REACHING OUT -- AGAIN

At our Bullis Room Committee meeting last week, we again talked about how to reach out to more members of the Bullis family. One suggestion was a Facebook page in honor and memory of John Lapham Bullis.  The group liked the idea - and we are currently working on it. (More details will be coming in the next few weeks.)

Our first step toward establishing a Facebook page was to search for current Facebook accounts with the Bullis name.  The results was an impressive list that included "Bullis School."  In reading the history of that educational institution located in Potomac, Maryland, we zoomed in on the name "Captain William F. Bullis." Captain Bullis and his wife founded this school in 1930 to "prepare young men for service academy entrance exams." (www.bulls.org/page/cfm?p=538)
The school continues to thrive today.

However, this new knowledge produced several questions that are now swirling through our heads, two of which are:
1. Is Captain William F. Bullis in any way related to the Macedon Bullises?
2. If so, does Captain Bullis have living descendants?

And a third question we're asking:
3. If you are a descendant of Captain William F. Bullis (or have knowledge of any of his descendants). would you please contact us?

We will greatly appreciate any information about the Bullis family that you can share with us.

REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS

This post 's heading is the title of a book in the Bullis collection. Actually, the full title is:

Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the Year 1851.

Part II.  Agriculture

Published in Washington, Robert Armstrong, Printer, 1852

There are three other Report of the Commissioner of Patents in the Bullis collection. HOWEVER, this book has a local connection. It contains a letter from a Macedon, Wayne County, New York resident, J. J. Thomas, dated January 10, 1852. He begins with:

"Sir: I send a few brief replies to some of the questions in the Agriculture Circular of the Patent Office, regretting that I have been prevented from furnishing them sooner by unavoidable causes."

His first response was titled "Wheat Culture," and he noted that "a great loss is sustained by most of the farmers in the northern portion of western New York through shallow cultivation."  He then recommended trench ploughing in order to mix the richer subsoil with the top, He also noted that  the field of one farmer using this method went from 5 bushels per acre to 20. (He also noted that 40 bushels per acre was a very common product when the land was first cleared of the forests.)

His next topic was "Sowing Grass Seed" and he suggested methods that had the potential of bringing 3 1/2 tons per acre, perhaps even up to 5 tons per acre.  Again, he supported his suggestions with specific ways to accomplish them.

Last, he responded to a question about "Breaking Steers," and gave step-by-step instructions on how to accomplish this feat. He noted that, "Very objectionable is the frequent practice of educating oxen to the sound of a loud voice, or a scream, in commanding them, and the free use of the lash in enforcing orders." The following description could today be described as "Methods of an Oxen Whisperer." 

With the third response completed, he signed is letter "Very respectfully, J. J. Thomas."

We would love to find out more about J. J. Thomas. If any of you have information about this early Macedon resident, please let us know. (We looked in Pioneers of Macedon and found only one Thomas listed--Evan Thomas, "an eminent minister of the Society of Friends ...", page 78.) We're looking forward to hearing from you!

ANOTHER 4TH

Surrounded by celebrations, get-togethers, and fireworks, we are wondering how the Bullis family members observed this day. Did they watch the local parade and listen to the concert in the park? Participate in watermelon-eating contests? Run a 3-legged race? Watch fireworks at night? Perhaps.

Or, perhaps they spent the day with one or both of these books that were a part of their family library and are now a part of the Bullis Collection.

A Popular School History of the United States:

in which are inserted as part of the narrative selections from the writings of 

eminent American historians, and other American writers of note: 

to which are added the Declaration of Independence, and the

Constitution of the United States, with copious notes:

fully illustrated with maps, portraits and views

By John Jacob Anderson

Published in New York by Clark & Maynard, 1883, c. 1879

And

The Elector's Guide:

Comprising the Declaration of Independence, 

the Constitution of the United States, 

the constitution of the state of New York, and

Washington's Farewell Address.

To which is added an essay on government.

Published in Batavia by A. W. Young, 1835

You too have the opportunity to look through these books and read again these documents that are the basis of our country's foundation.  Just stop by the Bullis Room, next time you're at MPL.