As a member of one of the pioneer families of this country, Mr. Pullen
calls for recognition in a compilation of the province assigned to the one
at hand, and it is a pleasure to enter this review of his upright and
successful career, for he has ever been faithful in the performance of
whatever duty he found to be his, without thought of reward or praise from
his fellow men.
Burden Pullen was born in Mercer county, New Jersey,
June 8, 1833, the son of James B. and Sarah (McCabe) Pullen. Grandfather
Pullen, who was of English descent, lived in New Jersey and died at the
advanced age of ninety-eight years. He devoted his life to agricultural
pursuits and reared to maturity a family of nine children. His noble life
companion was a faithful member of the church. Grandfather McCabe, who was
of Scotch-Irish blood, lived on a farm, and both he and his wife lived to
advanced ages, rearing a large family. The father of the subject was reared
in New Jersey, and being poor, his parents could not give him the school
advantages that he desired. However, he made the best use possible of what
he had, and after leaving school learned the cooper's trade, although he
never worked at it to any extent. He left New Jersey in 1839 and settled in
Middletown, Ohio, going into the fruit and nursery business and developing
into a well known and prominent horticulturist, the study of which he had
begun before leaving New Jersey, and devoted his life to that business with
pronounced success. He died at the age of sixty-five years, having been
survived by a widow until she reached eighty-six. They were members of the
Baptist church and their family consisted of nine children.
The
early education of the subject of this sketch was obtained in the district
schools of Ohio, where he diligently applied himself. Desiring to receive a
higher education, he later entered Franklin College in Indiana, but on
account of sickness was obliged to leave before finishing the course he had
hoped to take. He worked on his father's fruit farm and was with him as an
associate in the business until 1856, when he came to Centralia, Illinois,
then being twenty-three years old. He opened a nursery, becoming a
horticulturist of more than local note. He bought the place where he now
resides in 1857. The place consisted of seventy acres and all of it was used
as a nursery and fruit farm. Much of his land is now laid out in city lots
and has been sold. He closed the nursery branch and gradually worked all
into the horticulture line, which he made a great success.
Mr.
Pullen's happy married life dates from December 10, 1857, when he was united
in the bonds of wedlock with Lucille O. Gex, a native of Kentucky. Her
ancestry was of French descent. Her grandparents on the mother's side were
named Price. They were from England and her grandfather was a Baptist
minister. Her father was an educated man, a linguist. He was a planter in
Kentucky and a slave holder.
Nine children have been born to the
subject and wife, named in order of birth as follows: Lucian C. is married
and the father of four children: Rena is the wife of E. S. Condit and the
mother of two children; Maud, who was the wife of Dr. George Abbott, is
deceased; Blanche is also deceased; May is the wife of Charles P. Marshall
and the mother of two children; Fred is married and has one child; Rome B.
is the seventh child and Bird G. the eighth, the latter married and has two
children; Lillie is the youngest and the wife of Raymond A. Beck and the
mother of one child.
The subject's first wife died in 1891, and he
was again married September 13, in 1893, to Mrs. Anna E. Russell, of Clinton
county, Illinois.
Our subject is one of the original organizers of
the local First Baptist church, of Centralia, and is the only living member
of the original organization. In politics he was originally a Whig, then a
Republican, but in late years a Democrat. He was a member of the State Board
of Agriculture, having been vice-president of the same for twenty years. He
was one of the Commissioners appointed by the Governor to take charge of the
Illinois exhibit at the World's Fair in 1893 at Chicago, and was chairman of
the Committee on Horticulture and Floriculture. He spent two years in this
work, having charge of and preparing the grounds and buildings for this
display. He was for some time Trustee of the University of Illinois, by
appointment of Governor Oglesby, having been Chairman of the Committee on
Grounds. He was also Auditor of the State Board of Agriculture, having had
charge of the purchasing department and a number of other departments. He
has had charge of some one of these departments for the past twenty years.
Mr. Pullen, besides having been a very busy man in this line, has
also had other business of much importance. He assisted in the organization
of the Merchants' State Bank of Centralia and was its first president,
having faithfully performed the duties of this exacting position for a
period of six years, and withdrew on account of physical disability. E. S.
Condit, a grandson of the subject, is now assistant cashier of this bank.
Mr. Pullen was one of the organizers of the Centralia Ice and Cold Storage
Company, and has been its president ever since it was first organized. His
son, Fred, is secretary and business manager of the same and has ably filled
this position since 1898.
Mr. Pullen has long taken an active
interest in public affairs and he has served creditably as School Trustee
and Director, also Township Supervisor. He was active in the District Fair
Association and was the first president of the same, having been chosen by
acclamation, and it was largely due to his efficient efforts that the
success of the fair was due. Whatever of success has been attained by our
subject is due entirely to his own industry, energy and ability. From small
beginnings he gradually, by the most honorable methods, attained a
prominence in his county which entitles him to be regarded as one of its
leading citizens, his reputation being that of a man of business integrity,
and his modem home is often the gathering place for numerous friends of
himself and family.
Extracted 27 May 2019 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 596-598.