Levi K. Fuller

Levi K. Fuller (February 24, 1841 – October 10, 1896) was a Vermont businessman, military officer, and politician. A

A native of Westmoreland, New Hampshire, Fuller was raised in Westmoreland and in Bellows Falls, Vermont. He began working at age 13, and completed apprenticeships in printing and telegraphy while still a teenager, in addition to completing evening school courses in engineering, mechanics, and electricity. In 1860, he began working at the Estey Organ Company in Brattleboro, Vermont; he soon became head of manufacturing, and was later appointed the company's vice president. In addition to his work for Estey, Fuller operated a machine shop and became a successful manufacturer of sewing machines and wood planers. Fuller invented more than 100 machines and mechanical innovations, including many that improved railroad cars.

A supporter of the

After serving as governor, Fuller returned to his work at Estey Organ. His health began to fail in 1895, and he died in Brattleboro on October 10, 1896. He was first buried at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Brattleboro. In 1900, his remains were moved to Brattleboro's Morningside Cemetery.

Early life

Levi Knight Fuller was born in Westmoreland, New Hampshire, on February 24, 1841, a son of Washington Fuller and Lucinda (Constantine) Fuller.^[1] He was raised in Westmoreland and in Bellows Falls, Vermont.^[1] At age 13, he moved to Brattleboro, Vermont to begin working, and became an apprentice at the printing firm of James H. Capen.^[1] Fuller learned the printer's trade and was also trained as a telegraph operator, in addition to attending Bellows Falls High School and Brattleboro High School.^[2] In 1856, he moved to Boston to become an apprentice machinist, and also worked as a telegrapher in order to pay for evening school studies in engineering and manufacturing.^[1] In 1857, Fuller moved to Burlington, Vermont, where he worked as a telegrapher.^[1]

Business career

In 1860, Fuller returned to Brattleboro to begin work as a machinist and engineer with the Estey Organ Company.^[1] In May 1865, he married Abby Emily Estey, the daughter of Estey Organ's founder.^[3] By 1866, he had been appointed superintendent of the company's manufacturing.^[1] By the early 1870s, Fuller was the company's vice president, and his overseas trips on behalf of the company resulted in Estey Organ's expansion into the international market.^[2] He patented over one hundred inventions, including international standard pitch, an innovation that was adopted by manufacturers of musical instruments throughout the world, an achievement called by the maker of Steinway pianos "one of the most important, perhaps the most important, in the annals of musical history."^[2][4]

In addition to his work for Estey Organ, Fuller owned and operated his own machine shop.

In June 1863, Fuller enrolled for the

In 1874, Fuller organized the Fuller Light Battery.[1] Fuller equipped and funded this unit until it was accepted into the Vermont National Guard in 1875 as Company C, 1st Regiment, which he commanded as a captain.^[1][8] As a result of Fuller's efforts, Vermont's National Guard was the first to field rifled artillery.^[1] The Fuller Light Battery was noted for its efficiency and accuracy, and won numerous gunnery competitions.^[1]

Philanthropy and other pursuits

Fuller was also an astronomer, and built his own observatory,

Fuller was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and American Institute of Electrical Engineers, and American Association for the Advancement of Science.^[1] He was president of the Vermont chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, and a member of the Military Service Institution of the United States.^[1] Fuller was also an associate member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and belonged to Brattleboro's Sedgwick Post Number 8.^[9]

The

A Republican, Fuller served in local offices including lister and justice of the peace.^[10][11] He represented Windham County in the Vermont Senate from 1880 to 1882.^[1] During his senate term, he was chairman of the committee on finance, on which he took the lead in securing passage of a law to reform Vermont's tax code.^[1] In addition, he was a member of the committee on military affairs and the committee on railroads.^[1]

In 1886, Fuller was elected lieutenant governor, and he served until 1888.^[1] At the end of the 1886 legislative session, senators unanimously adopted a resolution commending Fuller for the tact and fairness he applied to his duties as the senate's presiding officer.^[12]

Fuller was a member of the Masons, Knights Templar, Odd Fellows, and Improved Order of Red Men.^[9][14] He was active in the Baptist church and served as moderator of Vermont's State Baptist Convention, in addition to serving as superintendent of the Sunday School at the West Brattleboro Baptist Church.^[15][16] Fuller resided in a Victorian style mansion he called Pine Heights; the site was later redeveloped as the Eden Park Nursing Home.^[17]

After serving as governor he returned to his work at Estey Organ.^[18] Fuller's death in Brattleboro on October 10, 1896 was attributed to overwork and anemia.^[19][20] He was first interred at Prospect Hill Cemetery, and in 1900 his remains were moved to Morningside Cemetery.^[21]

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