Nicknamed "Trib" or "Tripp". Middle name also spelled Tribell in Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery, 1853-1997 (Heritage Books Inc. / Sonoma County Genealogical Society, Inc., Santa Rosa, CA: June 1997) and Tribble in Great Register of Voters Sonoma County, California1890 (Sonoma County Genealogical Society, Sonoma: May 1985).

The 1850 Census for Perry Twp, Davis Co., Iowa lists him as a 9 year old boy (b. KY) living with his parents.

The 1860 Census lists Stephen's personal wealth at $2500 (no real estate) and his occupation was listed as farmer. He, his wife, and his son "H" were also listed as living in the household of Chas. and Martha Norris.

The 1870 Census lists his Real Estate being worth $3000 and his personal property at $250.

In the 1880 Census for Santa Rosa Township, Sonoma County, CA, there is a listing for him at dwelling #63 as Stephen T. Fulkerson, a. 39, bp. KY, a farmer. Enumerated with him is his wife, Amanda E. Fulkerson, a. 37, bp. MO (parents bp. unknown), and his children: Laura Ellen Fulkerson, daughter, a. 14, bp. CA, at home; William E. Fulkerson, son, a. 12, bp. CA, "going to school; Richard Fulkerson, son, a. 9, bp. CA; Mary Leone Fulkerson, daughter, a. 6, bp. CA; and Nora C. Fulkerson, daughter, a. 3., bp. CA. Also lists his wife's mother, as Ruhama Grant, mother, a. 58, bp. Illinois (both parents bp. KY) his mother-in-law, in his household as a border.
Also enumerated nearby, are Jacob Harris and family was in #66, the Parker Weeks family (may be related to Harris family) in #65, and Joseph Badger (the father of Douglas) family in #38.

The 1900 Census lists Viola Dimmick living in his household. She married his son, Bruce, in December of 1900.

The 1910 Census lists Bruce and his three sons, Clarence, George, and Henry living in the house. Viola had died in 1908. There is also a "non-relative" living in the house.

The 1920 Census lists only Amanda living in the house (729 Santa Rosa Avenue).

A biography was written about him in the 1889 Illustrated History of Sonoma County.

His son Richard took over the ranch when Stephen moved into town. The house later burned down.

Extracted deeds are available from the Sonoma County Deed Index.

Stephen's and Amanda's 30th wedding aniversary is described in a newspaper clipping (The Sonoma Democrat ?) which my grandmother had kept.

Stephen's and Amanda's 50th wedding aniversary is described in aother newspaper clipping which my grandmother had kept.

Stephen's obituary was printed in the Santa Rosa Republican, Friday, Dec. 22, 1911 and in The Press Democrat, Saturday, 23 Dec 1911

Stephen T. Fulkerson's Will was recorded in Sonoma County Wills, January 6, 1912, Book J, Page 489. His probate file is in Sonoma County Probate Records, Register 107, Page 84, Record 5234. When he passed away on December 21, 1911, he only had two parcels of property left. These were lots number 72, 73, 74, 81, 82, and 83, in Block 16, in the "Chinatown" section of Santa Rosa, on Second Street, estimated value $4,000.00, and now the site of the town's Chamber of Commerce. The other was situated at No. 729, Santa Rosa Avenue, estimated value $6,000.00. This was the family home and there are a few extant family photos with this house in it. The property is now filled with part of an overpass support for the freeway.
From the Chinatown property, S. T. Fulkerson was receiving rents which totaled to $45 a month the last year of his life. It is indicated in the probate records that the 6 lots of the Chinatown property belonged to both S. T. Fulkerson and Amanda Fulkerson.
S. T. Fulkerson's personal property consists of 38 shares ($70.00 per share) of Santa Rosa Bank Stock and 25 shares of Savings Bank of Santa Rosa stock at $150 each. His total estate was worth $16,410.00.
In his will Trib writes:

...I purposely omit to make any provision in this my last will and testament, for my living children: Clara Grider, Laura Badger, Richard Fulkerson, Nora Leggett, Bruce Fulkerson, and Helen Cummins, and my four grandsons, children of my deceased daughter, Mollie Wendt knowing that my wife will do all in her power to help one and all of said children and grandchildren, if they should ever be in need.

He appoints Amanda as his executrix as well as the sole benefactor of his estate. Amanda Fulkerson's handwriting is extremely shaky by 1913 as she signs her name to the final probate report. She retains all the property and there is $747.24 left over after debts from her husband's bank accounts. The whole estate was worth $14,030.00 at the end of probate. There is a deed recorded April 14, 1913 in Book 310 Page 124 of Sonoma County Deeds which transfers the "Est. of S. T. Fulkerson, dec'd" to Amanda.

In a "Letter to the Editor" in the The Press Democrat, a Fulkerson decendant claimed that Stephen's father, Richard, built Santa Rosa's first Chinatown. Richard did own the six lots between 1st and 2nd Streets in Santa Rosa. The Cockrill family had sold him the property on November 1, 1877, twenty years after the death of Harrison Cockrill. However, Richard only held on to the property for a year when he then gave it to his son and daughter-in-law on December 3, 1878 as a gift.
From the Sanborn Fire Insurance maps of Santa Rosa, it is clear that the houses upon the six lots were marked "Chinese" but were only a portion of a block with other dwellings also marked "Chinese". Also, it appears that dwellings on the property were greatly expanded during the owner ship of Stephen and Amanda.