Isaac Bullock

Isaac Bullock was born in Grafton, New Hampshire October 23, 1825. Soon after he was born, his parents, Benjamin Bullock III and Dorothy Kimball, moved to the city of Moire in Upstate New York. There, most family members first heard about the Mormon religion and were converted. However, Isaac Bullock was in New York City attending law school. When he returned, his family had already moved to Nauvoo, Illinois with the rest of the Saints. That is where Bullock joined the Mormon church.

Soon after his conversion, Bullock was called to serve a mission in Chicago. There he developed a lifelong friendship with Abraham O. Smoot. After his return from Chicago, the Bullock family left Nauvoo, along with the rest of the Mormons, and went to Council Bluffs, Iowa where they stayed until 1852.

Bullock was named captain of 40 wagons and crossed the plains in 1852. Along the way he was able to baptize his father and perform the marriage of his brother. Isaac arrived in Provo on September 21, 1852 and was soon called to help settle Fort Supply in Wyoming, 12 miles from Fort Bridger. ¹ He became the president of that community. He learned the Shoshone language and became their friend. Bullock left Fort Supply because of the arrival of Johnson's army. He was part of a posse of 40 men appointed to find Utah Chief Tintic in 1856. ²

While at Fort Supply, Bullock was elected to the Territorial Legislature. On his way to the territorial capital of Fillmore, he met and married his first wife Electa Wood on December 4, 1856. The following year he married Emma Stott. He returned with his two wives to Fort Supply. Between the two wives Isaac Bullock eventually had 18 children. ³

When Bullock returned to Provo in 1858, Brigham Young asked him to open the first hotel south of Salt Lake City, since there was no place for visitors to stay in Provo. Bullock and his two wives opened a hotel located on Fifth West and Center Street. He owned this hotel for nearly 30 years before selling it. During those years the Bullock Hotel was the leading hotel in Provo.

Bullock served in 1863 as Provo's sixth mayor. At that time the city council wanted to be the only organization able to make or sell liquor, but the Utah County Court denied the council's petition. ⁴ In April 1863, Bullock was called to a mission in England. He resigned his position as mayor and served on his mission until 1866. After returning from England, Bullock was appointed deputy U.S. Marshall in Utah County. In 1869 he was elected treasurer of the newly formed Provo Co-operative Institution. ⁵

Bullock served in many other civil, political, and religious capacities during his life. In October 1853 he accompanied Orson Hyde to start a settlement on Green River. While there Bullock acted as probate judge. ⁶ He was a city alderman or councilman in 1861-1862, 1870-1873, and 1878-1881. ⁷ He was elected to the Territorial Legislature. He was the first attorney admitted to the bar in Utah County. ⁸ In 1867 and 1868 he was superintendent of schools for Utah County. Bullock was appointed by the governor to be one of the founding members of the Provo City Library and Reading Room Association, with the goal of eventually establishing a city library. ⁹ He succeeded William Miller as president of the Amateur Dramatic Company which produced plays for the community. ¹⁰ He was president of a High Priests Quorum from June 4, 1877 until his death. ¹¹ Being an early riser and great Bible student, Bullock preached to thousands at the Bullock Hotel and also Indians whenever he had the opportunity.

Abraham O. Smoot, a personal friend, said the following of Isaac Bullock: "For twenty years we have been associated in this stake of Zion. Brother Bullock's word was as good as his bond." ¹²He died of pneumonia in 1891, at the age of 66. At his funeral several prominent men, including S. S. Jones and H. H. Cluff, spoke about Bullock's contributions and integrity. ¹³