Thomas J. Bushell Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1146-1147 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.


	THOMAS J. BUSHELL, junior member of the well-known firm of Roberts 
& Bushell, proprietors of the White Seal cigar factory in the city of 
Sioux Falls, the largest concern of the sort in the state, is one of the 
popular and representative business men of the state, and has been a 
resident of Sioux Falls for more than a score of years, while for 
seventeen years he held the position of engineer at the state 
penitentiary here. 

	Mr. Bushell is a native of Birmingham, England, where he was born 
on the 4th of July, 1860, being a son of J. G. and Sarah (Bell) Bushell, 
who still remain in England, his father being a saddler by vocation. The 
subject secured his educational training in the excellent schools. of 
his native land, and in the city of Birmingham learned the trade of 
steam-fitting, having become a skilled artisan in the line prior to his 
immigration to America. He came to the United States in 1879, in April 
of which year he located in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he 
was employed at his trade for some time, and later was similarly engaged 
in the city of Chicago. In 1882 he came to Sioux Falls, under contract 
with a leading Chicago concern, to take charge of the steam-fitting in 
the South Dakota penitentiary and the Cataract hotel, and after the 
completion of the work he was appointed engineer at the penitentiary, 
where he continued to give most effective service for the long period of 
seventeen years, at the expiration of which he resigned in order to 
engage in his present line of business. In May, I902, Mr. Bushell 
entered into partnership with John H. Roberts, a practical cigarmaker, 
and organized the firm of Roberts & Bushell, and in the comparatively 
brief intervening period they have built up a large and prosperous 
business, their trade ramifying throughout the state, while they 
manufacture cigars of the highest grade, employing the most skilled 
workmen and utilizing select stock. Their large and well-equipped 
factory is located at 328 South Phillips avenue, and the concern figures 
as one of the important commercial and industrial enterprises of the 
city, while the members of the firm are known as reliable, wide-awake 
and progressive business men, commanding the confidence and esteem of 
all with whom they have dealings. 

	In politics Mr. Bushell accords an uncompromising allegiance to 
the Republican party, in whose ranks he has been for a number of years a 
most active and effective worker, being prominent in the party councils 
in the state, and being at the present time a representative of 
Minnehaha county on the state central committee, while for the past 
several years he has been a delegate to the successive state conventions 
of his party, as well as to minor conventions. In 1900 he was elected a 
member of the city council, and was chosen as his own successor in 1902, 
so that at the time of this writing he is serving his second term, doing 
all in his power to further the interests of clean and conservative 
municipal government and being animated by a distinctive public spirit, 
so that he proves a valuable member of the body. He is one of the 
leading members of the Ancient Order of United Workmen in the state, 
being affiliated with Jasper Lodge, No. 21, and in 1900 and 1901 he had 
the distinction of serving as department grand master of the order in 
the state. He is also identified with Sioux Falls Lodge, No. 9, 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and with Sioux Falls Aerie, No. 318, 
Fraternal Order of Eagles, of which he is president at the time of this 
writing. 

	On the 28th of May, 1884, Mr. Bushell was united in marriage to 
Miss Lena Haugen, a daughter of Otto and Anna Haugen, her father being 
one of the prominent farmers of Turner county, this state, while she was 
born in Norway. Mr. and Mrs. Bushell have one child, Florence Belle, who 
was born on the 5th of August, 1889, and who is one of the popular young 
women in her social circles.