Robert Pullen

As printed in 1906

ROBERT PULLEN. In a history of the men of the past and present who have contributed to the development and upbuilding of Berrien county mention should be made of Robert Pullen, who for many years was connected with the development of the fruit industry of this section of the state. He was born in Kent, England, May 1, 1829, and when he passed away on the nth of December, 1904, at the age of seventy-five years his death was the occasion of deep and wide-spread regret. He was reared to manhood in his native country, learning the shoemaker's trade in early life. He came to America at the age of twenty-eight years, landing at New York, after which he worked at his trade in Syracuse, New York, for a time. Subsequently he took up his above near Rochester and about a year later was married there to Miss Lizzie Tyler, also a native of England. They had been friends in that country and had become engaged prior to their emigration to the new world. Mrs. Pullen crossed the Atlantic with her parents and soon after she gave her hand in marriage to Robert Pullen, they came to the middle west, settling first in Racine, Wisconsin, where Mr. Pullen worked at the shoemaker's trade. After a happy married life of five years the wife passed away, leaving a daughter, Lizzie, then four years of age.. She was reared by her grandparents in Wisconsin but often visited in Berrien county and since her father's death has made her home at Fair Plain.

Mr. Pullen afterward returned to Syracuse, New York, and at Brighton, near Rochester, where he had first married, he was again married, on the 9th of February, 1864, his second union being with Mary Bounds, a native of Northamptonshire, England, who came to the United States with her parents, William and Ann (Powell) Bounds, who settled in Brighton when she was seven years of age. Both her father and mother died at Poplar Grove, Illinois, the. former passing away in February, 1904, and the latter only six days later. Mr. Bounds, was eighty-eight years of age at the time of his demise, while his wife had reached the age of eighty-six years. They had removed to Illinois soon after their daughter's marriage and for a long period were residents of that state. The year 1904 was fraught with much sadness for Mrs. Pullen, for not only did her parents pass away in February but a brother at Appleton, Wisconsin, died about the middle of the year and her husband in the latter part of the year. From the age of seven years until her first marriage Mrs. Pullen Hved in Brighton. She married George Pullen, a younger brother of Robert Pullen, and within two years he-enlisted for service in the Civil war and was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness, the injuries causing his death four years later. He served in the army for nearly two years. He left his wife and one son George E. Pullen, six months old, at his father's home when he went to the front. After their marriage in 1864 Mr. and Mrs. George Pullen removed to Poplar Grove, Illinois, and engaged in the cultivation of a grain farm there in connection with his brother, Frank. In 1867, however, the property there was sold and Frank Pullen came to Michigan to secure a fruit farm. The same year Robert Pullen came and purchased a farm devoted to the cultivation of peaches. This property lay in Fair Plain and later was exchanged for the present Tiome of his widow in the vicinity of the original farm. Here Mrs. Pullen still resides and she has ten acres of land on Colfax avenue, Fair Plain. Robert Pullen also invested in other land and devoted his attention to fruit growing. For many years he engaged in the raising of peaches, but later the crop was taken by the yellow and lie grew berries. Subsequently, however, he gave considerable attention to grapes and again set out peaches, his fruit growing interests proving a success from a financial standpoint. He looked after his business interests up to the time of his death, employing hired help, however, to do the active work in the orchards. He found the climate conditions and society satisfactory at his new home and was always interested in the welfare of the county. He greatly enjoyed his work, bringing to it a zealand energy which were salient features in his success.

In his political views Mr. Pullen was a Republican but had no inclination to seek public office, his time and attention being devoted to his home and to other duties. He became a member of the Baptist church in early life, but later was identified with the Second Adventist Society, although there was no organization of that denomination in Benton Harbor. His connection with the church, however, continued for twenty years and he left one thousand dollars to that society to be used in the Advent Christian Baptist Publication at Mendota, Illinois, to advance Christian work. Unto Robert Pullen and his second wife were born no children, but Mrs. Pullen has a son. Rev. George E. Pullen, who is now a minister of the Second Adventist Christian Church and resides at Fair Plain. He is secretary of the Western Advent Christian Publication Association and is a regular weekly contributor to the paper, Our Hope, He married Ella Harris, of Berrien county, and they have two children, Ray and Hazel. Mrs. Pullen has taken part in various church activities and for many years she and her husband devoted one tenth of their income to the church work. She has a pleasant home and is a popular lady, esteemed for her many excellent traits of heart and mind. In all his life Mr. Pullen was straightforward in his dealings and honorable in his relations with his fellowmen, while in his family he was devoted to the welfare and happiness of his household. To his friends he was considerate and kindly and while carefully and successfully conducting his business interests he at the same time developed a character which made him a man of worth, respected by all with whom he came in contact.

As printed in A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.