DANIEL BULLARD IS NO MOREIt's important to note Daniel was not the only one to work "hard for this money" (his estate at death would equal 1.4 to 2.1 million dollars today). Daniel enslaved people and forced them to also work hard, solely for the benefit of him and his family. According to the 1850 Twiggs County census slave schedule, he owned sixteen individuals -- male and female, ranging in ages from 7 to 45 years.
His Long and Useful Life Ended at High Noon Yesterday Surrounded By Loving Friends.
WILL BE BURIED IN MACON
He Was the Oldest and Wealthiest Citizen of Twiggs County and a Man Who Had Accomplished Much Good in His Day.
Yesterday at 12:30 o'clock Mr. Daniel Bullard of Twiggs died at his home in that county.
He was born in Washington county, Georgia, March 11, 1805, and had therefore reached his 90th year. He was the oldest [citizen] of his county. His death was due, not to any specific disease, but to the gradual decay of life in advancing years. When about 10 years of age he moved to Twiggs county, and for eighty years consecutively was a resident of the same district -- "Bluff district" -- of that county. For many years past he was a familiar figure on the streets of Macon and was known personally to nearly all of the business men of the city.
He was married four times. There survive him his last wife, whom he married January 29, 1865, and who was Miss Elizabeth Bardon [sic]; and the children of their marriage, Mrs. Cora Etheridge, Mrs. Victoria Billingsly and Daniel Bullard, Jr. His older surviving children are J. M. Bullard and Monroe Bullard of Cochran, Mrs. Elizabeth [Everett] and Mrs. Dora Harrell of Twiggs.
Mr. Bullard's life furnished another illustration of the opportunities open to energy and frugality under the conditions of life in this country. He started life a poor boy, without a cent, without parental help, earning his first quarter by manual labor. He leaves an estate estimated at from $50,000 to $75,000. He was wont to say in his quaint manner that he worked hard for this money when he was young, and after he was old he let it work for him. He allowed his capital, unlike the rolling stone, to gather the moss of interest, and being of simple tastes and habits his income was comfortably beyond his wants.
He was the first agent of the Macon and Brunswick (now the Southern) railroad at Bullard's station, which was so named after him, a position he held for thirteen years. His public spirit was shown by giving the right of way through an extensive tract of land and by his subscribing $42,000 to the stock of the road. Mr. Bullard was eminently a just man. He believed in the religion of paying debts. He rendered to every man his due, and thought that every man should do likewise by him. If he found a debtor seeking to evade or defeat a just claim he would pursue his rights to their full extent, but in many transactions, where the other party showed a desire to do justice, he would cheerfully remit a part -- sometimes much -- to which he was justly entitled.
Mr. Bullard lived and died a consistent member of the Baptist church. He was universally liked and respected in the community in which he lived. He was an honest, quiet, industrious, kind-hearted, God-fearing man. Such men make valuable citizens and when they die they are a loss. He had many warm friends here.
His remains will reach the city this afternoon at 4:20 by the Southern railway and will be interred at Rose Hill cemetery... The following gentlemen have been requsted [sic] to act as pall bearers: W. A. Davis, J. W. Cabaniss, N. E. Harris, R. H. Plant, C. J. Toole, M. R. Freeman, G. L. Reeves, W. M. Wimberly, Theodore Ellis. They are requested to meet at the store of Lamar Clay at 4 p.m.
Following is an obituary for Daniel's "last wife."
Sunday, 20 May 1917 - pg. 8 [via GenealogyBank]
DEATHS AND FUNERALSAccording to his obituary, Daniel was married four times. In addition to Elizabeth, I have only one other name to offer: Caroline. I believe she was the mother of at least seven of his children. In all, I have found Daniel fathered at least thirteen children:
MRS. ELIZABETH BULLARD.
Mrs. Elizabeth Bullard, widow of Daniel Bullard, and one of the oldest and most prominent women of Twiggs county, died Saturday at her home near Bullard's station, Twiggs county, after a brief illness. She was 86 years old and probably the oldest woman in the county.
She is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Dora Harrell, Mrs. Victoria Billingslea and Mrs. Walter T. Holmes, and one son, Daniel Bullard. Twenty-one grandchildren also survive.
The body will be brought to Macon Sunday morning and carried to the home of her daughter, Mrs. Billingslea, 820 New street, where the funeral will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The Rev. T. F. Callaway, pastor of the Tabernacle Baptist church, assisted by the Rev. J. P. Wardlaw, will conduct the service and the interment will be in Rose Hill cemetery.
Daniel Bullard was one of the leading planters and one of the largest land owners in Twiggs county. The family is well known throughout this section of the state.
- Wiley Bullard (b. abt 1829)
- Charles Bullard (b. abt 1832)
- Mary Bullard (b. 1836-1838)
- Elizabeth Bullard Everett (d. 1905)
- Henry H. Bullard (b. abt 1840)
- Ira Bullard (b. 1843-1844)
- J. Madison Bullard (b. 1848-1850)
- Monroe Bullard (d. 1921)
- William Bullard (b. abt 1856)
- Dora Bullard Harrell (1868-1934)
- Cora Bullard Etheridge Holmes (1872-1927)
- Victoria "Vick" Bullard Billingslea (1872-1948) *also buried in Rose Hill
- Daniel Bullard, Jr. (1873-1960)
