A Widow's Son

The Eugene Lafayette Clifton monument in the old Fulton graveyard is one of several monuments memorializing Civil War soldiers from the town. Eugene was the son of Wilie Daniel Clifton and Julia Fielder Oliver Clifton of Fulton. His father was a town merchant and planter during antebellum times. The monument reads:

A Widow's Son
Eugene L.F. Clifton
Son of W.D. & J.F. Clifton
Born Fulton, Miss. March 12, 1844
Died Warrenton Hospital, Florida August 27, 1861


During 1909, Mrs. Mollie Gaither of Fulton, submitted the following 19th century newspaper clipping to the Itawamba County News. The old newspaper clipping was printed in the October 14, 1909 edition of the newspaper. Below is a transcript of the old clipping:

At the breaking out of the Civil War in 1861, there were about 40 voters within the corporate limits of the town of Fulton, and 5 or 6 boys who were under age. Of that number, 18 were killed in battle and died of disease contracted in the army, towit: Eugene Clifton, died at Pensacola, Florida; J.W. Norwood, died at Savannah, Georgia; Henry Mulder, died at home; Geo. Mulder, died at home; M.M. Shelby, died; J.A. Wright, died; A.S. Fry, died at Dalton, Georgia; J.L. Holmes, killed at Resaca, Georgia; D.N. Owen, killed at Murfreesboro, Tennessee; J.J. Lindsey, killed at Jonesboro, Georgia; S.S. Owen, killed near Appomattox, Virginia; W.A. Graham, killed at Mumfordsville, Kentucky; Pryor McWilliams, killed at Chickamauga, Tennessee; C.H. Walker, killed at Perryville, Kentucky; Dan Whitener, killed at Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Capt. B.F. Toomer, killed at Franklin, Tennessee; Frank Rogers, killed at Murfreesboro, Tennessee; John Guess, killed at Chickamauga, Tennessee. The corporate limits of Fulton was one square mile.

For further information about the Clifton family, view the article, Wilie Daniel Clifton Monument in the Old Fulton Cemetery.