Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-09-16

IS LIS dloIdHld vi NcW lOIh Clty, dinI-
ing of rare truthfullness and perfection,
which cost him four years incessant toll, and
was attended with an expense of over
$4,000.
q. A. BULLARD, g
Was orn at Howard, Steuben CO., N. Y,
on the "5th of February, 1916. His pa
rents cme from Massachusetts,, and were
among the earliest settlers of Steuben co.
His father was a farmer of good repute.
When 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, by the arrival of a portrait paint
er in that place. Eager to obtain some
knowledge of the art, he 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 he had
ever 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 bis trade for the purpose of
obtaining instructions in some of the distant
cities; but at the earnest entreaties of his
mother, who could not bear the idea of part
ing 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, 4 friend of his, a Young
physician, patiently waiting, like many ott
ers, for gray hairs to entitle him to conf
dence, agreed 'to sit for his likeness He
WAS in his glory, as with painters pencil,
odds and ends of brushes, and the premises
all tc himself and his subject" he com
menced his first portrait. 1t was, we pre-
sumo, with some such feeling as that Of an
orator making his debut, or general about
to fight his first battle. The portrait was
declared to be excellent, and to his gratii-
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 ms
falling into the difficulty Of a certain artist
who, having painted horse, thought it
necessary, for the information Of persons
not Judges of the fine ats, TO inscribe un-
derneath the animal, "This is Horse
When of age, Mr.. Billiard visited Massa-
chusetts and Connecticut, where he found
friends who gave him the requisite instruc-
tons. He then commenced business as a
portrait painter, at Hartford, where he met
with good success. During several snbsc-
Iuent years, lie painted portraits in Massa-
:husetts, and in the western part OF the
State of New York.
In 1871, he married the eldest daughter
If A. A. Olmstead, ESP and since the Win
Ter of 1843, he has made New York city
bis permanent place Of residence.
There probably is no Artist now living,
IF Mr. Billiards. age, tina: has labored
harder, or applied himself more closely to his
Profession, for the last fifteen years. He
has illustrated feet that has been illustra-
ted by great many individuals, viz: that
Goa gives nothing to mortals without Ia
Sort is labor that produces ever thing.
There is no doubt of the fact that 1t Is the
lutv of every man, more especially Of every
young man, to find out what Trade or no
fession God intended him for, and tEcn after
ascertaining that fact, to devote the whole
powers Of his mind TO the accomplishment
of that one object, viz: TO ercel in that trade
or profession. 1t makes no difference
whether man shoes horse, makes boot,
shoves the fore plane, paints picture, or
breaches sermon,-whatever he docs, he
should do rel. Mr. Billiard, Ike all men
rho have distinguished thcmsclsca, has actcl