Prosser, William Farrand.  "A History of the Puget Sound Country."  Vol. 2. New
York: Lewis Pub. Co., 1903. p. 356-357.

Newton W. Bush

Hon. Newton W. Bush is one of he foremost lawyers of Chehalis county,
Washington, and before he came to this state he had successful practitioner in
Michigan and the recipient of several important offices, and in the time he has
been here has been twice elected a member of the state legislature. Mr. Bush is
the son of Peter and Clarissa (Merrill) Bush. His father was born in New Jersey
and settled in Michigan in 1831, on a farm in Oakland county; in 1852 he removed
to Livingston county, where he took up a tract of government land. Peter Bush
died in Michigan in 1872, and his wife, who was a native of Vermont, died in
February, 1901.

Newton W. Bush was born at Milford, Oakland county, Michigan, oin 1845. He
received his education in the public schools, and in 1865, when he was twenty
years old; he organized at Corunna, Michigan, a company of soldiers for
enlistment in the Civil war. He was elected first lieutenant, and the company
was sent to Cincinnati to join General Broadhurstís Michigan cavalry, but before
they saw active service the war was over. On his return home Mr. Bush took up
the study of law at St. Johns with J.O. Seldon, a brother of Judge Seldon, of
New York. In 1874 he was admitted to practice by the supreme court of the state,
and he opened his first office in Hubbardston, Ionia county, where he remained
for five years, and then went to Mecosta in Mecosta county and continued his
practice till 1889. He early became prominent in Republican politics, and at
both of these towns was elected to various offices, such as justice of the
peace, city clerk, city attorney, etc. In 1889 Mr. Bush came to Aberdeen, and
this has since been the seat of his interests and his constantly growing
practice. He had been here but a short time when he was admitted to practice in
the supreme court as well as the United States district circuit courts. Two
years after he took up his residence here he was elected by the Republicans of
the county to represent them in the legislature in 1892-93, and he served again
in 1900-01. Mr. Bush was the first city attorney of Aberdeen upon its
organization under the present charter in 1890.

In 1866 Mr. Bush was married at St. Johns, Michigan, to Miss Louisa M Kniffen.
Their elder son is Professor Albert W. Bush, principal of the schools at South
Bend, Washington; and the other is Floyd M., purser for the Alaska Steamship
Company. Mr. Bush is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the Odd Fellows, and of the
Ancient Order if United Workman. On their removal to Washington Mrs. Bush became
interested in the Degree of Honor, the womanís auxiliary of the Ancient Order of
United Workman, and she was rapidly promoted; from chief of the local lodge as
Aberdeen she passed different official positions in the state jurisdiction to
grand chief of honor, and now she is she is superior chief of honor of the
Superior Lodge of Honor of the United States, quite a distinction for a woman
from the far west.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios. Project in September 2005 by Teressa Lenkey.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.