Bush, Cyrus

BUSH, BOWERS, MILLER, HAGLER, WALTERS, BABB

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 8/14/2020 at 14:09:56

Cyrus Bush, farmer and stock-raiser, section 36, township 77, range 8, lying within the civil township of English River, came to Iowa in the fall of 1853, and to his present farm April 7, 1854. He was born in Concord Township, Fayette Co., Ohio, Feb. 18, 1818, and is the son of Leonard and Catherine (Bowers) Bush. The pioneer schools of his native State gave him knowledge of the common branches of an English education, and the work of the farm on which he was reared developed physical endurance which has stood him well in life. Growing to man’s estate, on the 20th of September, 1842, he wedded Miss Mary Miller, also a native of Fayette County, Ohio, and daughter of George and Susan (Hagler) Miller. Five children were born of this marriage: Noah, born in Fayette County, Ohio, April 16, 1844, is now engaged in farming in Seventy-Six Township; he married Miss Mary Scribner, by whom he has eight children, four boys and four girls; Delitha, born in Fayette County, Ohio, Oct. 16, 1847, is now the wife of Frank Curry, and is living near What Cheer, Iowa; they have eight children, three boys and five girls, all living but one son; three children of Mr. and Mrs. Bush died in infancy.

Mrs. Bush died May 29, 1850, and Sept. 22, 1850, Mr. Bush wedded Miss Mary B. Walters, a native of Clinton County, Ohio, born Nov. 2, 1824, and the daughter of John and Rachel (Babb) Walters. Nine children were born of the second marriage, six boys and three girls, all of whom are living at this date: Isaiah, born in Fayette County, Ohio, Dec. 5, 1851, grew to manhood in Washington County, Iowa, married Ida Mauck, and is now engaged in farming in Jackson Township, they have one child, a son. Emma, born Jan. 24, 1853, in Fayette County, Ohio, grew to womanhood in Washington County, Iowa, and is now the wife of Prof. S. F. Wright, of Keota, Iowa; they have two sons. Otha E., born Nov. 8, 1854, in Washington County, Iowa, married Ida Boyer, by whom he has two daughters; they live near Keota, in Keokuk County; Dennis S., born Sept. 1, 1856, resides at home; Ella, born April 4, 1858, is the wife of Samson Babb, and now resides in Cedar Township, Washington County; they have six children living, three boys and three girls. James H., born Dec. 30, 1860, married Mary E. Shields, by whom he has one child, a daughter; they reside in Denver, Col. Jacob, born Nov. 14, 1863, married Hettie Bowerscock, and is now living in English River Township; Azel W., born May 5, 1865, is now living in Correctionville, Iowa; Mary Eva, born June 11, 1868, is now the wife of Amos Durst, and is living in Jackson Township.

On the 6th day of September, 1853, Mr. Bush, with his family, left his old home in Ohio, and came by team directly to Iowa, and wintered in Marion county. In the spring of 1854, he came to English River Township, and settled upon his present farm, which consists of 471 acres of finely improved land; he had a farm of 240 acres before in the same town, and sold it. In 1857 in connection with farming, he engaged in the mercantile trade at Richmond, continuing in the same until 1861. With the exception of these four years, he has all his life been engaged in farming, and is regarded as one of the best farmers in Washington County.

In early life, Mr. Bush was a Whig, but on the formation of the Republican party he adopted its principles, and has ever since voted with that party. He has been a member of the Washington County Board of Supervisors two terms, and was a member of the board during the contracting and building of the new court-house. No taint of corruption clings to his skirt. In addition to this office, he has held the minor offices in his township, and always with satisfaction to his constituents.

In his religious views Mr. Bush is liberal, holding membership with no religious society. Mrs. Bush is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. A true man, one who ever endeavors to live up to the Golden Rule, he is well and favorably known throughout the county, and no man is more universally respected. For more than a third of a century he has been a citizen of Washington County. On his coming, almost the entire State was an unclaimed wilderness; the shriek of the iron horse had never been heard. To-day every county in the fair State is crossed by iron bands, and to every county seat huge locomotives drawing tons of living freight, daily go and come. In the work of transformation, Cyrus Bush has borne his part. All honor to such men.

A fine portrait of Mr. Bush accompanies this sketch, which cannot help being well pleasing to every reader of the ALBUM.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of Cyrus Bush, pages 495-496. Portrait found on page 494.