Ralph Bush

BUSH ANDERS PIDGEON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/19/2010 at 21:18:31

Woodbury County History 1984

Ralph Bush
By Ralph Bush

Ralph Bush, oldest child of William Fredrick and Emma (Anders) Bush, was born in Banner Township, Woodbury County, Iowa, on October 3, 1909. He went to school in Woodbury County, graduating from Moville High School in the class of 1928. He also had six months of business college at Des Moines and Sioux City, Iowa. He was a 4H member for seven years, receiving several medals and a trip to a 4H short course at Ames, Iowa, in 1924. He also won a trip to the Fourth 4H National Club Congress at Chicago, Illinois, as the outstanding 4H Fat Pig member in the state of Iowa. The trip was given by James F Toy of Sioux City, Iowa.

Ralph farmed with his father until his father’s death July 6, 1936. At that time Ralph took over the farm with the help of his mother who passed away February 17, 1980. He can remember in the 1930’s when his father only got $2.35 per cwt. For hogs and 90 cents per cwt. For a 700 lb. bull, and bought good 400 lb. calves for $2.65 per cwt. Ralph is a Farm Bureau member, serves as director of Banner Township for years, and also was on the Board of Directors of the Woodbury County Extension Service.

Ralph married Naomi Elliott Burkhead Pidgeon on June 30, 1950, at the Moville Federated Church in Moville, Iowa. Naomi was from Sioux City, Iowa. To them was born a son, William Ralph, on March 10, 1952. All are living on the Bush farm west of Moville, Iowa.

Ralph has been a member of the Sioux City, Iowa, and North American Gladiolus Society and a member of the Woodbury County Fair Board. He has exhibited at the Woodbury County Fair for over 50 years. He enjoys his baking, cooking, canning, and growing of flowers.

Mrs. Bush graduated from Central High, Sioux City, Iowa, in the class of 1927, then studied music at Wayne State College, Wayne, Nebraska, for two years. She also has a daughter, Donna Marie Pidgeon, born May 9, 1939, from a former marriage.

Naomi Bush’s father was George Washington Burkhead, born November 26, 1858, in Benton County, Iowa, son of John W and Amanda E (Ferguson) Burkhead. He was known as the leading architect, mason, and contractor of Sioux City, having come form Sac City, Iowa, in 1890. He was of German lineage. He passed away May 2, 1931.

Donna Marie Pidgeon attended school at Sioux City, Lawton, and graduated from Woodbury Central at Moville, class of 1957. She is now living in Sioux City. Donna Marie Pidgeon Callahan married Larry Shaver of Sioux City on May 2, 1982. She has three sons form her former marriage: Richard Brian, born May 7, 1961; Steven Joseph, born March 18, 1962; and Jon Bradley, born October 9, 1964.

Richard attended school at Moville and Lawton and graduated from Heelan High School, class of 1980. He is employed by Chesterman’s in Sioux City, where he makes his home. Steven attended school at Moville and Lawton, and graduated form Heelan, class of 1981. He is now employed at First National Bank of Sioux City. Steven married Becky Lambing of Sioux City, December 4, 1982; a son, Chad Steven, was born to them in 1983. Jon attended school at Lawton and graduated from East High School, class of 1983. He attends college at Iowa City, Iowa, and is a member of the Iowa National Guard. Mr and Mrs Shaver was employed at Chesterman’s Bottling Works in Sioux City.

William Ralph Bush graduated from Woodbury Central at Moville, class of 1970. He was in 4H club work for eight years. He attended Western Iowa Tech College, Sioux City, taking a course in Farm Equipment Mechanics and graduating August 9, 1971. He received a Certificate of Merit for completing a course on 8430-8630 John Deere tractor systems at Moline, Illinois, in 1976. Working at all sorts of mechanical jobs, he became a foreman at Missouri Valley Machinery, Sioux City, before opening up his own business at Moville, Iowa, called Moville Farm Equipment & Truck Repair.

William married Chris Lamb of Salix, Iowa, on June 1, 1974, at Salix Methodist Church. They have tow sons: Joshua William born March 10, 1977; and Jason Christopher, born November 12, 1979. Joshua is in the first grade at Woodbury Central School. They are members of the United Methodist Church of Moville, Iowa, and live in a trailer home on his father’s farm west of Moville.