JOHN LAPHAM BULLIS (JLB)--BUSINESSMAN

This week we've been reading through the article "John L. Bullis: 'Farsighted and Keen' Trans-Pecos Land Speculator" by Jim Fenton,  published in  the Journal of Big Bend Studies, Vol. 2, January 1990 (pages 73-86).  This article focuses on "... the remarkable business success of one of the most accomplished Indian fighters in Texas."

The author points out that JLB's interest in business got an early start with his trapping activities while still a teenager. There is also a record of his having owned a horse and a flock of sheep during that time. Following his service in the Civil War, "mid-1866,  found Bullis on Saint Francis Island, within the Mississippi River channel and near the mouth of the Saint Francis River in Arkansas, selling firewood to the steam boats moving along the Mississippi."

Records show that in early 1867 he continued his wood business in Helena, Arkansas. Later that same year, he re-entered the Army in  the Twenty-fourth Infantry Regiment as a second lieutenant and was sent to Texas where he became involved in land speculation. "His land holdings reached an all-time high in 1883, slightly over fort-three sections."  Then in 1884, "... he nearly matched this figure buying thirty-nine and a half sections." He continued to purchase land and property in various parts of Texas over the next several years, and profited from the leasing and resale of these holdings to cattlemen and settlers. He also became involved in mining operations.

At the time, this article tells us that many wondered how much JLB was worth as a result of this business dealings. A former clerk on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation who worked for Bullis, "... recalled years later that Captain Bullis was understood to be a millionaire."

Other members of the Bullis family also exhibited exceptional business acumen during their lifetimes.  Like her Uncle John, Nettie Bullis also achieved financial success. And fortunately, she shared her wealth during her lifetime and left a lasting legacy for her community.

Again, we thank Nettie Bullis and her family for their wise and thoughtful generosity.

WHY?

Bullis Room volunteers have been having fun looking through more items in the collection,  at times "oohing" and "aching" over this and that.

We also sometimes stop and say, "Hmm...wonder why they kept this?"

Well, in skimming a document (untitled, author unnamed) about Captain John L. Bullis, we happened upon a possible answer to our question in the following excerpt, which refers to his military career in Texas beginning in the late 1860s:

"His fearless and commendable service...won recognition in the United States Congress, which twice breveted  him for his splendid work. The people of Texas who more fully appreciated what he had done for them, presented him with two beautiful swords, one of them ornamented with scenes and designs commemorative of his achievements. The designs are wrought in gold and the sword cost $1,000. The Captain prizes it still more highly because the poor people whom he had protected and whose homes he had made safe were the contributors to the gift fund, giving of their meagre possessions as evidence of the gratitude and love which they had for the Captain."

The portion of the above quote that is in bold print gives us one answer to our "why did they keep this" question.  Captain Bullis obviously greatly prized his sword from the people of Texas because of what it represented...their sacrifice which resulted from gratitude.

So as we continue to go through more of the Bullis memorabilia, we have one answer to our "why" question. And we'll be looking for more. We'll keep you posted on our progress.

By the way, thank you for reading this post. And remember--you're always welcome to spend some time with us in the Bullis Room. Just leave your contact information at the front desk and we'll make arrangements to meet with you.