General John A. Logan (1826 - 1886) played an important role in the history of the United States.  At a young age he rose to prominence in state politics. Logan entered politics as a Douglas Democrat, served twice in the State House of Representatives and was prosecuting attorney of the 3rd Judicial District of Illinois. In 1858 and 1860 he was elected as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives.  When the Civil War started Logan fought as an irregular at Bull Run. He returned to Washington, resigned his seat, and entered the Union Army as Colonel of the 31st Illinois Volunteers, a unit that he organized. In Grant's campaigns culminating in the capture of Vicksburg, he rose to the rank of Major General of Volunteers. In November 1863 he succeeded General William T. Sherman in command of the XV Army, and after the death of Major General James B. McPherson he was in command of the Army of the Tennessee at the battle of Atlanta. After the war Logan resumed his political career as a Republican, and was a member of the House of Representatives from 1867 to 1871, and of the Senate from 1871-77 and again from 1879 until his death in 1886. In 1884 he ran as the Vice Presidential candidate on the unsuccessful Republican ticket with James G. Blaine. Logan was also the leader of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization for Northern Civil War veterans, and in this capacity he issued a proclamation in 1868 that "Decoration Day" should be observed nationwide. It was observed for the first time on May 30 of the same year. The date was chosen because it was not the anniversary of a battle and would ultimately become known as Memorial Day.

The General John A. Logan Museum is located within the Christopher C. Bullar House. The neatly displayed exhibits on the first floor tell the story of General John A. Logan through the use of photographs, portraits, maps, political memorabilia, Logan family antiques, and Civil War weapons. It is the mission of the General John A. Logan Museum to use the life and accomplishments of General John A. Logan and his family to educate the general public about the lives of Southern Illinois residents as they accommodated the sociological, political, economic, and technological changes of the nineteenth century. There is a walking trail around the grounds of the museum. Along the trail are interpretive signposts highlighting historic points of interest. Included along the trail are the Samuel Dalton house and the site of General Logan’s birthplace.