Biography of Erwin Dyson Bulen

Erwin Dyson Bulen
Company C
1843-1922

Erwin Dyson Bulen was born on December 16, 1843 in Sennett, Cayuga County, New York. His parents were Daniel Bulen and Catherine Alberta Batson. Erwin moved to Ashtabula County, Ohio with his parents when he was nine years old.

In 1864, Erwin walked eighteen miles from his home near Austinburg, Ashtabula County, Ohio to join the cause and fight in the Civil War. He enlisted for a period of three years and served with Company C of the 60th Ohio Volunteer Infantry until the close of the war. During the war, he was captured by the Confederates at Weldon Railroad in Virginia. He was imprisoned at Belle Isle, Virginia which is near Richmond. He was held until the following February, when he was paroled. During his term of service, he was promoted from Corporal to Sergeant.

About 1868, he moved to Michigan remaining two years, and then moved to Kansas where he engaged in farming in Osage County. On January 2, 1871 in Dunlap, Morris County, Kansas, he married Francis A. Killam, the daughter of Ira Killam and Eliza Bachellor. Francis was born in January 1850 in Oxford, Oakland County, Michigan. There were five children born to this union: Jessie Lena, Guy Daniel, Ralph Erwin, Clyde Florida, and Avis M. During this time, Erwin opened a small store, and increased the stock as the demand required. Sometime, during Grant's second term of office (1872-1876), Erwin was also appointed Postmaster.

In the Fall of 1882, he associated himself in business with Mr. C. E. Kidd. Bulen & Kidd, merchants, dealt in general merchandise, consisting of dry goods, groceries, etc. They carried a stock of $2,000, doing a business of $7,000 per year. Less than one year after going into business together, Erwin's first wife, Francis died. Francis died August 14, 1883 in Dunlap, Morris County, Kansas of tuberculosis.

On July 6, 1884, Erwin remarried. He married Florida A. Benjamin, the daughter of Delos Benjamin and Emeline Wood, in Ashtabula, Ashtabula County, Ohio. Florida was born December 17, 1849 in Jefferson, Ashtabula County, Ohio. One child was born to this union, Erwin Benjamin Bulen. Erwin and Florida later divorced sometime prior to 1892. Florida died May 11, 1938 in Jefferson, Ashtabula County, Ohio.

On April 11, 1892 in Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri, Erwin married his third wife, Helen Estelle McClure, the daughter of Andrew McClure and L. Vores. Helen was born March 29, 1869 in Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio. There were four children born to this union: Bertie Lewelling, Catherine Alberta, Nadine McClure, and Robert Erwin.

Erwin early espoused the principles of the Republican party and continued to be a firm adherent and supporter of that party. He was a member of the Masonic order and the Knights of Honor and of the G.A.R.

Erwin Dyson Bulen died on February 24, 1922 in Lawrence, Murray County, Oklahoma. His third wife, Helen Estelle McClure died a few years later on August 22, 1927 in Duncan, Murray County, Oklahoma. Both Erwin and Helen were buried in Oaklawn Cemetery in Sulphur, Murray County, Oklahoma.

Cutler, William G. History of the State of Kansas: Morris County Biographical Sketches. Chicago, Illinois: A. T. Andreas, 1883.

Bulen, Bruce. Pertinent notes regarding his family's genealogy

Some of this information was transcribed and posted on the Internet under The Kansas Collection. Additional information was supplied by Bruce Bulen. Erwin Dyson Bulen was his great grandfather.