Name/Title
Letters Aug 20 & 29, 1952 to Robert McLeod Jackson from Martha Prescott (BULL) DilksEntry/Object ID
002601Tags
Robert McLeod Jackson, Martha DilksScope and Content
These documents consist of a multi-page letter written by Martha Bull Dilks (Mrs. H.P. Dilks) to a Mr. Jackson between August 20 and August 29, 1952. Martha, writing from Richmond, Indiana, is sharing genealogical information and physical artifacts for the "Bull Family Archives."
The correspondence provides a detailed look at the Bull family lineage, specifically descendants of William Bull and Sarah Wells of Orange County, New York.
Key Genealogical Highlights
Direct Lineage: Martha traces her "ascent" through: 1. Louis A., 2. Alexander T., 3. Milton, 4. Daniel, 5. Thomas, 6. William.
Family Members Mentioned:
Father: Louis Alexander Bull.
Uncle: Willie Sheldon Bull.
Grandfather: Dr. Alexander Thompson Bull.
Aunt: Sarah Wells Bull Macnabb (living in Austin, TX in 1952, aged 90).
The "Theodore Bull" Connection: Martha discusses a cousin, Theodore Bull (nicknamed "Thee-dor"), and a 1810 bill of sale for a "slave girl" to James Bull that Theodore had preserved.
Items Contributed to the Archives
Martha mentions enclosing several historical items for Mr. Jackson:
Historical Documents: The 1810 bill of sale mentioned above.
Photographs: A picture of Absolom Bull and a picture of a house he built.
Pageant Materials: Two pictures of the "Sarah Wells Pageant" sent by an Aunt Julia.
Artistic References: She mentions a watercolor painting of the "Stone House" by A.W. Sangster, a friend of her father and grandfather.
Martha’s Immediate Family (as of 1952)
Martha includes a list of her daughters and their locations for the record:
Martha P. Dilks (Mrs. Marshall M. Richards): Knoxville, TN. (She notes a new grandson, Mark Prescott Richards, born Aug 23, 1952).
Anne Hibbard Dilks (Mrs. Ransom E. Blakely): Bloomington, IN.
Orlight Dilks (Mrs. James R. Sperling): Richmond, IN.
Priscilla Dilks: Working as a secretary for the U.S. Education & Information Service in Helsinki, Finland, during the Olympic Games.
Personal Anecdotes
Birth Record Humor: Martha shares that her birth record from Erie County, NY, came back listed simply as "Female Bull," which her children find hilarious.
The Bull Picnic: She expresses regret at missing the annual Bull family picnic, noting that her trips "East" to take her daughters to school usually happened in late September, missing the event.
The letter concludes with Martha's address at Spring Grove, Rt 28, Richmond, Ind. and expresses her hope that the materials are of interest to the family's historical preservation efforts.
