Fellows was appointed chairman of the Committee on Evening Schools, and devoted so much time and labor to their advancement that their acknowledged success is largely attributed to his active energy. He was also prominent in the establishment of the New York Free Academy, and introduced resolutions for establishing a free academy for females, a scheme which is now perfected in the Free Normal College. No truthful history of the cause of education in New York can be written which does not give a leading place to the name of Edward B. Fellows.
In June, 1853, he, in connection with John W. Ketcham, conceived the idea of organizing an insurance company, to be located in Chatham Square. At a meeting held June 2d there were twenty persons present who had consented to be directors, and it was resolved that the name of the intended corporation should be the " Rutgers' Fire Insurance Company of New York." Property was purchased at the corner of Chatham and Mott Streets, which is still owned and occupied by the company. Mr. Fellows was the first secretary of the company, and, upon the death of Isaac 0. Barker, the first president (which occurred in 1866), he was elected president, has been unanimously re-elected at every annual meeting and now holds the office.
He removed his residence to Westchester in 1861, and purchased a place at West Farms, which has since been his home.
He was married, in 1836, to Henrietta, daughter of Aaron Brown, who was at one time the owner of the Slocura farm, on which a large part of the city of Scran ton. Pa., now stands. By this marriage he had four children, -- Augusta (wife of Monmouth H. Chambers), Edward, Theodore and Charles. Theodore, the only surviving child, is now living in New Hampshire.