Vernon A. Bullard | |
|---|---|
| United States Attorney for theDistrict of Vermont | |
| In office 1915–1923 | |
| President | Woodrow Wilson Warren Harding |
| Preceded by | Alexander Dunnett |
| Succeeded by | Harry B. Amey |
| Member of theVermont House of Representatives fromBurlington | |
| In office 1904–1905 | |
| Preceded by | Walter S. Vincent |
| Succeeded by | Claude Dewing Graton |
| Member of theVermont House of Representatives fromUnderhill | |
| In office 1890–1891 | |
| Preceded by | George W. Woodworth |
| Succeeded by | George E. Terrill |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1858-10-14)October 14, 1858 |
| Died | September 8, 1928(1928-09-08) (aged 69) |
| Resting place | Riverbank Cemetery,Stowe, Vermont |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Fluella R. Stowe Anniebel Stowe |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Vermont Normal School University of Michigan Law School |
| Profession | Attorney |
Vernon A. Bullard (October 14, 1858 – September 8, 1928) was aVermont attorney and public official. He served asUnited States Attorney for theDistrict of Vermont from 1915 to 1923.
Bullard was a native ofHyde Park, Vermont, and taught school while completing his education atVermont Normal School and theUniversity of Michigan Law School. He practiced law beginning in 1884, first inUnderhill and later inBurlington.
ADemocrat, Bullard served terms in theVermont House of Representatives, and ran unsuccessfully for offices includingVermont Attorney General. From 1915 to 1923, Bullard served as Vermont's U.S. Attorney.
Bullard died in Burlington and was buried at Riverbank Cemetery,Stowe, Vermont.
Vernon Alvord Bullard was born inHyde Park, Vermont on October 14, 1858, the eldest son of Edwin and Olive (Harrington) Bullard.[1] He was educated in Hyde Park, and began to teach school in 1878.[1] While teaching, Bullard attended theVermont Normal School, from which he graduated in 1880.[1]
Bullard continued to teach while taking courses at theUniversity of Michigan Law School, from which he received hisLL.B. in 1884.[2] He wasadmitted to the bar later that year and commenced practice inUnderhill.[2]
After practicing in Underhill for ten years, Bullard relocated toBurlington, where he continued to practice.[2] Bullard successfully handled several prominent criminal trials and earned a reputation as a skilled lawyer in civil cases, winning several judgments for medical malpractice.[2]
Bullard was active in politics as aDemocrat during an era whenRepublicans won all statewide elections in Vermont and most local and county elections as well.[2] Despite his party affiliation, he was well-enough regarded that he was elected to represent Underhill in theVermont House of Representatives from 1890 to 1891, and served for many years asmoderator of the Underhilltown meeting and aJustice of the Peace.[2] From 1892 to 1896, Bullard was a special inspector of customs for theUnited States Department of the Treasury.[2]
For several years, Bullard was chairman of theChittenden County Democratic Committee, and he served as a delegate to numerous state party conventions.[2] He was also an unsuccessful candidate for Member ofCongress from Vermont's1st District (1894)[3] and Chittenden CountyState's Attorney.[4]
Bullard represented Burlington in the Vermont House from 1904 to 1905, and was credited with securing the appropriation that made possible the construction ofMorrill Hall at theUniversity of Vermont.[4] He was a delegate to the1904 Democratic National Convention,[4] and in 1906 he was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee forVermont Attorney General.[5] Bullard served as Burlington's city attorney for several years,[6] and from 1905 to 1913 he was a member of the city school board, including serving as chairman from 1909 to 1913.[4] In 1908, he was the Democratic nominee forUnited States Senator against incumbent RepublicanWilliam P. Dillingham, and theVermont General Assembly chose Dillingham by a vote of 230 to 38.[7]
In 1915, Bullard was appointedUnited States Attorney for theDistrict of Vermont, succeedingAlexander Dunnett.[8] He served until 1923, and was succeeded byHarry B. Amey.[8]
During Bullard's tenure, crimes that fell under federal jurisdiction were on the rise as the result of societal changes including increased urbanization, as well an increase in illegal activities connected tocriminalizing the sale of opiates and cocaine,World War I, and passage ofProhibition in the United States.[8] As a result, Bullard's office handled as many as four times the cases of his predecessors, includingdraft evaders,drug dealers, andbootleggers.[8]
Bullard died in Burlington on September 8, 1928.[4] He was buried in plot 5G-31 at Riverbank Cemetery inStowe, Vermont.[9]
In 1885, Bullard married Fluella R. Stowe (1858–1894) ofMorrisville.[2] She died in 1894, and they were the parents of two children, son Haven Stowe and daughter Augusta Ruth, the wife of Earle Benjamin ofPlymouth, New Hampshire.[2][4] His second wife was Anniebel Stowe (1865–1925), a sister of his first wife.[2][4]
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| First | Democratic nominee forVermont Attorney General 1906 | Succeeded by John J. Enright |