University of Virginia Library

JUDGE SAMUEL V. FULKERSON.

The subject of this sketch was the son of Abram Fulkerson and Margaret
Vance, and was born at his father's farm (now the John E. Burson farm),

Judge S. V. Fulkerson.

in the lower end of this county, in the year —, but
was principally reared in Grainger county, Tennessee.
He enlisted as a private in Colonel McClelland's regiment
in the Mexican war, and served throughout the
war with distinction. Studied law and began the
practice of his profession at Estillville in 1846. Was
elected a member of the Constitutional Convention of
1850. Was elected judge of this circuit, defeating
Jos. Strass, of Tazewell county, in the year 1856, and
served until the spring of the year 1861, when he was
elected and commissioned colonel of the Thirty-seventh
Virginia Regiment of Infantry, and commanded
this regiment until June 27th, 1862, when he
fell mortally wounded whilst gallantly leading the Third Brigade in a bold
and splendid charge upon one of the enemies' strong positions on the Chickahominy.
He died on the following day, and his remains were interred in
the Sinking Spring Cemetery, Abingdon, Virginia. His career, in the words
of another, was bright, brief and useful, and his name deserves to be inscribed
in the catalogue of the names of the gallant men who died for their
country. Judge Fulkerson was never married.