He received an academic education, and in 1854 accompanied his family when they moved to Hudson, where his father went into the mercantile business on a large scale.
His father died March 30, 1858, leaving his business to David and his brother Marcus, who would serve in the Wisconsin State Senate.
David described himself in the Wisconsin Blue Book as "engaged in general business" and a "speculator", and mentioned that he dealt in real estate.
He was assigned to the standing committees on the militia and on engrossed bills[2] He did not seek re-election in 1874, and was succeeded by Republican Harvey Clapp.
After his term in the Assembly, Fulton served six years as a manager of the National Homes for Disabled Soldiers, and was a United States Marshal for Western Wisconsin during the first Cleveland administration.