Rufus Brown Bullock (1834-1907) was born in Bethlehem, New York, to Volkert Veeder Bullock (1806-1883) and Jane Eliza Brown (1808-1882). In 1860 he married Marie Elizabeth Salisbury (1830-1904) and moved to Augusta, Georgia. Bullock served as a lieutenant colonel in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. After the war he returned and served as president of the Macon and Augusta Railroad and established the Augusta First National Bank. In 1868 he was elected Governor of Georgia, the first Republican to serve in the position. During his tenure, Bullock was a staunch advocate for African American equality and requested continued military rule as part of the Georgia Act in 1869, which increased his unpopularity. Bullock resigned as governor in 1871. He then served in various positions for organizations in Atlanta, including president of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and master of ceremonies for the Cotton States and International Exposition.