An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 378-379
	
	JOHN S. BUSH, a member of one of the oldest and most prominent families of
Washington, residing near Olympia, is a typical son of the West, possessing all
the vigor and determination so characteristic of those who have assisted in
building up great commonwealths on the Pacific coast.
	He comes of old American stock, his paternal grandfather, George Bush,
having been born in Pennsylvania in 1779, while his paternal grandmother, whose
maiden name was Isabella James, was born in Tennessee in 1809. This worthy
couple were married in Jackson county, Missouri, July 4, 1831, where they
continued to reside for thirteen years. In 1814 George Bush and a few
companions, who were trappers and hunters, wade a trip on foot across the plains
to the Pacific coast, where then not even a trail could be found. The hardships
which they endured from exposure, hunger and Indians, are beyond comprehension.
They traversed the coast from Mexico as far north as the Columbia river before
returning to Missouri. In 1844 George Bush and his family started across the
plains, over which he had journeyed so many years before. They were eight months
coining from Jackson county, Missouri, to The Dalles, in Oregon Territory. They
there rested a few weeks and then proceeded in batteaux down the Columbia river
to Clarke county, camping at Washougal, not far from Vancouver, where they
remained several months. They then again started northward, coming up the
Cowlitz river, and thence overland to New Market, at the mouth of Des Chutes
river. They soon afterward settled on a donation claim of 640 acres, lying on
Bush prairie, about four miles from what is now known as Tumwater, where the
brave old pioneer died in 1863 and his widow two years later, leaving six sons
to perpetuate their name and memory. These are: W.O., J.S , J.T., H.B., J.J. and
L.N., of whom the surviving members all reside in Thurston county, they and
their grandchildren living on the old homestead, which was pre-empted by their
illustrious ancestor, so many years ago, and which is now one of the richest and
most valuable tracts of land in the country.
	Hon. W.O. Bush, the oldest of the sons, and father of the subject of this
sketch, was born in Clay county, Missouri, July 4, 1832, and was twelve years of
age when he accompanied his parents to the Northwest. He thus early became
inured to frontier life, its hardships and vicissitudes, and developed those
hardy qualities of mind and body which have gained for him a position of
prominence and honor among his fellow-men. He was reared on a farm to
agricultural pursuits, which have ever since been his occupation. He was married
at the age of twenty-seven and afterward bought a farm on Mound prairie, in
Thurston county, Washington, where he resided until 1870, and then removed to a
portion of his father's donation claim, seven miles from Olympia, which has ever
since been his home.
	He has always taken an active part in politics and public life, and served
in the State Legislature in 1890 and 1892. He is now (1893) in Chicago, at the
Columbian Exposition, where he was sent by his constituents to take charge of
the Thurston county exhibit, he received the gold premium at the Centennial
Exposition, in 1876, for the best and largest yield of wheat ever exhibited in
the world. His certificate can he found in Olympia, and the grain is now in the
Smithsonian Institute at Washington, D.C.
	May 26, 1859, Hon. W.O. Bush was married in Marion county, Oregon, to Mrs.
Mandana Kimsey, a widow. Mrs. W.O. Bush is a pioneer, and was born June 1, 1826,
in Howard county, Missouri. Her father, Dr. J. Smith, was a native of North
Carolina, and her mother, whose name before marriage was Nancy Scott, was born
in Virginia. They were married in Howard county, Missouri, where they resided
until 1847, when they crossed the plains with their family and son-in-law, Duff
Kimsey, to whom their daughter, Mandana, was married April 25, of that year. Dr.
Smith did not survive to complete the journey, his sorrowing family burying him
at Green river. Duff Kimsey and wife settled in Marion county, Oregon, on a
claim of 640 acres, where they resided about ten years, when Mr. Kimsey died.
Mrs. Kimsey continued to make that her home until her marriage to Mr. Bush in
1859. Mr. and Mrs. Bush have two children: Belle, now Mrs. Gaston; and John S.
Bush, born November 22, 1862, in Thurston county, Washington, both of whom
reside on their grandfather's old homestead. John S. Bush is married to
Christina F. Gaston, a native of Nova Scotia, born January 9, 1859, who came to
Olympia in 1886. They have two interesting children, who bid fair to perpetuate
the legacy of honor bequeathed by their grandfather, the noble pioneer.
	
Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer
	
	
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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
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individual featured in the biographies.