Marion County, West Virginia Biography of Elbert Willis BUSH ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Sherry Neff , March 2000 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. 381, 382 Bio: Elbert Willis Bush, Marion County Elbert Willis Bush. Prominent among the public officials who are contributing to the civic welfare and advancement of Huntington stands Elbert Willis Bush, city commissioner of public utilities, public buildings and grounds. He has held some city position regularly since 1915, during which time he has established an excellent record for conscientious and constructive work, and in addition to being well known in public life is a prominent figure in fraternal circles, particularly in the Knights of Pythias. Mr Bush was born February 15, 1878, at Sabina, Ohio, the only son and child of Owen an Mary (Fenner) Bush.l His father was born in Clinton County, Ohio, and resided near Sabina all his life, devoting himself without interruption to the pursuits of agriculture, in which he achieved success. He was a republican in his political views, and his religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he was an active worker. He died at Sabina in 1915. Mr Bush married Miss Mary Fenner, who was born in 1857, in Adams County, Ohio and died near Sabina in 1887. Elbert Willis Bush was educated in the rural schools of Clinton County, Ohio, and prepared for a business career by attendance at the Buckeye Business College at Sidney, Ohio, in 1896 and 1897. For two years after graduation he served as an instructor in this college, and in 1903 came to Huntington, where he entered the employ of the Huntington Cold Storage and Commission Company in the general offices. Later he resigned this position to accept one with T. H. Clay, a brokerage commission merchant, with whom he was employed in office work. In 1915 Mr Bush was appointed assistant city treasurer of Huntington by the city board of commissioners, and filled that office for three years. Next he was appointed city auditor, and held this office one year exactly. In the meanwhile he was elected a city commissioner of Huntington, in May, 1919, for a term of three years, his term of office expiring the second Monday in June 1922. He is a commissioner of public utilities, public buildings and grounds, and as before noted, has established an excellent record. All those having business at Mr. Bush's office in City Hall, Eighth Street and Fifth Avenue, have found him courteous, obliging and prompt, and he has succeeded in making and retaining numerous friends in the regular course of his duties. He is a republican in politics. Mr. Bush has made a hobby of fraternal organizations, and is prominently known in this connection, particularly the Knights of Pythias order. He was knighted in Huntington Lodge No. 33, Knights of Pythias in June 1906, elected chancellor commander in December of that year, received the Grand Lodge rank at HUNTINGTON in 1907, and in December, 1907 was elected master of finance, with which office he was connected until 1912, when he was elected keeper of records and seal, a position he has held since. He is the only grand chancellor to fill this office during his term, but the subordinate lodge would not release him. He served as deputy grand chancellor in 1912-13, was a representative to the Grand Lodge at the session held at Charleston in 1912, was made chairman of the committee on reports by Grand Chancellor Sam R. Nuzum, and elected grand outer guard in 1914, after which he advanced each year until 1918, when he was elected grand chancellor at Clarksburg. Mr. Bush is a member of Shiraz Temple No. 29, Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan, of Charleston, having joined at a ceremonial held at Huntington in 1911. He likewise holds membership in Lewis Temple No. 22, Pythian Sisters; Huntington Lodge No. 313, B.P.O.E.; Mohawl Tribe No. 11, I.O.R.M.; Huntington Council No. 190, J.O.U.A.M.; Huntington Council No. 53, U.C.T., of which he served as secretary for several years; Huntington No. 347, L.O.O.M., and Ivanhoe Castle No. 13, K.G.E. He has other connections of a business, social and civic character, and is a member of the Huntington Chamber of Commerce. His religious connection is with the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church. On January 9, 1918, at Covington, Kentucky, Mr. Bush was united in marriage with Mrs. Mamie (Roberts) Hardwicke, daughter of Frank N. and Mary Roberts, the latter now deceasedand the former a resident of Hamlin, Lincoln County, West Virginia. Mr. Roberts, who is now ninety years of age, is living in retirement after a longand successful career as a merchant. To Mr. and Mrs. Bush there has come one child, Mary Virginia, who was born at Huntington September 2, 1919.