William R. Bush 

             A man successful in business, through individual energy intelligence and uprightness, is a benefit to the community in which he lives.

             William R. Rush(sic), the subject of this sketch, belonged to that class. He was born at Moores Hill, Dearborn County, Indiana, July 18, 1824. His father’s name was John Dean Bush and his mother’s maiden name, Elizabeth Winnings.  In his earlier years, his father learned and followed the trade of a carpenter, but subsequently became a minister and devoted himself to that calling to the end of his days. HE was an earnest student of the Bible and thoroughly familiar with it.  In his calling as a minister he moved from place to place along the Ohio River. Both the parents belonged to long-lived families, and both lived to advanced age.  There were born to them eleven children, who, leaving the old home, settled in different parts of the country, and engaged in various callings with reasonable success.

             William R. Bush had but little opportunity for education, and it was one of the serious regrets of his life and his opportunities had been so limited.  He was obliged to educate himself throughout his life, which he did by reading and by keen observation of men and things.  When a mere boy, he left home with some other lads, and started down the Ohio River with a view to supporting himself, and in the hope of making a fortune.  He met with many disappointments, and misfortunes, but, on the whole, considered this adventure the foundation of his subsequent successful business career. He came to Peoria in the ‘30s, and engaged in brick-making, establishing a yard of his own, became interested in coal mines, and, subsequently, went into the distilling business at Fort Madison, Iowa, which he carried on for several years.  Then returning to Peoria, he engaged in the same business with C.C. Clarke, under the name of Clarke & Bush Distillery Company.  This business he continued for some years, but subsequently established a distillery of his own in South Peoria, which was operated successfully, under the name of the Bush & Brown Distilling Company.  In this business he was very successful and accumulated quite a fortune.  The business carried on was that of the distillation of spirits and alcohol.  The company did not engage in the manufacture of any finished goods for personal use.

             Mr. Bush always interested himself in the development of Peoria; was one of the few men who constructed the Main Street car line.  He also erected several buildings in the city in addition to his pleasant home upon the bluff.  The later years of his life he spent in traveling and acquiring information, thus becoming familiar with all parts of his own country.  He never united with any church, but always was liberal in his theology, and believed in all that was good in the churches and in the schools, and did what he could to foster these institutions in the City of Peoria, believing that, through them the moral and intellectual standing of the city was elevated.  In politics, he was a Democrat of the somewhat liberal stripe, and not so influenced by his political views as to prevent him, on all occasions, from voting in municipal affairs for the men he believed best fitted to discharge the duties of the positions for which they were nominated.

             He was married, in 1824, to Melvira Kindred, by whom he had two children: Frances L. Bush (now Brown) and Edna J. Bush.  His wife died, and, in 1856, he married, as his second wife, Annie B. Brush, to whom four children were born, two girls and two boys: Harriet A, Lucy I, William C. and John D.  His second wife was descended from the Choate family, a name famous, particularly in the legal and literary world.

             While Mr. Bush was in business, he devoted himself earnestly and conscientiously to it, and in every branch of business in which he engaged, he was a success.

             He was fond of companionship, genial, and pleasant in his disposition, kindly in all his instincts and acts.  He made and retained people as his friends and died regretted by all to whom he was well known.  He loved Peoria, the city of his adoption, becoming more and more attached as time went on, and often expressed himself as living in as delightful a spot as fell to the lot of man.  Unlike some others, he was loyal to the city and anxious for its improvement and development.  He always encouraged capitalists and business men to settle here, believing in the future of the city. Mr. Bush died January 8, 1889. 

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