History of Bethlehem Center, (Albany County) New York United States of America

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Rufus Brown Bullock, governor of Georgia, was born at Bethlehem, Albany county, N. Y., March 28, 1834. He was graduated at Albion academy in 1850, entered the service of the House printing telegraph company, and was the first operator to interpret the printing signals by sound. He was then employed in superintending the building of new lines from New York south, and was largely responsible for the success of an opposition to the original New York & Washington company. Adams express company then secured his services and sent him, in 1857, to organize its business in the southern Atlantic state, with headquarters at Augusta. Ca., where he formed the Southern express company. During the civil war he established railroads and telegraph lines on interior routes for the use of the Confederate army, and at its close was acting assistant quartermaster-general, and surrendered with Lee's army at Appomattox. He then resumed his management of the Southern express company as its secretary, aided to organize the first national bank in Augusta, and became president of the Macon and Augusta railroad in 1867. As a member of the constitutional convention of 1867 and '68 he was recognized as a Republican leader, and was elected by the people the first governor of Georgia under the Reconstruction Act, after a sharp contest. The Democrats obtained a legislative majority, and expelled thirty-three colored members. Bullock was then empowered by Congress to restore the expelled negro members. After a bitter factional fight this was accomplished. He resigned the office in November, 1870. He was charged with corruption, tried, and acquitted in the state court. Under his administration more than six hundred miles of railroad tracks were laid in the state, and the value of property was increased by over fifty million dollars on the tax returns. Upon retiring from political life he became president of a large cotton mill at Atlanta, was elected a trustee of the Atlanta university, president of the chamber of commerce, vice-president of the cotton states exposition, government director of the Union Pacific railroad, and was one of the foremost directors of material affairs in the state.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Bethlehem Center, (Albany County) New York

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