Masena Bullard

History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894
USGENWEB Montana Archives
May be copied for non-profit purposes.

Massena Bullard, one of Montana's representative lawyers and 
pioneers, is a native of the State of 
Missouri, born in LaFayette County, October 7, 1850.

William L. Bullard, his father, was born in the State of 
Virginia, July 26, 1812 and in the Old Dominion 
he was reared and married, the lady of his choice being Annie 
F. Burruss, whose birth occurred there 
March 26, 1815. Mr. Bullard emigrated with his family to 
Missouri in 1838 and in LaFayette County he 
engaged in the manufacture of agricultural implements. To him 
belong the distinction of having established 
the first foundry in Kansas City. He continued to reside in 
Kansas City, until 1860 when he removed to 
Buchanan County, Kansas. From 1861 to 1863 inclusive, he was 
engaged in freighting between St. Joseph 
Missouri and the Black Hills. In 1864 he removed with a part 
of his family to Montana, his family at that
time consisting of his wife and four sons, Oscar M., Walter S., 
William F., and Massena. Oscar, his oldest
son, was then in the Black Hills. This journey was made in one 
of their freight trains, the wagons being 
loaded with merchandise and drawn by oxen. They reached Virginia 
City in September and remained there until 
Christmas, he in the meantime continuing his freighting between 
that point and Salt Lake City. The family 
spent some time in the Gallatin and Prickly Pear Valleys, 
camping in the latter valley in April 1865. During 
the winter of 1864-65, Mr. Bullard had the misfortune to lose 
all of his freight oxen, except one, they 
having been snowed n on the Snake River and died there. He then 
settled down on a farm and while he continued 
freighting his good wife did what she could on the farm. Produce 
of every kind was high. She purchased $69.00
worth of potatoes, at thirty-three and a third cents per pound; 
cut the eyes from them for seed, and then 
sold the hearts for seventy-five cents per pound, and made of 
profit of $40 on the transaction; she planted 
the seed and raised a crop that brought her $1500. One 
particularly fine potato sold for $1. Every hill of 
this potato crop was like so much pure gold to them. Mr. 
Bullard continued freighting up to the time of 
his death, which occurred December 24, 1868. His wife still 
survives him, being now in her eightieth year. 
She is a faithful member of the Christian Church, as also was 
her worthy husband, he having had the honor 
of freighting into the county, free of charge, the first 
Protestant Church bell. Of their family of seven 
children, only three are now living. Oscar, the oldest is now 
a resident of Missouri. William F. is a
stock dealer in Montana. And to the history of the other son, 
Massena, we now turn.

Massena Bullard was in his fourteenth year when his parents 
removed to Montana, and when he was only 
twelve he drove one of the ox teams in his father's freight 
train across the plains. He was educated 
in Helena and studied law here under the instructions of 
Woolfolk & Toole, being admitted to the bar
in Helena, August 16, 1871. Immediately he entered upon the 
practice of his profession in this city. 

His abilities were soon recognized and he grew into prominence 
and today he is ranked with the leading lawyers 
of the state. He has been connected with many important cases, 
is attorney for many of the large mining 
corporations, has held in trust much real estate of the city 
and he enjoys the highest confidence of all
for whom he has done business. For years he held himself 
independent in politics but being a strong 
temperance man, he has recently identified himself with the 
Prohibition party. For twenty years he was
Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Good Templars and is recognized 
as one of the most prominent leaders 
in temperance cause in his state. He has also the honor of being 
Past Grand Master of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows. 

June 3, 1876 he married Laura E. Bywaters, a native of Missouri 
and they have three children, Clara, Oscar and Percy.

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