BULLOCK, Edgar Orlin,
Business Man, Philanthropist.
The ancient name of Bullock has been traced to a very early period in England, three hundred years before the adoption of surnames in that country. Its coatof-arms is very ancient, and characterized by several bullocks amid other figures and emblems. There is a family tradition, which is sustained by records, regarding the finding of a child in a bull's manger as the origin of the name.
This name was very early identified with the early history of New England, and has been borne by numerous prominent citizens in the New England States. Among the distinguished men of the name who are descended from the common ancestor may be mentioned Alexander H. Bullock, of Worcester, one-time governor of Massachusetts; Stephen Bullock, of Rehoboth, member of Congress under President Thomas Jefferson's administration ; Richard Bullock, a prominent merchant and philanthropist of Providence, Rhode Island; Nathaniel Bullock, lieutenant-governor of Rhode Island in 1842; and Jonathan R. Bullock, lieutenant-governor of Rhode Island in 1860.
Richard Bullock, the English immigrant ancestor of the Bullocks in America, was born in Essex county, England, in 1622, and died in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, November 22, 1667. He was accompanied in his migration to America by two brothers, one of whom settled in Virginia. The Colonial records show that he was made a freeman in May, 1646, but do not indicate his residence at that time. He was one of the fifty-eight land proprietors of Rehoboth, June 22, 1658, and performed the office of town clerk. He married, August 4, 1647, Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Ingraham, of Rehoboth, and they are the progenitors of the Bullocks in the New England States.
Edgar Orlin Bullock, in whose memory we are writing, was a descendant of the Rhode Island branch of the Bullock family. He was the son of Jesse and Cynthia (Farwell) Bullock, both residents of Haverhill, Massachusetts, and was born in Compton, Providence of Quebec, October 16, 1843, while his parents were on a visit to that place.
His family returned to the States when he was a small boy, and he received his education in the public schools of Haverhill, graduating from the high school in 1860. After leaving school he went to Manchester, New Hampshire, where he entered the employ of a dry goods house. He remained there until September, 1863, when he enlisted in the Navy, being assigned to the steam frigate "Niagara," of which Thomas T. Craven was commodore. The date of his enlistment was September, 1863. He served as school master on the gunboat during a part of the Civil War, and the last two years of the war the "Niagara" was busy running blockades, principally in foreign waters. He was honorably discharged from the navy September 20, 1865. He entered the employ of Hall, Dane & Bullock, dry goods merchants, of Boston, his brother being a member of the firm. In a short time the firm dissolved and Jackson, Mandell & Daniels succeeded to the business and Mr. Bullock remained in their employ a number of years. Then, in the late seventies, he went to Haverhill. In 1875 he formed a partnership with his father-in-law, Otis Butters, engaging in the sole leather business, under the firm name and style of Bullock & Butters, which was continued until the death of Mr. Butters, when the business was continued as Edgar O. Bullock. Mr. Bullock had for many years been prominently identified with the business life of Haverhill, he having first been engaged in the sole leather business and later devoting his time to banking and the care of his real estate interests. He was a member of the North Congregational Church, Saggahew Lodge of Masons, and the Grand Army of the Republic, General Burnside United Veteran Association. He was a director in the Second National Bank, the Pentucket Savings Bank and the Citizens' Co-operative Bank of Haverhill.
He was taken ill while spending the summer season at his summer home at Wolfboro, New Hampshire. He rallied from the ailment and returned to Haverhill seemingly much improved. Later he was afflicted again, and his condition grew gradually worse until his death, which occurred on December 9, 1904, at the age of seventy-one years, at his home on Maple avenue, Haverhill, Massachusetts.
On January 22, 1873, Edgar Orlin Bullock was united in marriage with Belle Butters, daughter of Otis and Susan (Lunt) Butters, Mr. Butters being a native of Wilmington, Massachusetts, and Mrs. Butters of Newburyport, Massachusetts.
Otis Butters, father of Mrs. Bullock, was one of the leading sole leather dealers in the early days of the boot and shoe industry of Haverhill, and was held in high esteem by his friends and associates. The Butters family is of Scotch origin and the ancient seat of the family was Perthshire. We find the name Buttar, Buter and Butor in the Domesday Book of William the Conqueror, in 1086. The name of Buttar appears frequently among the followers of Robert Bruce in the thirteenth century. The coat-ofarms is:
Arms—Argent a cross sable, between four men's hearts proper.
Crest—On a wreath two arms drawing a bow, with an arrow paleway, all proper.
Mr. and Mrs. Bullock were the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter, namely: I. Otis Edgar, born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, September 6, 1876, died April 22, 1897; he was educated in Haverhill, and went to Cuba in 1897 with an expedition fostered through the generosity of Baron Rothschild, of London, England, and while engaged in scientific research he contracted yellow fever, from which he died. 2. Herbert Farwell, born in Haverhill, December n, 1878; he was educated in Haverhill, and is engaged in the electric business; he married Thurza Jackson, of Wolfboro, New Hampshire. 3. Susan Belle, born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, August 16, 1885; she received her education in the public schools of Haverhill and Bradford Academy; she lives with her mother in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is very much interested in music; both she and her mother are active members of the Woman's City Club of Boston. 4. Jesse Lunt, born in Haverhill, August 20, 1889; he graduated from the Haverhill High School and prepared for Harvard at Andover; he entered Harvard in 1910, taking his Bachelor of Arts degree with the class of 1914; he is an industrial chemist in the employ of Harden, Orth & Hastings, and has charge of the Barnbrook Dye Plant at Barnbrook, New Jersey; he married Ethel S. Woods, of New York City, and they are the parents of one son, Robert Woods Bullock, born December 3, 1917. After the death of her husband Mrs. Bullock resided in Haverhill until 1910, when she moved to Cambridge, where she resides with her daughter.
Edgar Orlin Bullock was a sagacious, successful business man of large experience, accurate knowledge and discriminating judgment, and his character was marked by fearlessness and a strong sense of justice. Ever ready to give to any cause which appealed to generosity, he never paraded his charity. He delighted to aid young men in securing a start in life, and never hesitated to give them his advice when they sought it. He was a generous, kindly friend, of quick insight into character, whose interest in human need was genuine, and whose hand never faltered nor failed when he had the power to help. He made his home a place of refuge, comfort and joy; a devoted husband and father, whose love and care gripped and held like hoops of steel. He was the consistent Christian man, whose ideals of life inspired the motives and controlled the deeds of a long life. He inherited the traditions of an old and honored New England, and grew to manhood true to his family characteristics of honor, truth and positive perseverance. He believed in civic righteousness, and took a keen interest in all that concerned his city, State and nation. His was a good life, representing substantial usefulness to his fellowmen, and so he will be remembered and honored.
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