JOHN J. CULLEN.

JOHN J. CULLEN.
A notable spirit of enterprise has been manifest in the upbuilding of the west. To this section of the country have come men who have recognized the fact that excellent opportunities were offered in the region not handicapped by the traditions and customs of the older east, but free to express itself in any form of activity and upbuilding desired. The country, rich in its natural resources, has therefore furnished a haven for progressive men and Wyoming has come to rank with the leading states of the Union in its achievements and in its opportunities and in its development. To this result John J. Cullen has contributed as one of the progressive merchants of Rawlins. He is the president of the Cullen Commercial Company and as such is controlling extensive and important mercantile interests. He was born in Franklin, Maryland, January 15, 1865, a. son of the late James Cullen, who was a native of Maryland and was of Irish descent, the family having been founded in America several generations previous. James Cullen was reared and educated in Maryland and followed coal mining, a business with which he was familiar from early life. He passed away in Maryland in 1870, when but twenty-seven years of age. His wife, who core the maiden name of Katherine Carney, was Dorn in Ireland and crossed the Atlantic with her parents when a young girl. The family home was established in Maryland, where she was reared and educated and where she became the wife of James Cullen. To this marriage were born tour children, all of whom have passed away with the exception of John J. of this review. The mother still survives and is now a resident of Cumberland, Maryland. John J. Cullen acquired his education in the parish schools of Western Port, Maryland, but his opportunities in that direction were very limited, as he began to provide for his own support when a little lad of only nine years. The first money which he earned was by selling oysters and fish among his neighbors. At fifteen years of age he established a green grocery store in Piedmont, West Virginia, and the undertaking proved very profitable. In that business he continued for eighteen months and on the expiration of that period turned the store over to his mother, while he entered the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, working in the boiler shops at Piedmont, West Virginia. He there learned the trade of boiler making and after completing his apprenticeship he migrated westward to Wyoming, arriving at Rawlins on the 8th of October, 1888. He had several friends here, including E. M. Tierney and Dan Malone, who has since passed away. On his arrival in Wyoming, Mr. Cullen secured a position in the shops of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, where Mr. Tierney was foreman. There he remained for thirteen months, working as a boiler maker, after which he was advanced to the position of foreman and acted in that capacity for eleven years. He then resigned and formed a partnership with Mr. Tierney for the conduct of a general merchandise store. After two years the business was incorporated under the present firm style of the Cullen Commercial Company, and from a small start the trade has continually developed until theirs is the largest store of the kind in Rawlins. They carry an extensive stock of dry goods, groceries, meats and similar lines, and their business now demands the employment of seventeen people. They also conduct a branch store at Wamsutter, Wyoming, and at Rawlins they occupy a building one hundred and thirty-two by one hundred and thirty-two feet. Their stock is carefully purchased, wisdom being exercised in the selection of their goods, and their fair dealings and honorable methods have won for them a liberal and constantly growing patronage. Aside from his commercial interests, Mr. Cullen is the vice president of the Stockgrowers’ National Bank and is also a director of the First State Bank at Baggs, Wyoming. On the 4th of June, 189o, Mr. Cullen was united in marriage at Western Port, Maryland, to Miss Ella P. Hogan, a native of Maryland and a daughter of the late Michael and Bridget Hogan, who were representatives of old families of that state. The mother is still living, but the father has passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Cullen were born six children, three of whom survive, while three of the number died in infancy. Those surviving are: Constance, who received her education at St. Mary’s Academy of Notre Dame; Frank A., born in 1893, who is associated with the Cullen-McPherson Sheep Company; and James G., who was born in Rawlins, June 6, 1894. During his boyhood days he attended school there. He afterward became connected with the Jeweler’s trade, serving an apprenticeship along that line under the direction of Charles Walthem of Denver. He also was employed in Waterloo, Iowa, under William Ludwig and he gained added experience in the Omaha Optical and Watchmaking School, from which he was graduated October 3, 1915. He also attended the Northern Illinois College at Chicago, in which he gained further knowledge of his trade, completing his course there June 6, 1916. He then returned to Rawlins, where he established himself in the jewelry business, and today has the finest jewelry and optical trade in Wyoming. In fact, his establishment and his patronage might well be envied by any in his line throughout the entire country. John J. Cullen has not only made for himself a creditable position in commercial circles, but is also a member and director of the Wool Growers’ Association of Wyoming, is a member and director of the National Wool Warehouse & Storage Company of Chicago, is president of the Nebraska Coal Company, which is a Wyoming corporation with headquarters at Rawlins, and is president of the Rawlins Coal Company, also a Wyoming corporation. He has engaged in ranching and stock raising and has incorporated a number of live stock companies, specializing in sheep growing. In these he has very large investments and the extent and importance of his business interests have made him one of the substantial men of Wyoming. In his political views Mr. Cullen is a stalwart democrat and has always declined to accept public office. He is, however, a member of the auditing committee of the Rawlins public school board at the present time. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Columbus and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, being a life member of the latter organization. His religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Cullen is a man of high principles who has accomplished what he has undertaken and at all times has followed methods which would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. He possesses in large measure that quality which for want of a better term has been called commercial sense. In other words, he has marked ability in salesmanship combined with executive force, and his administrative direction of his affairs has brought most gratifying results. His example may well serve as a source of inspiration and of emulation to others.

