THE BRIDGE IS OPEN!!!

The bridge over the canal at Canandaigua Road in Macedon opened to traffic yesterday.  The previous bridge was closed in 2010, so for local residents and commuters who can now travel a more direct route to and from the village, this is cause for a BIG celebration.  (Especially so since the new bridge's two lanes have eliminated the need to wait your turn to cross the previous one-lane.)

This bridge is just a bit north of the Bullis house, and the previous structure (built in 1912) was used a great deal by the Bullis family as well as other Macedon residents. Nettie Bullis herself probably drove across that bridge on work days to her job at Gleason Works.  So if she was with us today, what would be Ms. Bullis's reaction to the new bridge? Hmmm ...

Due to the Bullis Family frugality,  we can speculate that Nettie Bullis  may well have thought that, although the new bridge is a big improvement, that the original bridge was good enough ...  that it served her and other drivers quite well.  However, being a strong community supporter,  Ms. Bullis might also have thought that a new structure was safer and thus justified. So as we drive over the new bridge in the days and weeks to come, let's silently celebrate the new structure, the tax dollars that  made it possible, and strong community supporters, like the Bullis Family.

FROM THE BULLIS ARCHIVES

Last week, in looking through more items in the Bullis collection, we came across the photo below.

Do you recognize any of the men in the photo?  There's a poem written above the photo:

"Never Lose an old friend,

No Matter what the cause,

We wouldn't ever do it

If we didn't look for flaws.

The only thing worth while having

Is the friend who's stood the test

And who has such a friend as this

Knows friendship at its best."

At the bottom of the photo is a lengthy list of names and this photo information:

1880  Christmas  1925

St. Petersburg FL

10-12-1923, 5 PM

Ramona Heights

If you think you might be able to identify any of these men, and/or know how any of them are connected to the Bullis family, please contact us.  If you're not sure, we'll be glad to show you that long list of names (31, to be exact).

FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY

Today, rather than talk about rare books in the Bullis Collection, we're going to talk about a book that was published just one week ago today. The title is For Love of Country: What Our Veterans Can Teach Us About Citizenship, Heroism, and Sacrifice.  Written by Howard Schultz, and Rajiv Chandrasekaran, the book celebrates "...the extraordinary courage, dedication, and sacrifice of this generation of American veterans on the battlefield and their equally valuable contributions on the home front." (from Amazon.com description)

How does this book connect to the Bullises?  The Bullis family  has a long and distinguished history of serving their country's military. Beginning with Philip Bullis, who served in Major Savage's Company during King Philip's War in 1675-1676; continuing with Charles Bullis who served in the Revolutionary War in the Vermont Militia; John Lapham Bullis, whose lengthy military career spanned the Civil War, Indian Wars, and Spanish-American War; and Charlie Bullis, who served in World War I.

We could learn so much from these Bullis men, if we could sit down and talk to them on this Veterans Day, 2014. Unfortunately, that is not possible.

Fortunately,  we can read Schultz and Chandrasekaran's book and gain knowledge of and an enhanced appreciation for all of this country's citizens who have served us through their military careers. And we can look for ways to show that appreciation to each and every one of them for their valuable contributions to us individually and collectively.

(We think Nettie Bullis would approve.)

MACEDON HISTORY

The Bullis family's contribution to Macedon has been - and continues to be - significant. So we're looking forward to a presentation on Macedon history, to be held in the Community Room here in the library on May 16.

Author and long-time Farmington resident Reginald W. Neale will display and discuss a series of historic photographs of Macedon. Neale is currently at work on a pictorial publication focusing on Macedon, and it is scheduled for release in August 2013. This current work is part of Arcadia Publishing's "Image of America" series, which chronicles the history of small towns across America using vintage photographs and hometown stories.

Those of us who "hang around" the Bullis Room are looking forward to Neale's presentation, and we anticipate that we will come away with a better understanding of our town. So if you're interested in Macedon history, we hope to see you on Wednesday, May 16, Macedon Public Library, 30 Main Street. The talk is facilitated by the Friends of the Macedon Public Library and is free and open to the public.

TEA TIME AT THE BULLIS HOUSE

Over the last three years we have written about Nettie Bullis many times on this blog, as a daughter, sister, business woman, benefactor...  But this is the first time we've referred to Nettie Bullis as a hostess. All because of two contacts:

1. Several year ago we corresponded with a woman who had known Nettie Bullis over 50 years ago, and she mentioned being invited to the Bullis house for tea. We were a bit surprised at the time, because we had never seen reference to Nettie Bullis as a hostess.

2. Then, two years ago we  connected with a second cousin of Nettie Bullis who knew the whereabouts of a Bullis tea set.  This week we received this photo, and we've been imaging Miss Bullis pouring tea and handing around a plate of scones.

