Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 2.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 44.
 
ASAHEL BUSH

     Any history of Oregon, touching upon its early political, commercial or
civic development must include reference to Asahel Bush, whose varied interest
and activities were of a nature and importance as to bear directly on the life
of his day. As newspaper owner, banker and public official, he stood
consistently at all times for those things which tended to stabilize society,
and was essentially progressive and constructive in his policies and methods,
his labors and influence contributing in large measure to the state's progress
along right lines. For over six decades he commanded general recognition as one
of the ablest and most public-spirited citizens of Oregon and his memory is
revered by all who knew him for his stanch integrity, his unselfish efforts and
his exalted citizenship.
     Mr. Bush was born in Westfield, Massachusetts, on the 4th of June, 1824,
and died in Salem, Oregon, December 13, 1913, in the ninetieth year of his age.
The Bush family is of Welsh origin. Early in the eighteenth century, a branch of
the family moved from Connecticut to Westfield, Massachusetts. Asahel Bush,
senior, was of the fourth generation of the family's residence in Westfield. He
was born in 1788, was a farmer by occupation and became a man of prominence in
his community, serving as selectman of his town and also representing his
district in the state legislature. He held membership in the Universal church.
He was married to Miss Sally Noble, a native of Westfield. Massachusetts. To
them were born six children, one of whom was Asahel.
     Asahel Bush secured his education in the public schools and Westfield
Academy, which he attended until fifteen years of age, when his father died. He
then went to Saratoga Springs. New York, and spent three years learning the
printing trade in the office of the Sentinel. He next went to Albany, where for
a few months he was connected with the state printing, and from there went to
Cleveland, Ohio, where he remained about a year. He then returned to his native
village, where he studied law and was admitted to the bar of Massachusetts in
1850. From January 24, 1849, until July 3, 1850, he served as editor of the
Westfield Standard, also filling the office of town clerk, which position he
resigned in July of that year, when he decided to locate in Oregon. He traveled
on the steamer "Empire City" to Aspinwall, thence across the isthmus, and up the
coast to San Francisco, whence Ire proceeded by boat to Astoria, Oregon, which
was then only a fur trading post, and continued up the Columbia and Willamette
rivers to Portland, then a town of but a few hundred inhabitants.   After a
brief period he located in Oregon City and on March 28, 1851, began the
publication of the first distinctively democratic paper in this state, the
Oregon Statesman, for which he had shipped the printing press from the east
around Cape Horn.   In this enterprise he was associated with Samuel R.
Thurston, the delegate from this territory, whose interest in the paper Mr. Bush
subsequently purchased.   In 1853 he transferred the office and plant to Salem,
where he continued  its publication until 1863, when he sold it, the name of the
paper bring then changed to that of the Union.  Energetic and thrifty, Mr. Bush
achieved both a monetary and literary success in this enterprise, and during
that period became one of the most influential men in the public affairs of the
state, the- Statesman and its friends being credited with practically
controlling the government at Salem, while throughout the state lie exerted a
strong influence in party affairs.   On the division of the democratic party in
1860. Mr. Bush aligned himself with the Douglas wing and at the outbreak of the
Civil war stanchly supported the Union cause.  In 1862 he was a member of the
convention which put a Union ticket in the field and in the election of 1864 he
supported McClellan for the presidency.   In 1861 he was appointed a member of
the board of visitors to the United States Military Academy at West Point, his
colleagues being David Davis, who became a United States senator and a justice
of the supreme court, and James G. Blaine, the editor of the Kennebec (Maine)
Journal, and later prominent in national politics.   In 1878 Mr. Bush was
appointed superintendent of the state penitentiary and held that office four
years, during the first two of which he would not accept any salary.    He had
accepted the position  in the  belief that  the institution was costing the
state more than it should and his views were vindicated in the fact that under
his administration the expenses were reduced from one-fourth to one-half. At the
democratic state convention in 1888 he was chosen chairman of the state central
committee, in which position he antagonized some newspaper men by refusing to
subsidize their papers.  Throughout all his political activities he stood
squarely for honesty and cleanness in public affairs and commanded the respect
of all.
     In the early '60s, Mr. Hush was for four years a silent partner in the
mercantile firm of Lucien Health & Company at Salem, and in 1868 he engaged in
banking in association with William S. Ladd, under the firm name of Ladd & Bush,
and erected a building in Salem for the accommodation of the bank. The Ladd &
Tilton Bank of Portland, Oregon, really owned a half interest in the business
and Mr. Bush the other half. In December, 1882, Mr. Bush acquired the sole
ownership of the business, which, however, was continued under the old name, and
ran it as such until 1910, when it was incorporated as a state bank, with a
capital of five hundred thousand dollars, being the largest bank in Oregon
outside of Portland. He remained the president of this institution until his
death.
     In October, 1854, in Salem, Mr. Bush was united in marriage to Miss Eugenia
Zieber, who was born in Princess Anne. Somerset county, Maryland, January 13,
1833. She was a daughter of John S. Zieber, who was a native of Philadelphia,
and her mother was a native of Maryland. In 1851 the Zieber family came across
the plains to Oregon, locating first in Oregon City, but eventually moving to
Salem, where, two years later, Mr. Zieber became surveyor-general of Oregon, in
which position he served one term. Mrs. Bush was a graduate of the Moravian
Seminary, at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and was a lady of tactful manner and
gracious personality, endearing herself to all who came in contact with her. She
died in Salem, September 11, 1863, leaving four children.
     In his political affiliation Mr. Bush was always a democrat and throughout
his life maintained the closest touch with public affairs, on which he held well
denned opinions. He was a Unitarian in his religious faith. He performed
valuable and appreciated service for his state for eight years as territorial
printer for Oregon, being the only man to ever hold that office, and was the
first state printer. He served for a number of years as a regent of the
University of Oregon, from which he resigned; was one of the first trustees of
Willamette University, and was a member of the Oregon Historical Society, while
in 1902 he was made a member of the board of directors of the Lewis & Clark
Centennial Exposition, which was held in Portland in 1905. He was a loyal friend
and helpful supporter of every worthy cause brought to his attention and in
every relation of life displayed those qualities of character which mark the
ideal citizen. He met the obligations and responsibilities of life not merely
from a sense of duty but with a desire to be of practical service, a quality
which was one of the keynotes to his character and career, and he is ranked
among those whose lives have conferred honor and dignity upon the community and
state.
     
*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2014 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.