John Lupia submitted the following information from the online draft of his book of numismatic biographies for this week's installment
of his series. Thanks! As always, this is an excerpt with the full article and bibliography available online. This week's subject is collector Sam
Bushnell. -Editor
Samuel Charles Bushnell (1887-1957), was born on August 17, 1887, at Peoria, Illinois, son of William M. Bushnell (1864-), a general freight agent
for the railroads, and Laura Smith Bushnell (1866-1948).
Blue eyed Sam Bushnell was a 6'-2" weighing 190 lbs., and followed in his father's footsteps becoming a general agent for the railroads. He
collected stamps, coins and paper money, especially old mail of the Gold Rush Era, and broken bank bills. He was very active in Missouri numismatics and a
friend of Eric P. Newman. Both were active in several numismatic circles and societies together.
The 1900 U.S. Census lists Bushnell living with his parents at 4235 McRee Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri.
In 1903, he joined the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis Railroad.
In February 1907, he ran an advertisement as a paper money collector soliciting old broken notes and CA paper money when he was living at Oak Park,
Illinois, in the Philatelic West, Vol. 35, No. 2, February (1907)
In 1907, Bushnell became a buyer U. S. paper money from Burdette G. Johnson, St. Louis Stamp & Coin Company. This is gleaned in "A Tribute to the
Late Burdette G. Johnson," The Numismatist, June (1947) : 421-422. Both Carl W. Lounsberry and Bushnell were friends for forty years and school
chums growing up together.
On February 26, 1908, he married Gertrude May Waggoner Barnes (1886-1977), daughter of Samuel Barnes and Jennie A. Waggoner Barnes. They had children :
Wilbur Samuel Bushnell (1909-1993), Frances M (1919-), Richard B (1915-), Charles Hunt Bushnell (1922-2007), and William Everett Bushnell (1926-). Gertrude
Bushnell was also an avid stamp collector with her husband.
In 1938, he was chairman of the St. Louis Numismatic Society exhibition committee.
In June 1939, he exhibited his collection of U. S. paper money, fractional currency, especially Missouri State bills at the St. Louis Numismatic Society and
also at the Missouri Numismatic Society.
On June 10, 1940, he was unanimously elected president of the Missouri Numismatic Society.
On April 26, 1942, he registered for the draft during WWII.
Bushnell was an aerophilatelist, i.e., he collected covers sent via air mail service and prized the postage and post-markings. He was also a member of the
American Air Mail Society since 1933.
In October 1953 he was listed in The Numismatist as a donor to the ANA Library.
The 1955 Centennial of the St. Charles, Missouri Post Office was researched by Bushnell having its origin in St. Peters on December 31, 1855.
He died on August 25th, 1957, 8 days after his 70th birthday, at St. Joseph's Hospital, St. Charles, Missouri.
To read the complete article, see:
BUSHNELL, SAMUEL CHARLES
(https://sites.google.com/a/numismaticmall.com/www/numismaticmall-com/bushnell-samuel-charles)
* * * * *
The entire inventory of the Lupia Numismatic Library is for sale. Individual items will be available before the remaining archives are broken up into
parcels sold at philatelic auctions in the U. S. and Hong Kong. Check NumismaticMall.com frequently as dozens of
new items with estimates will be posted daily until everything is sold.
All inquiries will be given prompt and courteous attention. Write to: john@numismaticmall.com .
Wayne Homren, Editor
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