This photo is now a part of our Bullis memorabilia. An important part, we think, because it adds another dimension to our understanding of our benefactor.

(There's also a lesson in this  story of how we acquired the most recent item in the collection. It is a result of a contact here, a comment there, and then a question--followed by a reply. A lot of "little" things that involved various people that came together in a desired outcome, which gives us added incentive to keep on keeping on...which is another lesson we've learned from the Bullis family.)

LABOR DAY(S)

In 1894, the year after Nettie Bullis was born, Labor Day was designated a federal holiday and observed with street parades honoring labor organizations and festivals for workers and their families. From what we know of the Bullis family, we wonder if they would have taken part in these festivities. Perhaps they did. Or, perhaps they stayed home and read some of their books on the subject. Here are a few they had to choose  from.

1) An Introduction to the Study of Organized Labor in America by George Gorham Groat, published in 1920.

2) Rural Letters and Other Records of Thought at Leisure, Written in the Intervals of More Hurried Literary Labor by Nathaniel Parker Willis, published in 1849.

3) Narrative of Sojourner Truth: a bondswoman of olden time, emancipated by the New York Legislature in the early part of the present century. With a history of her labors and correspondence drawn from her "Book of Life" by Sojourner Truth,  published in 1875.

Our choice of reading is the last book listed.   In next week's post we'll share some fascinating things about this book and its remarkable author.

(Just an aside - when we searched the Bullis Books data base for "labor," one of the results was David Copperfield, which of course is another wonderful read...but perhaps not for a "day off.")

WILLIAM PORTER

Again, we’re quoting Pioneers of Macedon, from pages 32 and 33, as we continue to read about William Porter.

“He married Lydia Claghorn of Williamsburg, Mass., who was born in 1780, and came to the township in 1796 with her aunt, Mrs. David Warner, who was formerly Mrs. David White.... In the winter of 1796 they went to Massachusetts with horses and sleigh and Lydia returned with them to their home... In just one year from that time Lydia Claghorn became Mrs. William Porter.  The were married and went at once to live in the house which he had built, and she used often to speak of the town as being full of young men who had come on to take up farms.“

The Pioneers of Macedon continues with this account: “In early times money was not to be had, and in winter William Porter would pile in as many bags of wheat as his horses could draw for a load and drive with it to Albany and sell it for cash, and returning, he would bring back groceries for Joseph Colt and George Beckwith, which would about pay expenses. He built the tavern house and moved into it in 1811. He died in March of 1819 and his wife continued the business until 1835, and after that date the building was used for a dwelling house. The first town meeting of Macedon was held in this house February 11, 1823. Mrs. Porter remained on the farm until 1844. Her death occurred in 1867 at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Salome Lapham of Macedon....”

Why are we focusing the Porter family?  Because this branch of the family is connected to the Laphams who in turn are related to the Bullises, and in our search for our Bullis timeline, we are looking at their extended families.

Also, we find it interesting that the independence, resourcefulness, and work ethic displayed by Mr. Porter are traits that consistently showed up in each generation of the Bullis family.

BULLIS-LAPHAM FAMILIES

The Bullis family connected with the Lapham family when Lydia Porter Lapham married Abraham Bullis and gave her maiden name to their first child, John Lapham Bullis, who was born in 1841.

According to Pioneers of Macedon (The Mail Printing House (compiled by Mary Louise Eldredge, Fairport, New York, 1912, pp. 36-37), the first Abraham Lapham was born in Smithfield, Rhode Island on July 15, 1755. “His father, Joshua Lapham, was a grandson of John Lapham, who came from England when he was a young man and settled in Providence, R.I., and here married Mary, daughter of William and Frances (Hopkins) Mann....Hannah, sister of Abraham Lapham, was the grandmother of the late Susan B. Anthony of Rochester.

“In 1791 Abraham Lapham brought his wife and children, coming then in company with Henry Wilbur and his family. Their new home was located among the Friends in Farmington. The members of that community, though disapproved for their venture and disowned by the parent society in Massachusetts, still held regular services. The meetings were held from house to house, and the home of Abraham and Esther Lapham was soon known as a place of meeting. In 1794 the colony was visited by a committee from Massachusetts and one of them was entertained in the home of Abraham Lapham. The early discipline of that society forbade its members to undertake a new enterprise, especially that of emigration, without the consent of ‘the meeting,’ which had been refused these pioneers, and they had been disowned. The report of the visiting committee was favorable, the disowned members were restored to membership and a meeting was organized in the same year, but a meeting house was not built until 1796....One member of the building committee was Ira, eldest son of Abraham Lapham.”

(Writers of John Lapham Bullis’s millitary experiences sometimes refer to his Quaker beliefs. Here in the Bullis Room, we’ve found no documentation of of that religious connection. We're looking for more information on this subject. If you can  help, please contact us.)

