Bushby, William J. 1834-1914 & Sarah J. Bateman Family

BUSHBY, BATEMAN, WALKER, MARC, MARCH

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 3/23/2023 at 07:48:13

Bushby, William J. 1834- 1914 and Sarah J. Bateman Family

This story was taken from pages 363-364 of the Ireton Centennial Book (1882-1982). The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added.

William J. Bushby was born July 24, 1834, at Hurst, Yorkshire, England, the second son of William Bushby 1810-1977 and Ann Marc or March 1814-1890. He came to America with his parents in 1842. The crossing was made in a sailing ship of the time, and they were out of sight of land for 8 weeks.

The family settled on a farm near the present town of Shullsburg, Wi., where they engaged in farming and lead mining. He joined the Third Regiment Wisconsin Infantry, Apr. 1861 and served throughout the Civil War, and was discharged Nov. 1864. He was a member of the Launz Post Grand Army of the Republic at Ireton, Ia.

William J. was married to Sarah Jane Bateman, Feb. 20, 1866 at Shullsburg, WI. They farmed at Argyle and Darlington, Wi. before coming to Ireton in 1884. She was daughter of George 1808 and Ann Walker Bateman 1807, she was born 12 May 1839 Shullsburg, WI.

Their goods were shipped to Calliope, Ia. as the railroad wasn’t finished thru Ireton at that time. William J. accompanied the emigrant car, loaded with his possessions, and when it was sided at Calliope, he unloaded a team of horses and a wagon and drove to Tom White’s farm, a mile north of where Craig is now. The next day, Tom, and some of his neighbors, went back to Calliope with Will and helped him move into his new home. When all was settled the rest of the family came by train to Calliope. Sarah Jane and her six children, Annie, born June 1869, William, born Jul. 1872, Aylmer, born Feb. 1875, Chris, born Mar. 1877, Walker, born Aug. 1879 and Daisy, born Sept. 1883, who was less than a year old.

Will and Sarah Bushby lived and raised their family on that farm in Sec. 29, Reading Twp. the rest of their lives. Will passed away in Apr. 1914 and Sarah Jane in Dec. 1923.

Of their children, Annie and Will, Jr., never married. Will farmed part of the Hammond land for a few years then rented the Jay Peebles farm until he retired in 1945 and moved into Ireton. He passed away in 1948.

Annie spent her entire life with her parents and later with the Walker Bushby family who took over the “homeplace.” She passed away in 1940.

Aylmer started work for the David Hammond family in 1893 and in 1911 married Louise Hammond. He operated one of the Hammond farms for a few years, then moved to the Hammond home farm: “Maple Grove” when David Hammond moved to Calif.

Aylmer & Louise had 3 children: Lois born in 1914, Esther born in 1916, and Dwight born in 1919. In 1925 they moved with their family to Covina, Ca. where he bought at orange grove. Alymer researched, compiled and had printed the Bushby Genealogy from which much of this history was taken.

Chris and Will both taught school in Reading and Washington Twps. In the late 1890’s they bought a Reeves steam threshing outfit and threshed from north of Ireton to the present Craig area and for three or four miles each side of this line, starting soon after the first grain was cut and ending well after Halloween. They were both good violin players and, with the Null or Marron brothers or Ephram “Freeme” Coons, furnished music for many local gatherings and parties.

Chris was salesman for Reeves Co. and when Fred Shield decided to try power farming, Chris sold him the first steam-plowing tractor in the area. Later he sold Fred Dittmer a smaller gasoline tractor.

When Chris and Will shedded their threshing for the last time in 1917, their neighbor, George Bartlett bought a new Rumely Steam Thresher and took over their run.

In 1908 Chris married Flora Day and started farming. Their children were Bernice born in 1909 and Harry born in 1916. Bernice married Alvin Wood in 1932 and still lives in Aladdin, Wy.

When Aylmer moved to Calif. In 1925, Chris took over “Maple Grove” farm, which included the Hammond Shetland pony herd, and he operated it until he retired in the 1950’s. Harry, who never married, helped his father with the farm besides running a repair shop for the neighbors.

When Chris retired, he bought an acreage in the corner of “Maple Grove” and built a home where they lived. Among his other activities Chris found time to serve as secretary of the Reading Twp. School Board for 35 years. Chris passed away in 1969 and Flora died in 1973.

When Chris retired, Harry closed his repair shop and worked for Modern Machine Works in Sioux City until 1979. Then he retired and moved back to his father’s home, where he still operates his repair shop parttime.

Walker Bushby grew up on the home farm and took over the management of it from his father. In 1910 he married Mae Kennedy and they stayed at the home farm to make a home for his parents and sister, Annie.

Besides his farming, Walker found time to raise horses, Red Polled cattle, Chester White hogs and helped his sons with their Shetland pony project. He also served as school director several years and on the board of the Ireton Rural Telephone Ass’n. until it was disbanded. Mae passed away in 1947 and Walker passed away in 1951. Their children were Jack born at Seney in 1915 and William born in 1919. Jack and Bill were very active in music while attending Ireton High School.

Jack and Mildred Brown were married Aug. 1939 in her parent’s, Harley G. Brown, home with Rev. G.E. Scheider officiating. He was a former Ireton Methodist minister. She continued working as a bookkeeper and typist in an office in Sioux City until Mar. 1. They rented the house just south of Wm. Miller garage for a couple of years. They bought the Shoemaker house on the north end of Main Street and a couple years later purchased the Frank Parrott house in the southwest part of town. Their son, Jim, was born in Oct. 1940 and George was born in Nov. 1942. Jack helped his dad and brother farm, operated threshing machine and did custom plowing during the summer and in the fall did mechanical work for Jake Sinkey Garage. In Dec. 1942 he bought the truck business from Albert Holtdorf, who had been hurt and couldn’t get around for a while. He trucked all through World War II and there were weeks that he never undressed for bed—going day and night. Lots of times Mildred would drive the empty truck so he could get a little sleep. They made several long distant trips. They sold the truck business to John Noon when they moved to Foreston, Mn. in Aug. 1946 to farm 2 years, moving back to Ireton territory: Ericsen farm 1 mile south of McNally station in Aug. 1948.

