Olcott S. Bulkley Family
Parents:
Rev. Olcott Bulkley (1808-1891) was an Episcopal minister born in Vermont and a direct descendent of the Rev. Peter Bulkley who founded Concord, MA.
Anne Elizabeth Johnson Bulkley (1822-1905) was a granddaughter of Roger Johnson, a Major in the Revolutionary War, whose eldest brother, Thomas Johnson, was the first governor of Maryland. Anne was a prolific letter writer. We believe she was born in "Rock Hall" on Dr. Belt Rd in Dickerson, MD, the rock home built by Roger Johnson and Anne's father Joseph A. Johnson. Anne Johnson and Louisa Johnson Adams (wife of John Quincy Adams) were 1st cousins once removed.
Siblings:
William Alexander Bulkley (1842-1863) and Channing Moore Bulkley (1844-1863) both died during the Civil War, Channing in battle and William later from an injury. (Henry Martyn Bulkley (1846-1850) died in childhood.). Willie is the author of a diary which is in the collection.
Eleanor Johnson Bulkley Pelot (1848-1933) married James Pelot and lived with their children Will, Nettie, Julia, James and Charles in Sweet Springs, MO.
Elizabeth "Bessie" Hilleary Bulkley (1850-1900) maintained a stamp collection and died of what sounds like breast cancer at age 49. Signed letters as BHB.
Ann Rebecca "Beck" Bulkley (1852-1946) lived in Higginsville, MO for 54 years. Signed letters ARB. Lived with her sisters in Higginsville after her mother passed away.
Charles "Charlie" Simeon Bulkley (1855-1949) was a prominent farmer and stockman in Kansas City, MO. He and his wife Corrine had one son Charles Channing Bulkley.
Mary Louise "Loutie" Bulkley (1856-1938) attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and taught music for many years in Sweet Springs, MO and later in Higginsville when she moved home to live with her sisters after their mother died. Signed letters MLB.
Henrietta "Nettie" Bulkley (1859-1943) taught 21 years in the Kansas City public schools.
Laura Brashear Bulkley Dinsmoor (1862-1948) married Silas Dinsmoor in 1895. They practiced as osteopaths in Pittsburgh, PA. After Silas died in 1921, Laura first lived with her niece in Bozeman, MT and then moved to Higginsville to live with her sisters. When they passed away she moved to Pasadena, CA to live with her brother OS Bulkley and his wife Katherine.
Olcott "Ollie" Smith Bulkley (1865-1952) to whom most of the letters were written served as Justice of the Peace in Antelope Township in California from 1892 to 1930. Upon his retirement he was appointed bailiff in Federal County in Los Angeles, serving with Judge Comstock and Judge McCormack for 15 years before retiring at age 80. He married Katherine Letitia Reeder in 1898.
Children and Grandchildren:
Olcott and Katherine's son Olcott Reeder Bulkley (1899-1969) and his wife Isabel Tiffany Van Deusen (1901-1991) collected and saved the many letters and family treasures which have landed with my sister and me from our mother, Kay Philips. Kay adored her grandad and he inspired her own calling to public service in the YWCA.