hutchinson soda bottle he went to the crown cap style. The bottle was embossed Richard E. Fullerton Kendallville, Ind. in a slugplate. Below is a picture of one of his bottles.
ullerton_art_1

fullerton eThis quart size in aqua courtesy of Dennis Easterday. The bottle is 10 1/2 inches tall. Embossed This bottle owned / and filled by / Richard E. Fullerton / Kendallville, Ind. (in a slug plate) / This bottle is never to be sold.

Richard E. Fullerton’s son Floyd was working in the families business with his father. According to the 1911 American Bottler Floyd Fullerton son of Richard E. Fullerton of Kendallville, Ind. while working in his fathers bottling works on July 25, 1911 had his left arm severely cut. He was in the act of filling a pop bottle when it exploded striking him in the arm. This would cut a deep gash in his arm. He stated "that it was very painful and he could not use his arm for many days." He was sixteen years old at the time. Floyd was born in Feb 21, 1895 in Jorden Minn. In the Kendallville City Directory of 1916 it is listed that Floyd Fullerton was a soft drink manufacturer. The embossing on the bottle now had the word son add. Below is a picture of the newest of there bottles. It now is embossed Richard E. Fullerton & Son Kendallville, Ind. in a slugplate.
fullerton_art_son
There is also a Seltzer bottle with the words Richard Fullerton Kendallville, Ind. Frosted on the bottle. It is unknown when this bottle was made. I have only seen one of these bottles before. Below are photos of this bottle courtesy of Dennis Easterday. The bottle with topper is 11 1/4 tall.

fullerton a.fulleron bt.fullerton c

The last listing of Richard or his son Floyd being a Soda maker and Bottler was in 1922.

References:
Kendallville City Directories.
1910 Indiana State Board of Helath.
1911 The American Bottler.
Minnesota Births and Christenings Index 1840-1980.
Minnesota Census 1870.
The Bottles,Breweriana and Avertising Jugs Of Minnesota vol.1.
Frank and Frank Jr. (Wicker) Bottle Collection.


lot of 3 fulllerton 1a

lot of 4 fullerton 1a

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