Thomas B. Bullene

Biillene, Thomas Brockway, is a name most ])roniinently linked with the history of the retail trade interests of western Missouri. To write a biography of this man would be the chronicling of a life whose accomplishments left a wholesome impress upon the material welfare of a section of untold richness, and whose modest ventures in the business world, backed by remarkable tact and commercial ability, resulted in the growth of a country store to a palatial establishment of innumerable departments and metropolitan magnitude. Mr. Bullene was born in Hannibal, Oswego County, New York, August 10, 1828, and died December 4. 1894, at his home in Kansas City, Missouri. He was the youngest son of John and Susan

Bullene. In 1834 his parents removed to Albany, New York, and in 1837 to Wisconsin, settling upon and pre-tempting a farm on the site of the present village of Sih'cr Lake, Kenosha County, Wisconsin. There, on the banks of the Fox River, amid the hardships and privations incident to the life of the early pioneer, Thomas B. Bullene passed the earlier years of his boyhood. His advantages for securing an education were exceedingly meagre, but in 1840 he entered Bristol Seminary, in the same county, and later Bowman's Select School, attending during the winter months, and learning at the same time the valuable lessons of frugal thrift and industry. Thus he acquired a fair academical education. At the age of twenty-one he entered a partnership with his brother, Lathrop, who was two years his senior, in a country store at Lyons, Walwinnh County, 'wisconsin. ( )ne year later, Mr. Lathrop Bullene removed to New York City, and the subject of this sketch l>came the owner of the entire stock: In the fall of 1856 he rem.oved to Independence, Iowa, where he carried on a merchandising business until 1860, when he sold his store and accepted the position of postmaster of Independence, which position he held until the spring of 1863, when he turned his face toward a young municipal giant of the West, then in the earliest stages of its formative period — Kansas City. There he formed a partnership with his brother, Lathrop, who was at that time carrying on a dry goods business at Lawrence, Kansas, and with Colonel Kersey Coates, of Kansas City. The firm was known as Coates & Bullene, and was the predecessor of the firm of Bullene, Aloore, Emery & Co., which, through various changes, finally Ijecame the Emery-Bird-Thayer Dry Goods Company, a name familiar throughout the marts and trade circles of the world, and deservedly ranking at the head of the retail interests of Missouri. The story, in brief, of the founding of this notable commercial house is, indeed, interesting, and illustrative of the perils and vicissitudes incident to the times of which this is written. In the spring of 1863 Kansas City was under martial law. One of the leading firms then carrying on the dry goods business there was Gillis & Coates, whose establishment was at the northeast corner of Main Street and Missouri Avenue. Mr. Gillis was through birth, education and environments a strong sympathizer with the cause of the South, and did not hesitate to express his convictions. Indeed, it is recalled by the early residents that there were not a few in Kansas City at that time who openly shared his feelings, and whose sentiments were akin to his. About the first of April of that year the provost marshal issued an order closing up several mercantile establishments, proclaiming that they would not be permitted to resume business so long as there remained in their firms outspoken secessionists. The house of Gilhs & Coates came under the ban, the store was closed and the proprietors immediately set themselves to the task of finding some one who would buy the interest of Mr. Gillis. They dispatched a messenger to Lawrence, the residence of Mr. Lathrop Bullene. to lay the case before him. Mr. Bullene went to Kansas City, made an offer for the Gillis interest, and wired to Thomas B. Bullene, at Independence, Iowa, who at once went to Kansas City. The deal was closed and the new firm opened for business the first of May. After the destruction of Lawrence by Quantrell, August 21, 1863, in which Lathrop Bullene lost his store and stock, valued at over $20,000, the Bullenes bought of Colonel Coates his share of the stock in the Kansas City store, and the firm became Bullene Brothers. Thomas B. took charge of the business as resident partner, while Lathrop still retained his residence in Lawrence, where he soon resumed business, doing the buying in the East for both stores. Fortunately, he was in New York, engaged in this work, at the time ofthe raid, and thus escaped the terrible fate which was so cruelly visited upon one hundred and sixty of his fellow citizens. Business at this time was carried on in constant danger from the guerrillas that infested the surrounding country, threatening destruction to both person and property. In October, 1864, when General Price was marching his army up the Missouri Walley. toward Kansas Cit\ Thomas B. Bullene, as many others flid. hurriedly packed up a large portion of the most valuable stock in the store and shipped it by steamboat up the Missouri River for safety, until the danger following in the path of the invading army should be past. In Tulv, 1867, W. E. Emery became a member of the firm, which was changed to Bullene Bros. & Emery. In 1870 L. T. Mopre, of Lexington, Kentucky, purchased an equal interest in the business, and the firm name became Bullenes, Moore & Emery. During this year the large store fronting on 2\Iain, Delaware and Seventh Streets was erected, and thereafter became the place of business for this rapidly growing establishment. In January, 1872, L. R. Moore, of Alontgomery, Alabama, purchased Lathrop Bullene's interest in the business, and the firm became Bullene, Moores & Emery. During these years the increase in the volume of business was phenomenal, and large additions were made to the store building. The aggregate of sales at that time reached nearly, or quite, $2,000,000 annually. T. B. Bullene, as the head of this firm, so remained until the time of his death. He was active always, and was often style the "Merchant Prince" of the Missouri Valley. He was at all times a participant in enterprises looking toward the advancement of Kansas City and the most wholesome municipal interests. Politically, he was a liberal Republican. All his life he was a tireless, active business man, and kept pace with timely events as an attentive student of history and a close reader of the good literature of the day. He was twice married, his first wife being Miss Amarett Hickock. daughter of Harris Hickock, of Bridgeport, New York, the wedding taking jjlace December 29, 1851, at Kenosha. 'wisconsin. Mrs. Bullene died in Kansas City, in 1883. The second wife was Mrs. Sallie McGraw Reid, to whom he was married in Kansas City. Four children survive jmr. Bullene: Lathrop B., president of the Riverside Iron Works, Kansas City; Fred S.. of the "Kansas City Star"; Harry H. and Mrs. Walter C. Root, of Kansas City. Mr. Bullene was as prominent in public affairs as he was successful in business life, serving the people of Kansas City during a most prosperous mayoralty administration as president of the common council, and participating in every movement having as its end the improvement of the city and the prosperity of the people. He was notably a man of public spirit, a leader among men, and a citizen who abundantly diesen-ed the deep regard in which he was held by all who knew him. The establishment of which he was so long the head has undergone poco-

