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 * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.