A notable spirit of enterprise has been manifest in the upbuilding of the west. To this section of the country have come men who have recognized the fact that excellent opportunities were offered in the region not handicapped by the traditions and customs of the older east, but free to express itself in any form of activity and upbuilding desired. The country, rich in its natural resources, has therefore furnished a haven for progressive men and Wyoming has come to rank with the leading states of the Union in its achievements and in its opportunities and in its development.
To this result John J. Cullen has contributed as one of the progressive merchants of Rawlins. He is the president of the Cullen Commercial Company and as such is controlling extensive and important mercantile interests. He was born in Franklin, Maryland, January 15, 1865, a. son of the late James Cullen, who was a native of Maryland and was of Irish descent, the family having been founded in America several generations previous. James Cullen was reared and educated in Maryland and followed coal mining, a business with which he was familiar from early life. He passed away in Maryland in 1870, when but twenty-seven years of age. His wife, who core the maiden name of Katherine Carney, was Dorn in Ireland and crossed the Atlantic with her parents when a young girl. The family home was established in Maryland, where she was reared and educated and where she became the wife of James Cullen. To this marriage were born tour children, all of whom have passed away with the exception of John J. of this review. The mother still survives and is now a resident of Cumberland, Maryland.
John J. Cullen acquired his education in the parish schools of Western Port, Maryland, but his opportunities in that direction were very limited, as he began to provide for his own support when a little lad of only nine years. The first money which he earned was by selling oysters and fish among his neighbors. At fifteen years of age he established a green grocery store in Piedmont, West Virginia, and the undertaking proved very profitable. In that business he continued for eighteen months and on the expiration of that period turned the store over to his mother, while he entered the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, working in the boiler shops at Piedmont, West Virginia. He there learned the trade of boiler making and after completing his apprenticeship he migrated westward to Wyoming, arriving at Rawlins on the 8th of October, 1888. He had several friends here, including E. M. Tierney and Dan Malone, who has since passed away.
On his arrival in Wyoming, Mr. Cullen secured a position in the shops of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, where Mr. Tierney was foreman. There he remained for thirteen months, working as a boiler maker, after which he was advanced to the position of foreman and acted in that capacity for eleven years. He then resigned and formed a partnership with Mr. Tierney for the conduct of a general merchandise store. After two years the business was incorporated under the present firm style of the Cullen Commercial Company, and from a small start the trade has continually developed until theirs is the largest store of the kind in Rawlins. They carry an extensive stock of dry goods, groceries, meats and similar lines, and their business now demands the employment of seventeen people. They also conduct a branch store at Wamsutter, Wyoming, and at Rawlins they occupy a building one hundred and thirty-two by one hundred and thirty-two feet. Their stock is carefully purchased, wisdom being exercised in the selection of their goods, and their fair dealings and honorable methods have won for them a liberal and constantly growing patronage. Aside from his commercial interests, Mr. Cullen is the vice president of the Stockgrowers’ National Bank and is also a director of the First State Bank at Baggs, Wyoming.
On the 4th of June, 189o, Mr. Cullen was united in marriage at Western Port, Maryland, to Miss Ella P. Hogan, a native of Maryland and a daughter of the late Michael and Bridget Hogan, who were representatives of old families of that state. The mother is still living, but the father has passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Cullen were born six children, three of whom survive, while three of the number died in infancy. Those surviving are: Constance, who received her education at St. Mary’s Academy of Notre Dame; Frank A., born in 1893, who is associated with the Cullen-McPherson Sheep Company; and James G., who was born in Rawlins, June 6, 1894. During his boyhood days he attended school there. He afterward became connected with the Jeweler’s trade, serving an apprenticeship along that line under the direction of Charles Walthem of Denver. He also was employed in Waterloo, Iowa, under William Ludwig and he gained added experience in the Omaha Optical and Watchmaking School, from which he was graduated October 3, 1915. He also attended the Northern Illinois College at Chicago, in which he gained further knowledge of his trade, completing his course there June 6, 1916. He then returned to Rawlins, where he established himself in the jewelry business, and today has the finest jewelry and optical trade in Wyoming. In fact, his establishment and his patronage might well be envied by any in his line throughout the entire country.
John J. Cullen has not only made for himself a creditable position in commercial circles, but is also a member and director of the Wool Growers’ Association of Wyoming, is a member and director of the National Wool Warehouse & Storage Company of Chicago, is president of the Nebraska Coal Company, which is a Wyoming corporation with headquarters at Rawlins, and is president of the Rawlins Coal Company, also a Wyoming corporation. He has engaged in ranching and stock raising and has incorporated a number of live stock companies, specializing in sheep growing. In these he has very large investments and the extent and importance of his business interests have made him one of the substantial men of Wyoming.
In his political views Mr. Cullen is a stalwart democrat and has always declined to accept public office. He is, however, a member of the auditing committee of the Rawlins public school board at the present time. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Columbus and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, being a life member of the latter organization. His religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Cullen is a man of high principles who has accomplished what he has undertaken and at all times has followed methods which would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. He possesses in large measure that quality which for want of a better term has been called commercial sense. In other words, he has marked ability in salesmanship combined with executive force, and his administrative direction of his affairs has brought most gratifying results. His example may well serve as a source of inspiration and of emulation to others.