Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Bush, Joshua ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com November 10, 2007, 12:15 am Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County JOSHUA BUSH. Among the leading citizens of Jackson Township the name of Mr. Bush is one which deserves mention in a work of this character. He is an active and enterprising farmer and stock-dealer; a man of intelligent ideas, liberal views and strict moral worth; while the confidence reposed in him by his fellow-citizens is manifested by his selection to serve in various positions of trust and honor. His political opinions bring him into affiliation with the Republican party, whose county conventions he has attended as a delegate. In 1890 he was chosen census enumerator of the township, and at another time he served as township collector. The appointment of postmaster at Elwood was conferred upon him in December, 1898, and he has since filled the position, displaying in it the same energy, efficiency and wise judgment characteristic of him in every relation of life. Mr. Bush was born in New York state September 12, 1845, a son of William and Emily (Bentley) Bush, and a grandson of Joshua Bentley, Sr., an agriculturist of New York, and a Presbyterian in religious belief. His father, who was a native of Pennsylvania, was reared in New York and engaged in farming there for some years. In 1847 he came to Illinois and bought a farm in Will County. For thirty years he was actively engaged in the improvement of the land. His industry was great, and he was classed among the best farmers of the county. Devoting his time closely to his private affairs, he had little leisure for participation in politics, and no desire to serve in official capacities. However, he has always taken a warm interest in matters pertaining to the welfare of the people, and even now, when ninety years of age, he still retains much of his mental vigor and his hearty interest in national issues. Until recent years he was a Democrat, but now gives his influence for the Prohibition party. While serving as highway commissioner it was his aim to improve the condition of the roads in his towTnship. In 1879 he retired from his farm and settled in Elwood, where he has since made his home. He is a member of the Methodist Church of that place. By the marriage of William Bush to Miss Bentley, of New York, four children were born, namely: Eli, a farmer living near Wilmington, this county; Rhulof, of Ackley, Iowa; Mathew; and Joshua. Rhulof and Mathew were soldiers in the Civil war, and the former, who was a member of the Twentieth Illinois Infantry, was disabled by a wound at Shiloh; while the latter was killed in the battle of Chickamauga, in September, 1863. Mrs. Emily (Bentley) Bush was born in New York state about 1820. She was a lady of great strength of character, a devoted Christian, a good mother, friend and neighbor. Her death occurred January 16, 1888. When less than seventeen years of age the subject of this sketch enlisted, July 26, 1862, in Company G, One Hundredth Illinois Infantry, and with his regiment went to the front, where he took a part in the various battles of his division. He participated in the battles of Stone River and Chickamauga and the Atlanta campaign. At the battle of Franklin, November 30, 1863, he was wounded, and from there sent to the hospital at Nashville, where he remained for two months, then returned to his regiment. He was in East Tennessee at the time of Lee's surrender in April, 1865, and was then sent back to Nashville, later being ordered to Chicago, where he was mustered out in June, 1865. On his return home at the close of the war Mr. Bush began farming, an occupation in which he has met with success; he has been engaged in raising horses, cattle and hogs, and has made a specialty of buying horses in connection with Mr. Stoddard, of New York. His prosperity is to be attributed to his energy and industry, backed by a good share of common sense. In his manners he is plain and straightforward, genial in his intercourse with friends, and of a generous, kindly spirit. His army life is held in remembrance and the old associations are perpetuated through his connection with the Grand Army Post. On New Year's day of 1867 Mr. Bush married Margaret R., daughter of John Grant, a pioneer of 1834, in Will County. Mr. Grant was born in Scotland, and after settling in this county became a large farmer, as well as a prominent man of affairs. He was a son of John Grant, Sr., a farmer of Scotland, and a member of an old Scotch Presbyterian family. He was the first of the family to seek a home in America, although about 1850 three of his brothers joined him in Will County. At the time of immigrating, in 1834, he was eighteen years of age. For a few months he traveled in search of a location. Coming to Illinois, he was employed as a sub-contractor on the Illinois and Michigan canal. In 1838 he bought property at Reed's Grove, purchasing the first farm opened in Jackson Township. On that place he began farming and stock-raising. Subsequently he became the owner of several farms, and at the time of his death was well-to-do. He held a number of local offices, including that of justice of the peace. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1854 he died of the cholera, aged thirty-eight years and six months. By his first wife he had a son, William C., now living in Elwood, this county. For his second wife he married Adaline, daughter of Thomas Frazier, and a native of Greenbrier County, W. Va. After the death of her father in 1834 she accompanied her mother and the other children from West Virginia to this county, settling at Forked Creek, Wesley Township, where her mother died in 1845. Mrs. Grant was a woman of noble Christian character, a devoted wife and mother, and a kind neighbor. She died December 5, 1880. Four children were born of Mr. Grant's second marriage. Of these Mary A. died of the cholera in 1854, when nine years old. John A. and James M. reside in Joliet. Margaret R., the only surviving daughter, was born in the house where she still resides. She is a lady of marked strength of character, a faithful member of the Methodist Church, and a member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, being in thorough sympathy with the efforts of this organization to put down the liquor traffic. Other worthy movements receive her sympathy and active aid. In all her husband's labors she has been his counselor, and not a little of his success is due to her assistance. They are the parents of six children now living: Ella M., who is her father's deputy in the post-office; Eva M., who is teaching school; Harry E., a farmer; Lulu L., Florence and Arthur. Two children, Albert and Lois, died when small. Additional Comments: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/bush1032gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 7.4 Kb