ABRAHAM R. BULLIS, III

Pages 6 & 7, Susan Crowley's document:

Abraham R. Bullis, III

     "Old Abe" Bullis is part legend and part reality in the history of Macedon. A boy of unusual academic talent, he alternately amazed and amused the rural community with his brilliance and wit. One day the principal and math instructor had filled the blackboard with a long problem in arithmetic. Suddenly from the back seat, Abraham (probably out of boredom) threw an apple, slightly rotten, right into the center of the problem. Abraham, considered a mathematical genius, became a licensed surveyor and contributed many articles to various technical and mathematical publications throughout the United States.

     Education was important to the early families of Macedon. Dr. Cyrus Jennings, a prominent Macedon physician, admired the photogenic memory Abe Bulls. The two would entertain themselves by testing Abe's memory on many evenings, thoroughly enjoying the activity. When Dr. Jennings' young son, Charles, was puzzled by a particularly difficult math problem, Abe was delighted to help him out. The University of Rochester professor Charles turned these problems in to would always ask the same question, "Did Abe Bullis teach you to do it this way?" His mathematical prowess was well known and recognized.

     Abraham R. Bullis, III was also a talented engineer. The bridge tale is one which was circulated and repeated for many years by proud Macedonians. It seems that a bridge was being built over the canal and some unseen problem prevented its successful completion. The baffled engineers were about to give up when someone suggested that Abe Bullis be asked to take a look at the bridge. Abe looked and studied the construction briefly and then pointed to the place where the problem existed. The workers were able to correct the error and the bridge was completed without further delay.

     Abraham R. Bullis, III and his wife, Josephine Breese lived in the Bullis House with their two children, Charles and Nettie. These children became the next and last Bullis' to occupy their great-grandfather's house.