Читать книгу History of Bridgeport and Vicinity, Volume 2: Biographical - George Curtis Waldo jr. - Страница 15

A great business establishment successfully conducted may remain as a monument to the enterprise, power and ability of the individual, but there is something even more worth while than this and although less tangible, a monument just as truly and surely. It is the love which one entertains for an individual who has gone, causing his memory to be cherished, his ideals to be honored and his example to be emulated. There were manifest in the career of Edward Payson Bullard those characteristics which made him a man among men — a leader not only in business but in those good works which live on "in the lives of those made better by their presence." A native of Massachusetts, Mr. Bullard was born at Uxbridge, August 18, 1841, a son of Luther and Hannah (Dudley) Bullard, representatives of old European families founded in the new world in the early part of the seventeenth century. He was early left an orphan, his mother's death occurring when he was but three years of age, while his father passed away when the son was but seven years old. In the family were seven children, Julia Ann, Catherine, John, Charles, George, Elias and Edward Payson.

The last named remained under the care of his sisters until he reached the age of fourteen and then went to live with Deacon Whiting in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. In his seventeenth year he returned to his native town and soon secured a position in the Whitinsville Machine Works at Whitinsville, Massachusetts. When he had finished his apprenticeship he obtained a position in Colt's Armory at Hartford, Connecticut, there remaining until the latter part of 1863, after which he was employed as a machinist by Pratt & Whitney until April, 1864. He then entered business on his own account as a partner in the firm of Bullard & Prest, general machinists, and when in March, 1865, they were joined by William Parsons the firm style of Bullard, Prest & Parsons was assumed. Early in the following year Mr. Prest withdrew and the firm then became Bullard & Parsons. The company manufactured vertical drill presses, one of which is now in use at the Bullard Works. They also manufactured pumps. The financial depression of 1868 and lack of capital caused trouble for the firm and when a reorganization was effected they removed to Bristol, Connecticut, where they purchased property and conducted the business for a year. On the expiration of that period the firm dissolved and Mr. Bullard secured the position of superintendent of a large machine shop at Athens, Georgia, but the bitterness of feeling attendant upon the Civil war remained and led him to resign his position. He then removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he engaged in dealing in second hand machinery. His first sale was of a large number of Lincoln milling machines which he found in an abandoned Confederate arsenal in Georgia. He afterward connected himself with the Cincinnati branch of Post & Company, organizing their machine tool department, and early in 1872 he went to Columbus, Ohio, to assume the position of general superintendent of the Gill Car Works and after the plant was closed down in 1874 he was superintendent of the Cooper Engine Works at Mount Vernon, Ohio. His next step was to embark in the machinery business on his own account in New York city in 1875, the firm of Allis-Bullard &, Company being organized a year later. Following the withdrawal of Mr. Allis in 1877 the Bullard Machine Company was formed and so continued until 1880, when Mr. Bullard became sole proprietor and carried on the business under his own name.

In 1880, recognizing the demand for a high grade lathe, he came to Bridgeport and arranged with A. D. Laws to manufacture lathes of his design, Mr. Bullard taking the entire output of the plant. Owing to unsatisfactory conditions of the business Mr. Bullard took over the plant the same year and reorganized its interests under the name of the Bridgeport Machine Tool Works, of which he was sole owner, and thus was established an enterprise which has grown into one of the most important productive concerns of the city. In 1883 he designed his first vertical boring - and turning mill, a single head, belt feed machine, having a capacity of thirty-seven inches. This was afterward sold to George A. Young, of Brooklyn, New York. In 1889 Mr. Bullard discontinued his New York connections owing to the growth of the Bridgeport plant, which now demanded his entire time and attention. In 1894 the Bridgeport Machine Tool Works was incorporated under the name of the Bullard Machine Tool Company, a close corporation, the stock being owned by Mr. Bullard and his sons. At the memorial services which were held following his death the Rev. Arthur F. Skeele in speaking of his business experiences said: "Early in his business life he passed through the common experience of bankruptcy; yet with undaunted courage he wrested success out of failure; and it is known to some,' that as his fortunes mended, he lived for years with the strictest economy, refusing to enlarge his business until he had repaid his entire indebtedness, one hundred cents on the dollar. Perhaps a mistaken policy from a financial standpoint, as he himself allowed, it is yet a clear, strong voice in favor of the highest integrity. In the conduct of a large manufacturing business, and in dealing with a great body of men in his employ, he achieved the rare success of winning the esteem, confidence and even the love of them; together they labored in the true spirit of cooperation for the success of the company, in which all alike took pride. In this spirit of mutual respect they were able to adjust all differences and thus to contribute a notable illustration to the amicable settlement of the problem of capital and labor. What more impressive testimony to this well-nigh ideal relationship could there be than the presence here today of this splendid body of men, four hundred of the skilled workmen of the factory. He being dead is yet speaking through hundreds of witnesses."

The home life of Mr. Bullard was largely ideal. He was married on the 11th of January, 1864, to Miss Alice Martha Camp, a daughter of Dr. Joseph and Lucy (Brewster) Camp, of Bristol, Connecticut. They became the parents of two daughters and five sons: Jessie Augusta, born October 20, 1866; Dudley Brewster, born June 13, 1869; Edward Payson, Jr., born July 10. 1872; Stanley Hale, born July 4, 1877; Harold Camp, born August 14, 1879; Joseph William Camp, born July 22, 1882 ; and Alice Margery, born August 14, 1885.

The estimate of his character is perhaps best given in the opinions of those who were closely associated with him. Following his demise, which occurred December 22, 1906, one who knew him well wrote of him: "Though Mr. Bullard was a hard worker — had his full share of nervous energy and did not spare himself — he yet got much enjoyment out of life chiefly because he was a practical philosopher and able to apply his philosophy to his daily work. His life was governed by certain principles — those of a Christian gentleman — which unerringly guided his commercial as well as his domestic and spiritual life. Though a keen and energetic business man, he prized his honor above everything. As he trusted others, he expected others to trust him. Among his papers were a number of clippings, a quotation from one of them reading: 'There is nothing to our mind so broad-spoken of the inherent uprightness of man, or so strongly illustrative of our native dependence upon the integrity of our fellows as the confidence with which the honest buyer enters into a commercial transaction with a merchant of probity and repute. It i& the sincere tribute that intelligence pays to integrity; it is the most valuable portion of a merchant's possessions.' Mr. Bullard did his own thinking and was never afraid to take an advance step because no others had taken it. Though possessed of great ability as a business man and good judgment as a designer of machine tools, he was unassuming, quiet in manner, always courteous and mindful of the rights of others, well read and intelligent about matters in general, as well as business affairs, and thoroughly to be relied upon. He traveled much in Europe in the interest of his foreign trade and had many friends there, and in whatsoever country he traveled or sojourned he was always the quiet, unpretentious, thorough gentleman he was at home. He took an active interest in church work wherever located, giving personal help, in the church and Sabbath school, as well as financial aid. He was deacon and elder in the church societies he attended in the cities of the west where he resided, also in the Reformed Dutch church in Belleville, New Jersey, and the First Presbyterian church in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was interested in the Law and Order League and his aid was appreciated by many charitable institutions. He carried out in his life the command of our Lord, 'But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.' And his life was complete. He had attained success in the best ways, had rounded out his career, had well-nigh completed the allotted term of human life. It is pleasant to think of his reaching the summit of a long, steep hill, to shift the mass of affairs to younger shoulders, and enjoy a leisurely autumn of halcyon days."