Through the Laphams, the Bullises were connected not only to the renowned Susan B.  Anthony but also to Increase Lapham (March 7, 1811–September 14, 1875), who emigrated from his birthplace in Palmyra, New York to Wisconsin, and is considered the “Father” of the United States Weather Service.

We’ll continue to report on the Lapham-Bullis connection in next week’s post.

FAMILY NAMES

This week in the Bullis Room we concentrated on surnames other than Bullis. While going through Bullis documents, we frequently come across the name Lapham, but we also occasionally find the names Porter, Aldrich, Rogers, Carbone, Hart, Rodriguez, Withers, and Breese. Their family history contributes towards the story of the Bullis family that we volunteers are working to put together.

In the next few weeks, we will post what we know of these nine families. Do you have any information that would add to our research? If so, please contact us.

(PS: Most of these names are middle names of Bullis family members. How individuals get their middle names fascinates us and is another project to add to our list.)

(PPS: Yes, we're still working on John Lapham Bullis's timeline. This research will add to that.)

TIME LINES

Volunteers logged in many hours over the last nine months, doing a variety of tasks and working on a number of projects. Now some of us have committed ourselves to organizing Bullis family history by making time lines for each family member who lived in Macedon.  We will be looking for documentation of births, deaths, marriages, career accomplishments,  and personal milestones.

We are currently focusing on John Lapham Bullis, both his personal life and military career, and we will post our progress on this blog from time to time.  If anyone has any information on John Lapham Bullis that they would assist us in this effort, we'd greatly appreciate receiving it.

HONORING VETERANS

Again, we remember Bullis family members who have served their country through military service.

Philip Bullis, born circa 1630 in England. Philip was a mariner who immigrated to Boston, Massachusetts. He served in Major Savage's Company under Lieut. Gillam from 1675 to 1676 on the Connecticut River during King Philip's War.

Son of John Bullis, born circa 1695 in Dutchess County, New York. John married and had eight sons who grew up on the Bullis Homestead in Dutchess County. One of these sons was a general in the French and Indian War.

Charles Bullis, born 1723 in Greenwich, Connecticut. He later moved to Manchester, Vermont. He served in the Revolutionary War in Captain Gideon Brownson's Company, Warner Regiment, Vermont Militia.

John Lapham Bullis, born 1841 in Macedon, New York. In 1862, he enlisted in the Volunteer Army and was commissioned in 1864, seeing extensive service during the Civil War. He continued his military service in Texas and Mexico with the Buffalo Soldiers, served in the Phillipines and Cuba during the Spanish-American War, and ended his career after President Theodore Roosevelt appointed him Brigadier General in 1904.

Charles R. Bullis, born 1891 in Macedon, New York. He enlisted in the Army on September 26, 1917 and was discharged on December 11, 1918. He served as a Private in the 20^th Company, 157 Depot Brigade during World War I. He was stationed at Camp McClellan, Alabama, for part of that time.

To these Bullis men and to all the men and women who have served and are serving in our Armed Forces, we say as sincere "Thank You."

HONORING VETERANS

Again, we remember Bullis family members who have served their country through military service.

Philip Bullis, born circa 1630 in England. Philip was a mariner who immigrated to Boston, Massachusetts. He served in Major Savage's Company under Lieut. Gillam from 1675 to 1676 on the Connecticut River during King Philip's War.

Son of John Bullis, born circa 1695 in Dutchess County, New York. John married and had eight sons who grew up on the Bullis Homestead in Dutchess County. One of these sons was a general in the French and Indian War.

Charles Bullis, born 1723 in Greenwich, Connecticut. He later moved to Manchester, Vermont. He served in the Revolutionary War in Captain Gideon Brownson's Company, Warner Regiment, Vermont Militia.

John Lapham Bullis, born 1841 in Macedon, New York. In 1862, he enlisted in the Volunteer Army and was commissioned in 1864, seeing extensive service during the Civil War. He continued his military service in Texas and Mexico with the Buffalo Soldiers, served in the Phillipines and Cuba during the Spanish-American War, and ended his career after President Theodore Roosevelt appointed him Brigadier General in 1904.

Charles R. Bullis, born 1891 in Macedon, New York. He enlisted in the Army on September 26, 1917 and was discharged on December 11, 1918. He served as a Private in the 20^th Company, 157 Depot Brigade during World War I. He was stationed at Camp McClellan, Alabama, for part of that time.

To these Bullis men and to all the men and women who have served and are serving in our Armed Forces, we once again say a sincere “Thank You

BULLIS ROOM OPEN HOUSE

Nettie Bullis, 1917

Today is the 30th anniversary of Nettie Bullis's death in 1979. She was born on March 23, 1893, and lived a full life for 86 years.

