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 The
marker for the first cabin erected in what is now Springfield is
set in the retaining wall on the south side of College Street in
the 1200 block. The legal location of the cabin was NE 1/4, NW 1/4,
SEC 23, T29, R22W, Springfield Quadrant. The text on the marker
reads as follows:
"ABOUT FEBRUARY, 1830, WILLIAM FULBRIGHT ERECTED, NEAR THIS
SPOT, THE FIRST CABIN BUILT ON THE SITE OF THE PRESENT CITY
OF SPRINGFIELD. AT THE SAME TIME, A. J. BURNETT BUILT A POLE
CABIN NEAR THE NATURAL WELL. AND JOHN FULBRIGHT ANOTHER NEAR
JONES' SPRING. THE FIRST CHURCH SERVICE WAS HELD AND THE FIRST
CHURCH (METHODIST) ORGANIZED IN THE CABIN OF WILLIAM FULBRIGHT.
THIS STREET WAS ORIGINALLY NAMED FULBRIGHT, AND THE SETTLEMENT
WAS CALLED CAMPBELL AND FULBRIGHT SPRINGS. UNVERSITY CLUB HISTORICAL
MARKER NO. 15 JUNE 1929"
William Fulbright may have passed through the Ozarks as long as
nine or ten years before returning to what was to become Springfield,
although some accounts report he got location information from John
Polk Campbell while both men were still living in Tennessee. In
either event, in 1829-1830 he brought family and possessions, built
the log cabin and remained until he died in 1843.
The Greene County Assessor's listings for 1833 report his holdings
as 16 slaves, 6 horses, 14 cattle, one watch worth $5, mules and
jacks (one worth $40). Fulbright, obviously a prosperous farmer,
and his wife, Ruth Hollingsworth Fulbright, had 13 children, 12
sons and one daughter. Fulbright and his wife (who lived until 1874)
were buried at the foot of the hill below their cabin. In the early
1900's, following the nearby development of railroad tracks and
shops, descendants had the family members removed to Hazelwood Cemetery,
where several Fulbright burial markers may still be seen.
(The above information was taken from material compiled by Ralph
and Lena Wills.)
--Prepared by Jack Hart
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