Their sons, Jim and George attended all the elementary grades at the country school near them and high school in Hawarden. Jack was school director 4 years and chairman of the Board a couple of years. In Apr. 1957 Daniel was born. He attended Ireton Elementary School and high school in Hawarden—all after West Sioux Consolidation. He was a trumpet player in band and groups.

When they moved to Mn., they took 2 Brown Swiss cows and 4 Short Horn cows from here, and when they came back, they brought them back plus about a dozen more milk cows. They concentrated on pure Brown Swiss cows and the last few years had nothing else. Used a portable milker first, then finally installed a pipeline and bulk tank system. Sold their cows in 1979, but still crop farms.

He is handy at repairing his machinery. One of his hobbies is collecting and repairing guns, and black powder shooting. Mildred was active in Sunday School Cradle Roll and Women’s Fellowship in the Ireton Presbyterian Church and later the Hawarden Associated Church.

Jim married Anita Vanden Berg and they have 3 children. He is a mechanic on county road construction. George is mechanic at Everist Gravel pit, Hawarden. Dan married Nancy Hamilton and they have 1 girl. He also works for Everist Gravel Pit in Hawarden. All live in Hawarden.

William (Bill) married Ruth Powell in 1949 and continued farming on the Bushby farm. His children were Mae born in 1950, Helen born in 1954, Fred born in 1958. They moved to Kalispell, Mt. in 1962 where he works in a machine shop. His third daughter, Brenda was born there in 1963.

Daisy Bushby married Herbert Worcester. Their children were: Orval born in 1908, Delbert born in 1910, Forrest born in 1912, Jean born in 1915, Lila born in 1917, Carol born in 1920, Beulah born in 1922, Fred born in 1924 and Wyoma born in 1927. They farmed a few years west of Craig, moving to Carter, S.D. about 1909.

William Jasper Bushby’s youngest brother, Levi who was born at Shullsburg, Wi. In 1860, married Barbara Brunskill in 1885. In 1889 he bought the farm now owned by John W.H. Van Wyhe, where he farmed for many years. In 1917 he moved to Hecla, S.D. three children were born: Lena in 1887, LeRoy in 1870 and Della in 1892.

In closing, I must say that of all the Bushbys that once lived in the Ireton area, the only ones remaining are Harry living southeast of Ireton, Jack living southwest of town, and Jack’s 3 sons living in Hawarden.

WILLIAM J. BUSHBY DIED 1914
Alton Democrat
5-2-1914
Wm. Bushby, one of the oldest settlers of this section of Sioux county, passed away at his home two miles south of Ireton last Thursday evening, after lying in an unconscious state for several days. He was nearly eighty years of age and had resided here for thirty years. His death was due to a general break-down incident to age. He had been in feeble health for a year or more but confined to his bed only about a week. Mr. Bushby was an old soldier, having been a member of Co. I 3d Wisconsin volunteers. He spent most of his four years in the army in and near Washington and was a member of the Signal Corps. During the war he was in the battle of Gettysburg and other bloody engagements, but was never wounded. While in the army he contracted chronic dysentery from which he has been a life-long sufferer.
He is survived by his aged wife, four sons, who are living at or near home and two daughters one living at home and the other in South Dakota. He was a member of the Ireton G. A, R. Post. The funeral was held from the home Sunday afternoon. Rev. Mark Masters officiating. His daughter, Mrs. Worcester, of South Dakota arrived home Thursday evening an hour after he passed away; Mrs. Bushby kept up-well as long as Mr. Bushby was living, but the strain was, too great and she has been bedfast ever since, and grave doubts are entertained as to her welfare.

SARAH BUSHBY (1839-1923)
Hawarden Independent of Dec 27, 1923
Death of Pioneer Lady
Mrs. William J. Bushby passed away about 9 o'clock on Christmas morning at her home, three miles south of Ireton, following an illness of several months duration. The immediate cause of her death was pneumonia, although she suffered a stroke some months ago and has been bedfast since that time and due to her advanced years did not possess power of resistance sufficient to successfully combat the acute attack of pneumonia
Funeral services were held at 2 o'clock this afternoon at the home, conducted by Rev. J. L. DeWitt, pastor of the Ireton M. E. church, and interment was made in the Ireton cemetery.
Grandma Bushby was about 84 years of age and was one of the real pioneers of this vicinity, locating on the farm south of Ireton about forty years ago. Her husband passed away some ten years ago. For a number of years her son, Walker Bushby and family, have resided on the farm and made a home for her.
She is survived by four sons and two daughters, William, Chris, Elmer, Walker and Miss Anna Bushby, all of whom reside in the vicinity of Ireton, and Mrs. Daisy Worcester of Witten, S. D. The sympathy of the community is extended to the members of the bereaved family in their sorrow.
Note: Sarah Bushby born 12 May 1839 Shullsburg WI died 1923 buried Pleasant Hill cemetery Ireton IA as listed in the Sioux County cemetery Index. Found family info on ancestry.com She was Sarah Jane Bateman born 1839 died Dec 25, 1923 She was married Feb 20, 1866 Elizabeth IL. She may have been the daughter of George Bateman 1806 England and Ann Walker Bateman 1807 England living in Elizabeth IL in 1860.

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