In December 1834, he hosted a meeting of his family and friends to discuss emigrating to the western territories. In a subsequent meeting in February 1835 they formalized their plans and established the "Western Emigration Company" to facilitate their project. In March 1835, a committee was sent west to explore land for possible settlement on the western shore of
Lake Michigan. The committee initially attempted to establish a purchase at the mouth of the
Root River—at the site of the present city of
Racine, Wisconsin—but were unable to come to terms with the inhabitants of the area, led by
Gilbert Knapp. The company chose to send another expedition under the sole authority of John Bullen, Jr., in June 1835—he was accompanied on this mission by his brother
William. The Bullens settled on a spot just south of the Root River at the mouth of the Pike Creek, and began claiming land. During the Winter of 1835–1836, the Bullen brothers returned to
Oswego County, New York, and purchased a 100-ton schooner—the
Martin Van Buren—and loaded it with seeds, provisions, and tools, to return to their settlement. On their return, John went to Chicago and purchased a herd of cattle and drove them north to their claim. Soon after, John went into business with
Samuel Hale, Jr., in a store known as "Hale & Bullen"—one of the first four businesses in the village. The inhabitants chose to name their settlement the village of "Southport" in 1837. It was incorporated as the city of Kenosha in 1850. Bullen served several years as a trustee of the village of Southport and served on the board of county commissioners (the predecessor to the board of supervisors). ==Later years==