SAMUEL A. BULLARD, of Springfield, is one of the leading architects of this State, and besides doing an extensive business here is associated with his brother, George W., who is now in Tacoma, Wash., where he has charge of their office and manages their affairs in that part of the country under the firm name of Bullard & Bullard. Our subject is a native of this county and was born March 25, 1853, to Wesley and Sarah (Foster) Bullard, natives respectively of Kentucky and Indiana. The Bullards went originally from Virginia to Kentucky, and the father of our subject was born in Shelbyville, that State. The family was of French origin as the name indicates, and had lived in Virginia for several generations. Wesley Bullard came to Illinois in 1835, and located in the eastern part of the county, of which he thus became an early pioneer. He entered land from the Government, and still has his old patent with Andrew Jackson's signature attached. The mother of our subject, although a native of Illinois, was of Kentucky parentage. She died in 1861. Her marriage had been blessed with eight children. Mr. Bullard married a second time, taking as his wife Mrs. Holtzman, whose maiden name was Kidd, and who was a native of Ohio. She bore him two children.

Samuel A. Bullard, of whom these lines are written, was the fifth child in order of birth. Seven of the family are living and are settled in various parts of the country from Washington to Arkansas and Dakota. Mr. Bullard passed his boyhood days in this county on his father's farm and in the public schools laid the foundation for a liberal education. He became a student at the University of Illinois at Champaign, where he pursued a thorough course of study and was graduated in the class of 1878 with high honors in architecture, taking the degree of Bachelor of Science. The next year after leaving college he located as an architect at Springfield and has ever since resided in this city. This municipality is adorned with many fine specimens of his skill, as he designed the Young Men's Christian Association building, Second Methodist Episcopal Church, Christ church, and many of the handsome residences in the city which compare favorably in architecture with the fine residences and buildings of other large cities and exhibit his taste in architecture and skill in combination. From early boyhood he displayed a natural talent for this art and when quite young drew and worked with tools with much skill and precision.

Besides carrying on his business here our subject is a partner with his brother, as before mentioned, and they do a large business, not only in Washington, but design public buildings and private residences for all parts of the country. Mr. Bullard is a progressive and enlightened citizen, and is greatly interested in every movement that will in any way benefit the city or county. He is prominent in educational matters and in 1888 was elected Trustee of the Illinois University. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and religiously is connected with the Methodist episcopal Church. Politically he is a Republican.

To the lady who presides over his charming home and assists him in extending its hospitalities to their numerous friends our subject was married April 19, 1882. Mrs. Bullard was formerly Elsie Elliott, and was a daughter of John B. Elliott, of Tonica, LaSalle County, her native place. Mr. and Mrs. Bullard's pleasant household circle is completed by their four children - Nellie, Edwin Elliott, Clark Wesley and Elsie.