William Fredrick Bush

BUSH ANDERS BUNNING

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/19/2010 at 21:23:20

Woodbury County History 1984

William and Emma (Anders) Bush
By Ralph Bush

William Fredrick Bush was born November 11, 1884, in Woodbury County, Banner Township, Section 35. His father, Christ Bush, was born August 12, 1955, in Holstein, Germany. Wanting to have his freedom, he came to America in 1876, stopping first in Council Bluffs, Mills County, Iowa. He worked at various jobs there for seven years. In the spring of 1883, he married Wilhelmina Bunning of Council Bluffs, at Council Bluffs, Iowa. Wilhelmina was born April 27, 1859, in Germany. She sailed for America, in 1883, also stopping in Mills County, Council Bluffs, Iowa.

In the spring of 1883 they came to Woodbury County where he purchased a 160-acre farm in Banner Township, S.W. ¼ of Section 35. They farmed there for 30 years before retiring in 1913 and moving to Moville, Iowa. Mr Bush was a breeder of Angus cattle, a member of the Republican Party, and a charter member of the Moville Lutheran Church. They had nine children: John, William, Rose, Anna, Charly, Edward, Emma, Tillie, and Henry. Mrs. Bush passed away June 24, 1923, and Christ Bush passed away March 31, 1927.

William attended school at Hillsdale No. 7, Banner Township, and farmed with his father until 1909. He married Emma A Anders, March 25, 1909, at her parents’ home north of Lawton, Iowa. She was born in Scott County, Iowa, February 7, 1890, and went to school there. In 1898, she came to Woodbury County with her parents. Her father, Henry Anders, bought a farm in Banner Township, Section 4.

Following his marriage to Emma, William rented a 200-acre farm from his father in Banner Township, Section 35. His son, Ralph, now lives there. The house was not finished at that time so they lived with Mrs. Bush’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Anders, north of Lawton, before moving into their new home.

Their only means of travel was by horse and buggy or bobsled. A few years later he bought an enclosed surry (which is a two-seated buggy); his first car, purchased in 1913, was an Overland. It was put on blocks and covered during the winter months as there were no roads. Lighting was by candle or lamp light. They raised and canned most of their own food, butchered their own hogs, and cured and smoked the meat. Their only entertainment was house dances and family gatherings where cards were played. Corn cobs and coal were their only sources of heat.

Their four children were: Ralph William, born October 3, 1909; Helen Emma, born August 23, 1911; Inez Irene, born September 2, 1918; and Clifford Wesley, born July 28, 1929. Ralph married Naomi (Burkhead) Pidgeon; Helen married Harlan Higginbotham; Clifford married Darlene Mlejnek. Their stories are all told separately.

Inez Irene attended Moville Public School. She married Ray Chartier of Bronson in the late 1930’s. They farmed in the Bronson area for years before retiring and moving to Bronson, Iowa. Their three sons are: Murvyn Darrel, born November 5, 1935; Maylon Ray, born July 11, 1942; and Milford, born in 1951. Murvyn graduated from Lawton-Bronson High School, class of 1954, and is now employed at a school in Fremont, Nebraska, where he lives. Maylon, 1 1960 graduate of Lawton-Bronson, lives in Sioux City, Iowa, and is employed by the Sioux City Street Department.

Following her divorce, in the mid-1960’s, Inez married Ray Gladwell of Missouri Valley, Iowa. He passed away in 1969. He was a mechanic. Mrs. Gladwell worked in a Fremont, Nebraska, hospital. She is now retired and living in Fremont.

William Fredrick Bush passed away July 6, 1936. He was a member of the Republican Party, the Farm Bureau, and the I.O.O.F. and Rebekah Lodge. Emma (Anders) Bush passed away February 17, 1980.