Anna (Jennings) Bush (1915)

BUSH, JENNINGS, VAN METER, WILKINSON

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/6/2008 at 09:54:57

Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa
December 29, 1915

ANNA V. BUSH

Ann Van Meter Jennings was born in Peoria county, Illinois, Feb. 20, 1837 and died Dec. 16, 1915, aged 78 years, 9 months and 26 days.

At the age of 13, she moved with her parents to Henry county in the same state where she lived till the time of her marriage. When 18 years of age she was married to James Bush on March 6, 1854. Mr. Bush, who was from Delaware, Ohio, had the year previous gone to choose a place for a home in the then wilderness of Iowa. He entered government land in Adair county. Wild deer, wolves, elk and Indians were more frequently seen than the faces of white neighbors; but with wood and water abundant and rich soil ready for planting, he made here the beginning of a home, where for more than half a century they lived and labored. There were no railroads at that time west of the Mississippi river and they made the entire journey in a covered wagon. She survived her husband ten years, having lived on this farm almost 61 years.

Of the five children born in this Iowa home, four are still living: Rose Mary Wilkinson, living at Lincoln, Nebr.; Frank E. Bush, living on the old farm; Dr. F. W. Bush, living at Bagley, Iowa; and Benn E. Bush, living at Moscow, Idaho. The oldest child, a boy, died in infancy.

The early years of the pioneer life were filled with sacrifices, hardships and struggles which told on her health and for the last 30 years she was a partial invalid. Although always a devout believer, she was not identified with the church until 1883. She attended the Congregational church as health would permit. She was stricken with paralysis on Nov. 30, 1915.