Bulis, Henry Clay Dr. 1830 – 1897

BULIS, ADAMS

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:45

Source: Decorah Republican Sept. 9, 1897 P 1 C 4

HENRY CLAY BULIS.
One who for over forty years was a a{sic} most important factor in the social, political and public life of this community and county, passed “over the river” into the other life on Tuesday morning, at 9:30 o’clock. He was born in Clinton County, N. Y., November 14, 1830, and therefore had attained the age of 66 years, 9 months and 23 days. The important events of this life are told in better form than we could hope to do in Lewis’ “Historical and Biographical Record of Iowa.” The details were furnished by Dr. Bulis, and put in form by the kindly critical pen of a very ready writer, so completely that only a little need be added. This “Record” says:
Dr. Bulis was reared on a New England farm and surrounded by all the healthful and invigorating conditions, both physical and moral, incident thereto. From 17 to 21 he occupied his time teaching and studying, and during the summer months he would assist his father on the farm.
Our subject began the study of medicine when he reached his majority, and at the same time continued to teach. About six years of his life were spent in teaching. He attended two regular courses of lectures at the Vermont Medical College, Woodstock, Vermont, and took the degree of that institution in the summer of 1854. In addition to this, Dr. Bulis holds a degree from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, taken in 1887 after a six months course.
On October 3, following his graduation in 1854, Dr. Bulis came to Decorah, Iowa, then a village, and began the practice of medicine. For one month he taught school and then resigned, and this was the last of his duties as a pedagogue. His professional career has been a long and favorable one, and for over forty years he has practiced in the State, barring the time public office required his attention, and this shows a longer period of practice than that of any other physician in northeastern Iowa. In 1876 he was made president of the Iowa State Medical Society, the highest honor within the gift of the profession, and served for one year, which is the longest service allowed by the custom of the organization.
In l865, Dr. Bulis was appointed United States Examining Surgeon for pensions, and he acted in that capacity till 1876, when he resigned on his appointment as a member of the Sioux commission.
There are few men in the State who have had a longer or more varied public career than Dr. Bulis. His first public office was that of commissioner for the sale of intoxicating liquors, to which he was appointed in l865, by Judge Reed, and held until the office was abolished a year later, the office of County Superintendent of Schools having been created, Dr. Bullis was the first incumbent, having been elected in April, 1858 he served two years. In October, l863, he was elected County Supervisor, serving two years, the last year of which service he served as chairman of the board. In the fall of 1865 he was chosen by the Republican party to represent Winnesheik county in the State Senate, and at the end of a four years term was re-elected by a handsome majority.
While in the Senate Dr. Bulis served as chairman of the committee on claims, and also as the chairman of the State University committee. In the work of this latter committee he took especial pride and was one of the moving spirits in founding this great institution, serving as Regent for eighteen years and then declining re-election.
Political honors crowded on our subject thick and fast, in the middle of his second term in the Senate in 187{?}, while serving as President pro tem of that body, he was nominated and elected Lieutenant Governor of the State on the Republican ticket. August 25, l876, President Grant appointed Dr. Bulis a member of the Sioux Indian Commission, which was created for the purpose of purchasing the Black Hills of this warlike people. The consumation of a satisfactory treaty with the Sioux by this commission in which our subject acted no inconspicuous part in one of the cardinal facts in the political history of the country, and, as relating to Dr. Bulis may be regarded as the climax of a very eventful public career. In 1878 Dr. Bulis was appointed a special United States Indian Agent by President Grant, but resigned after nine mouths service. In April, l883 he was appointed a special agent of the General Land office, but resigned at the end of eight months. The duties of these last two offices required almost constant traveling, and to the extreme limits of the country he found the work too laborious, and hence resigned. In 1889 Dr. Bulis, was prominent before the Republican Convention when it chose its candidate for Congress. After some sixty ballots he withdrew in favor of Hon. J. H. Sweeney, who was nominated and elected.
He served as Mayor of Decorah during the years 1880-81 and 1889-90, resigning during his last term to accept the postmastership, which he held for four years. During his term as Postmaster he organized the free delivery system, and secured the extension of the railway postal service from Calmar to Decorah.
Dr. Bulis was a member of the Iowa State Historical Society, and served as curator for several years.
No one has more earnestly desired the advancement of Decorah’s interests than the subject of this notice. In 1869, while a member of the State Senate, he worked unceasingly for the acquirement of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway for Decorah, and his services were such as a man of small ability could not have rendered. The same is true of the Chicago. Decorah & Minnesota Railroad Company, of which he served as president in 1883,and which built the Decorah extension of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad, and is now operated by that company.
Dr. Bulis married Miss Laura A. Adams, of Champlain, New York, September 11. 1854. Their children are; William, who died in infancy, Frank Hamilton, who is married and lives in Kansas City. Kansas, Ada Amanda, who resides at home with her father. She is a graduate of the Iowa College at Grinnell, and is a teacher by profession. Mrs. Bulis died in 1861. Our subject’s present wife, whom he married June 17, 1863 was Miss Harriette K. Adams, a sister of the first wife.
As will be seen by the above, Dr. Bulis early assumed an active and permanent part in local and State affairs, and that he has been a faithful public servant is vouched for by the fact that he has held office with but few intermissions from his twenty-fifth to his sixty-fourth year. It is not given to many men to participate in the public affairs of two generations, and while advanced in years Dr. Bulis to-day is young in mind, and thinks and acts with the progressive present, and not with the effete past.
To the foregoing little need be added. After completing his term as postmaster Dr. Bulis retired from public life, and, though much enfeebled in health, continued the practice of medicine among those to whom he had been so long the favorite family physician. But anxious friends—even passing acquaintances—noticed with regret a growing feebleness that foreboded the last great change in life. To near friends he also expressed his own convictions as a physician that should he become prostrated with illness recovery was not to be hoped for. Four weeks ago yesterday he went to his home, laid down upon the bed from which he was to be removed only in preparation for the last resting place of his worn-out body. This illness at once became serious, and for three weeks death brooded over him, deferring his visit long enough so that his son Frank and his sister, Miss Julia could arrive and have the comfort of recognition and administering to him at the last. Death came to him as one who falls asleep.
The funeral will be held at the family residence at 3 o'clock this afternoon.

Transcriber’s Note: His gravestone in Phelps Cemetery shows he was born in 1831.

Phelps Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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