Francis Marion Fulkerson was born on January 18, 1825 in Washington County, Virginia to Abram and Margaret Laughlin (Vance) Fulkerson. He married (1) Elizabeth M. Hale. They were the parents of Margaret H., Mary C., Amelia Vance, Evan Neill, Catherine P., and Hattie S. After the death of his first wife, he married 2) Penelope Elizabeth Neill. They were the parents of Elizabeth Sidney and Frank Neill Fulkerson.

From "Sketches of prominent Tennesseans: containing biographies and records of ..." By William S. Speer -
"Francis M. (Frank) FULKERSON.......[born] in Washington Co., VA, and moved with his family at age 10 to Grainger Co., TN. He attended school and helped with the farm until he was 20, then took a store clerk job in Rogersville, TN for $100 per year and board. In 1847 he enlisted in Company I, 4th Tennessee Infantry, and served as an ordinance sergeant with the regiment at Vera Cruz, Jalapa, Puebla and Mexico City during the Mexican-American War. On returning to Rogersville in 1848 he began studying law and passed the bar in 1851. His new career took him to Tazewell, TN, where he practiced until 1859 and then returned to Rogersville. In the meantime, he had married (1st) Elizabeth M. HALE (29 May 1827-4 Apr 1873, dau. of George HALE and Margaret HAMILTON)."

"Frank was a self-described "southern man" at the outbreak of the Civil War, owning both a plantation and slaves. He did not serve in the military, although in 1863 was elected to Tennessee's State Senate -- which the War prevented from assembling during his term. After the War, he let his slaves have the choice of freedom or remaining as employees after the Civil War. They chose freedom and decided to go to southern Tennessee. However, they needed last names and asked Frank if they could use FULKERSON. From time to time, some of his former slaves returned to work for him. This information came from a Ms. FULKERSON, who is a descendant of those slaves."

"Frank remarried (2nd) on 18 Nov 1874 to Penelope Elizabeth NEILL (dau. of Rogersville merchant James K. NEILL and Catherine D. HALE) at Rogersville, TN. His last two children were with Penelope. Frank lived into the 1880s, when his biography appeared in "Sketches of Prominent Tennesseans" (by William S. Speer) and accorded him the title of "Colonel Fulkerson." He was elected to the State legislature again, for the 1883-84 term, representing Hawkins County. He also served as a church elder and president of the board of trustees for Rogersville Female College. His business pursuits included Jersey cattle, a tanning business, a boot and shoe factory in Rogersville, quarrying Hawkins County marble and his law firm of Fulkerson, Chesnutt and Co."

Children:
1. Margaret FULKERSON.....b. 11 March 1856, educated at Rogersville and Staunton, Virginia; m. F.C. PAINTER
Frank F. PAINTER
Annie Bell PAINTER
2. Mary C. FULKERSON.....15 Jan 1858-01 Oct 1881, b. in TN; educated at Rogersville Female College; m. 26 May 1881, to John K. SHIELDS, a lawyer, son of James T. Shields of Bean's Station, TN (and one of her father's former law partners)
3. Amanda Vance FULKERSON.....b. 24 Jun 1860, educated at Rogersville Female College and in the arts at the Conservatory in Boston, MA, was a teacher of drawing and painting at the Rogersville college
4. Evan Neill FULKERSON.....b. 17 Apr 1863, educated at Rogersville, Baltimore and Boston, and became principal music teacher at Rogersville Female College
5. Kate P. FULKERSON.....b. Jan 1866, educated at Rogersville Female College
6. Hattie S. FULKERSON.....b. 04 May 1868, d. at age 15
7. Elizabeth Sidney FULKERSON.....b. 24 Aug 1875
8. Frank Neill FULKERSON.....b. 17 Sep 1877