BUNCETON— BUNDSCHU liar changes in nonicnclatitre. Because of the fact that at different times there were two brothers of three names in the firm, it lias been known as Bullenes, Moore & E'.mery; Bullene, Moores & Emery, and Bullene, Moore & Emerys. After 1880 Mr. Bullene took but little active part in the management of the great store, but continued to occupy a prominent place in the affairs of Kansas City and Missouri. In addition to his political successes, he represented Missouri at the World's Fair in Chicago. The first store building occupied by the founders of this great house was located at Main Street and Missouri Avenue, a modest building, in which eight or ten assistants were employed. Much of the Santa Fe trade was supplied with provisions and outfitting necessaries at this store, and it was a common sight in the early days to see Imig lines of covered wagons drawn up in front of the store. January 4, 1870, the store was moved to the corner of Seventh and Main Streets, and became the center of the dry goods trade. This store was then considered a large establishment, but it was not a hint of the future in store for the firm or the palatial structure which it was in a few years to occupy. In 1881 Joseph T. Bird was admitted to the firm. He went to Kansas City September 25, 1868, from his native State, New Jersey, and entered upon his employment as a clerk in the store of Bullene Bros. & Co., at Missouri Avenue and Main Street. In 1875 Mr. Bird accepted an interest in the store, but was not actively known in the partnership at that time. He took a moneyed interest in 1881, and is now the resident head of the immense store with which he has been so long and faithfully connected. Mr. \y. B. Thayer dates his connection with this house since September i, 1871, when he entered the employ of Bullenes, Moore & Emery as a clerk. He became a member of the firm August i, 1883, when the style of the firm was Bullene, Moores & Emery. The splendid building fronting Walnut and Eleventh Streets and Grand Avenue was occupied by this firm in September. 1890, and has since been the center of a vast trade, which reaches out into many States and Territories. The house has been denominated the greatest store in Missouri, and the store itself, with its magnificent appointments, tons of valuable contents and armv of employes, seems to bear out the statement v.ith tangible accuracy. After the deatii of Mr. Bullene, the firm became Emery, lord, Thayer & Co. A short time later, November 7, 1895, articles of incori)oration were granted, and the style became livery-Bird- Thayer Dry Goods Comjiany. The capital stock is $1,200,000, and the members of the company and ofiiicers are as follows: W. E. Emery, of New York, president; Jose])h T. Bird, of Kansas City, general manager and vice president: 'william Thayer, of Kansas City, secretary and treasurer; John C. Fennell, who has been connected with the store since 1878, and became a member of the firm January I, 1890, assistant secretary and treasurer, and L. T. Moore, of Kansas City. Mr. livery removed to Kansas City in 1867, arriving there September 14, from New Jersey. In 1872 he removed to New York, where he represents the interests of the company of which he is how the head, attending to the imports, Eastern purchases, and the multitude of duties which naturally follow the operations of a concern of such large proportions.

As printed in Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri, a compendium of history and biography for ready reference (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.