Bush, Peter B.

PETER B. BUSH.

The early representatives of the Bush family emigrated from Holland, though little is known of their history by the descendants now residing in Monroe. Henry, the grandfather of Peter B., was a native of Orange County, and the father of the following sons and daughters: Samuel, John, Peter H., Henry, William, Martha, Rebecca, Rachel, and Margaret. Peter H., the third in order of birth, was born in northern New Jersey, Nov. 11, 1783, and later became a resident of Ramapo, Rockland Co., N.Y., where he pursued his vocation of millwright. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary, daughter of James Smith, of Monroe, to whom were born children named respectively Matilda, Mary Ann, Henry, James, and Margaret. By a second union, with Miss Abigail Smith, a sister of the first Mrs. Bush, his children were Elizabeth, Samuel J., Peter B., Nathaniel D., Rachel, Sarah, Eleanor, Cornelius, Arminda, Phebe, and Hudson. Mr. Bush survived until May 4, 1836, and died in his fifty- third year. The birth of his son Peter B. occurred June 8, 1820, in Orange County. The family at a late period removed to a farm in the vicinity of the Greenwood Iron- Works, where he availed himself of the exceedingly limited opportunities for education which the district afforded. The death of his father, while the children were still in their growing years, entailed a heavy responsibility upon Peter B. He, however, manfully accepted the situation, and thus added greatly to the comfort and prosperity of the family. In 1853 he purchased the homestead farm and became its sole owner. In 1862, Mr. Bush changed his residence, and became the proprietor of the estate on which he at present resides. He was married, in 1858, to Miss Harriet, daughter of David Ford, of Monroe, and has three children,— Minnie, H. Greeley, and Samuel. Mr. Bush is a Republican in politics, having been in early years an Old-Line Whig, and cast his first vote for Henry Clay, in 1844. He manifests much interest in the success of his party and its principles, but declines any participation in the official honors which accompany its victories. Mr. Bush affiliates with the Methodist Episcopal Church at Monroe, of which Mrs. Bush is a member.