Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-07-09
O. A. BULLARD.


o. A. BULLARD,
Was born at Howard, Steuben CO., N. Y,
on the 25th of February, 1916. His pa
rents came from Massachusetts,, aud were
among the earliest settlers of Steuben Co.
His father was farmer of good repute.--
Wher the latter died, the subject Of this
sketch was fourteen years of age, and he
was apprenticed to the business of wagon
making and sign painting. those branches
being frequently united, in many Of our
villages His love for the fine arts was first
awakened, 10y the arrival Of portrait paint
sr in that place. Eager to obtain some
knowledge Of the art, lie exerted himself to
the utmost to raise the ways and means, and
applied for instruction; but the artist re-
fused to disclose any of his professional Sc
crets At that period he was eighteen
years of age, and the productions of this
painter were the first oil paintings lie had
aver seen. Ever afterwards, his mind was
fixed upon painting, and although the way
did not then appear, an artist he was de-
termined to become. With this view he
desired to leave his trade, for the purpose OF
obtaining instructions in some Of the distant
cities; but at the earnest intreaties Of his
mother, who could not bear the idea Of pa
rting with him, he remained. All his spend
ing money was laid out in books but he
searched in vain for any which gave infor-
nation on painting.
At this juncture, friend Of his, young
physician, patiently waiting, like many 9TH
ers, for gray hairs, to entitle him to conf
dence, agreedf'to sit for his likeness He
was in his glory, as with painters pencil
odds and ends of brushes, and the premises
all to himself and his subject" he COM
menced his first portrait 1t was we pre-
ume, with some such feeling as that of an
orator making his debut, or general about
to fght his first battle. The portrait was
declared to be excellent and to his gratifi-
cation it was pronounced greatly superior
to those painted by the professional artist
All the people declared that it was like life
itself; and in truth there was no fear Of hi
falling into the difficulty Of a certain arts
who, having painted a horse, thought j
necessary, for the information OF persons
not Judges of the fine arts, to inscribe un
derneath the animal, aThis is Horse"
When of age, Mr.. Bullard visited Massa
chusetts and Connecticut where he founC
friends who gave him the requisite instruc
tons. He then commenced business as
portrait painter at Hartford, where he me
with good success. During several subse
quent years, he painted portraits in Massa
chusetts, and in the western part OF tn
State of New York.
In 1871, he married the eldest daughte
Of A. A. Olmstead, ESQ, and since the n
ter of l843, he has made New Yoik ci
his permanent place Of residence.
There probably is no Artist now livin
of Mr.. Billiards. age, that has lahore
harder, or applied himself more closely to b
Profession, for the last fifteen years. II
has illustrated fact that has been iilustrs
ted by great many individuals viz; thi
God gives nothing to mortals without l.
bort is labor that produces everything
There is no doubt Of the fact that it is tL
duty of every man, more especially ever
young man, to find out what Trade or Pr
fesson God intended him for, and then aft
ascertaining that fact, to devote the who
powers of his mind to the accomplishmel
Of that one object, viz; to e;esl in that tra'
or profession. 1t mains no differen
whether a man sLoos no e, makes a boo
shoyes the fore PANE, ps ats a picture,
breaches a sennca,-whs ever he does
should do weA. Mr.. Bull rd, Like all M
vbo have otstfue,r,sbed the, ,selvas hss act,