This coming Sunday, October 4, we will commemorate her life with an Open House in the Bullis Room, from 4 to 6 PM. We hope you will come to:

Meet our very special "surprise" hostess

View some of the wonderful illustrated treasures in the Bullis Collection

See a demonstration of Bullis book repair

Learn more about General John Lapham Bullis and the

amazing Seminole-Negro Indian Scouts he commanded

Sample refreshments which Miss Bullis might have served at home

Take home a special bookmark

Share your own memories of the Bullis Family or the Bullis House

DIGGING

No, we volunteers haven't been gardening here in the Bullis Room even though the many books on that subject inspire us to get dirt under our fingernails. Instead we've again been digging through the many papers, documents, and photos we have on the Bullis family and their extended family and friends. This includes the Knapp, Breese, Loomis, and Rodenberger families.

The Bullis Room Committee's goal is: "To present the contents and value of the Bullis Collection and the historical footprint of the Bullis family to the Macedon community." Accomplishing this goal means we need to be familiar with every book, pamphlet, letter, note, journal, and photo in this collection. Obviously, that takes lots of digging, sometimes until our heads are swimming with facts and details and we say "Enough for now." We always come back to the task, though, motivated by our respect for the Bullis family and inspired by our love of the Bullis Room and everything in it.

Last week we were also inspired and motivated by our visit with an extended-family member of the Bullises who shared photos and clippings as well as memories of Nettie, Charlie, their parents, and the Bullis house. This information enhances our understanding of Nettie Bullis and her family and motivates us to do--guess what--MORE DIGGING!

(We'd love to hear from you if you have any memories of or information about these families.)

BULLIS FAMILY HISTORY--EARLY MACEDON YEARS

(As recorded in: THE BULLIS FAMILY OF MACEDON, NEW YORK, by Elizabeth Ferrari, April, 1984)

In the mid-1600s, when political and religious turmoil were driving many Englishmen from their homeland, Phillip Bullis left England to settle in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1663 Phillip married Judith Hart, thus beginning the many generations of Bullises to become part of America. The Bullis families settled throughout New England and New York. In 1837, the Charles H. Bullis family came to Macedon, Wayne County, New York to settle.

Charles H. Bullis was born in Manchester, Vermont on January 23, 1786. On January 1. 1812, Charles married Eleanor Carbone of Greenwich, New York. He had relatives living in Greenwich and it is likely that he met Eleanor while he was visiting there. He and his wife took up residence in Manchester, Vermont until 1837.

They left Vermont on November 13, 1837. Charles Bullis, great-grandson of Charles H. Bullis, said that his great-grandfather may have received a land grant in Ohio which prompted him to make this move. It is said that when they got to New York, they took a canal boat from the town of Troy, New York. During their trip they stopped in Macedon to visit some friends. Macedon was and still is a beautiful town with a rolling landscape of drumlins and acres and acres of productible land. This land would be encouraging to any man. After visiting for some time in Macedon, Charles decided to remain there.

Charles and Eleanor had two children: Abraham R. Bullis and Amy R. Bullis. Little is known about Amy. She was born on December 21, 1824, in Manchester, Vermont and died on January 2, 1905 in Palmyra, New York. Abraham was born July 8, 1815 in Manchester, Vermont. After arriving in Macedon he attended Geneva Medical College, Geneva, New York. Upon becoming a doctor, he began practices in Farmington, Ontario County, and in Macedon. He was one of Macedon's first physicians. Abraham married Lydia Porter Lapham and had seven children: John Lapham, Mary Jane, Charles Henry, Abraham Rogers Junior, Abraham Rogers III, Lydia Porter and Jeanette Eleanor. He also had a second wife, Olive Aldrich Bullis. No children were born of this marriage.

Abraham R. Bullis was the only one of Doctor Bullis' children to remain in Macedon. He was born on September 4, 1854 in Farmington, New York. At the age of eight, his mother died and he went to live with his grandfather at the old family homestead in Macedon. In later years, after attending Macedon Academy from 1868-1869, he taught for a few years in various district schools, including Macedon Union School. He left teaching to enter Cornell University. In 1881 he graduated with a degree in Mathematics and the following year received a degree in Civil Engineering. He was a very smart man and was offered many positions from various governments and colleges. Abe would not take the jobs, because it would take him away from Macedon. He worked as a surveyor in much of Wayne County and held many other important positions in the Macedon area.

In 1884 he married Josephine Breese, daughter of J. D. Breese, of Macedon. Abraham's only son, Charlie, was born October 13, 1891, in Macedon, and his only daughter, Jeanette (Nettie) Aurelia Bullis, was born on March 23, 1893.

(Nettie Bullis will be featured next week in our Bullis Family History entry.)