Peter Fullmer and Susannah Zerfass

This Family history was derived from “Peter Fullmer and Susannah Zerfass Their Ancestry and their Posterity”, Complied and edited by Jerry D. Wells and published by the Peter Fuller Family Organization.

Peter Fullmer was born 27 February 1774 in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania.  He was the son of Johann George Follmer and Julianna Kessler.  Peter changed the spelling of his last name from Follmer (or Vollmar, as it was known in Germany) to Fullmer. Peter grew up in Berks County, Pennsylvania, and followed the occupation of farmer throughout his life.  Family letters indicate that he acquired land wherever he lived so that he could actively pursue his vocation.  One of his sons, Almon, faithfully assisted his father for many years in farming his properties. 

When he was 28 years old, Peter met and courted Susanna Zerfass from Whitehall, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.  She was the daughter of Captain Adam Zerfass and his wife, Mary Elizabeth Shafer.  They were married on 2 March 1802 in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, after which they settled in Chillisquaque, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.  After a few years, Peter acquired a farm in Huntington, Luzern County, Pennsylvania, and moved his family there.

Seven children were born of their union, namely, David, Mary Elizabeth, John Solomon, Desdemona, Charlotte, Louisiana, and Almon Linus.  All three sons and their sister, Desdemona, would later play important roles in embracing and promoting the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and in helping to establish the State of Deseret.  

All of the family except David moved to Jefferson Township, Richland County, Ohio about 1829.  It was there that they first heard the gospel preached..  Peter, Susanna, David, and Desdemona all became members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while living in this place.  

John Solomon left the family home in 1832 to go to Nashville, Tennessee, where he engaged in business.  Letters from home brought him news about this strange new religion, but he was very reluctant to join the Church until he had given it a long careful study.  In 1839, John Solomon and Almon Linus both accepted the gospel and were baptized.  In 1841, Almon baptized his sister Mary Elizabeth, but Charlotte and Louisiana never joined the Church.

After the family was raised, the eldest son, David, was given the responsibility of caring for his aged parents.  Thus, in the spring of 1839, after David and his family had been driven out of Missouri, he assisted his parents in moving to Nauvoo, Illinois.  There, they obtained land four miles east of Nauvoo on which to build homes for all of the boys in the family.  The Fullmer family owned one quarter section of land known as "The Fullmer Tract".  A map of the City of Nauvoo hangs on the wall in the Church Historian's office showing where the land was situated.  The city of Nauvoo has a Fulmer Street which borders one side of the original tract.

From the time of their arrival in Nauvoo until the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Fullmer family was closely associated with him and his brother Hyrum, and their families.  The several families socialized together, and there are tales about them rolling up the rugs in the Prophet's home so that they could engage in dancing, and so that the Prophet and John Solomon could engage in wrestling matches.

Peter was ordained a High Priest on 7 August 1842 in Nauvoo, Illinois, however, there is no record of who ordained him.  Following the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, the prophet and president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the Latter-day Saints were expelled from the State of Illinois and made their way across the plains to the valley of the Great Salt Lake.  When the Saints left Nauvoo in 1846, Peter,  then seventy-six years old,  and Susannah sixty-seven, made the arduous journey to Salt Lake City with their son, David, where they remained under his care until their deaths.  Susannah died on 11 November 1856 at age 73.  Peter died on 6 January 1857 at age 83.  They are both buried in the David Fullmer plot in the Salt Lake City cemetery.

Life in the Salt lake Valley was very difficult during those early days of settleing, establishing communities and spreading the gospel.  All three of their sons were industrious and were leaders in their Church and in the communities in which they lived.  They were called upon to make major sacrifices.  They were called to extended missions for their Church, were officers in militia activities and representatives in the territorial legislature. 

 Peter FULLMER was born 27 Feb 1774 in Reading, Berks, PA. He died 6 Jan 1857 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City, UT and was buried July 1857 in City Cemetery, Salt Lake City, , UT. Peter was baptized 31 Aug 1967. He was endowed 15 Dec 1845. Peter married Susannah ZERFASS on 2 Mar 1802 in, Schuylkill Co, PA. They were sealed 22 Jan 1846 in the Nauvoo (original).

Susannah ZERFASS  was born 17 Sep 1773 in Whitehall, Northampton, PA. She died 11 Nov 1856 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, UT and was buried Nov 1856 in City Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, UT. She was sealed to her parents on 15 Sep 1955 in the Arizona temple. Susannah was baptized 6 Feb 1969. She was endowed 15 Dec 1845. Susannah married Peter FULLMER on 2 Mar 1802 in , Schuylkill Co, PA. They were sealed 22 Jan 1846 in the Nauvoo (original). 

They had the following children: 

David FULLMER was born 7 Jul 1803 and died 21 Oct 1879. 
Mary M FULLMER was born 17 Jul 1805 and died 16 Dec 1874. 
John Solomon FULLMER was born 21 Jul 1807 and died 8 Oct 1883. 
Desdemona Fullmer SMITH was born 6 Oct 1809 and died 9 Feb 1886. 
Charlotte FULLMER was born 21 Jan 1812 and died 5 Mar 1871. 
Louisiana (Louise) FULLMER was born 3 Jun 1814 and died 18 Apr 1870. 
Louisiana Or LUISA FULLMER died 18 Apr 1870. 
Almon Linus FULLMER was born 7 Sep 1816 and died 2 Oct 1890.