USA > Delaware > Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. II > Part 59
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the Golden Jubilee of the Very Rev. Father Reilly.
On the death of Father Reilly, the young priest removed to St. Denis' Church, Ga- lena, Md. While at St. Mary's, the hearty support given to him by the people enabled him to make improvements, chief among which might be mentioned the erection of a beautiful marble altar, and the furnishing of the sanctuary, together with the handsomest vestment case in the city. Even in Galena, his faithful parishioners of St. Mary's helped him in all of his undertakings, so that in the space of eighteen months he was enabled to pay off about $2,400 of the debt resting upon that mission. About this time, Bishop Beek- er was transferred to Savannah, and was suc- ceeded, in Wilmington, by Bishop Curtis. One of the first aets of Bishop Curtis was the reappointment of Father Flynn to St. Mary's, where he labored in his usual energetic style until 1894, when he was appointed pastor of St. Patrick's church, his present charge.
In 1891, at the request of Bishop Curtis, Father Flynn and Father Bermingham en- tered into a contest for the benefit of a bazaar which the bishop arranged for diocesan pur- poses. The popularity of Father Flynn was emphatically attested by the fact that in a few weeks his friends raised for him the mag- nificent sum of $13,840, while his equally popular competitor collected the sum of $10,- 000. The trip to Europe, the prize offered by the bishop, gave Father Flynn almost a national reputation, as it was the greatest con- test on record. Father Flynn has made many improvements at St. Patrick's church. His first effort was the erection of a fine parochial school, which cost about $12,000. Last year he remodeled and enlarged the rectory at a cost of $5,000, besides making many other improvements. Father Flynn has always taken a prominent and active part in all pub- lie questions, and is one of the most respected men in the community. He is an earnest and forcible speaker. Last year his Alma Mater, Mt. St. Mary's, conferred upon him, in course, the degree of LE. D., his eminence Cardinal Gibbons presenting him with the diploma. In November, 1898, the Rev. Dr. Flynn was invited by the council of Mt. St. Mary's Col- lege, to join the Faculty. After some con- sideration, realizing his need of rest, Father Flynn accepted the invitation, and resigned
the pastorate of St. Patrick's, November 16, 1898, the resignation to take effect after Jan- uary 22, 1899. All the improvement- he has made, at an expenditure of about $23,000, are entirely free of debt.
CHRISTOPH BUSHI, ancestor of the Bush family of Wilmington, Del., was born in Kalenberg, Germany, in 1663, educated for the army in the city of Hanover, and com- manded a cavalry troop under William of Orange in 1688. He fought under that king at the battle of the Boyne. He was appointed comptroller of the revenues in Ireland in 1695, and for the remainder of his life resided in Dublin. He was married in 1700 to Eliza- beth, daughter of Rev. - Erskine, a Scottish minister; their children were: I. Ann, born in 1702, married Jolm Deputy; II. Christopher, merchant of Amsterdam, in the West India trade, married and had a large family, was the ancestor of Rev. George Bush, of New York; III. David; IV. John, partner of Christopher in the West India trade, re- sided in Jamaica, married and had children, of whom the eldest son, Christopher, came to the United States at the beginning of the Revolution, was first lieutenant in a South Carolina regiment, and was killed at Savan- nah, October 9, 1779; V. Charles. The father, Christoph Bush, died in Dublin in 1737.
DAVID BUSH, second son of Christoph and Elizabeth ( Erskine) Bush, was born Janu- ary 19, 1707, in Dublin, where he was edu- cated. With the consent of his parents, he came to America in 1728, being the first of his family to settle in the United States. He landed at Philadelphia, and shortly after came to Wilmington, then a village of a few houses, invested the money given him by his father in town lots, and became one of the leading citizens of the growing borough, for which in 1740, he was one of the petitioners for a char- ter. He became a magistrate in 1745, and held that responsible office for many years, having charge not only of the peace and good order of the town, but of its defence against the Indians, who inhabited the peninsula in great numbers; he had also a general super- vision for the Proprietor of that section of the colony which comprised the "three con- ties on the Delaware." He was a vigilant of-
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ficial, rigid in enforcing the militia law against non-combatants, forward in promoting im- provements, and in perfecting the defences of the town. In 1745, he established a ferry across the Christiana river, at the site of the present Market street bridge, with a cause- way across the marshes to the ferry. In 1748, on the rumor of invasion by a Spanish man- of-war, he called out the militia, which was commanded by his brother, Charles Bush, and with his assistance re-built and armed Fort Christina, a course which obtained the hearty approval of the colonial authorities. David Bush was first married in 1739, to Ann Broome, who died, leaving four children, in. 1743. In 1748, he married Ann Thomas; they had seven children. At the breaking out of the Revolutionary war, David Bush zeal- ously espoused the cause of the colonies, and would gladly have joined the Continental army, had not his advanced age forbidden it. He, however, encouraged his sons to enlist. Three of them, Lewis, John and George, did so when the first call for volunteers was is- sued.
Lewis Bush, the eldest, had just completed his legal studies at York, Pa. He was soon promoted to the rank of major, and was with the forces under Gen. Washington until the battle of the Brandywine; in that battle he Was mortally wounded, and was carried with the re- treating army first to Chester, then to Darby, where he died; he was buried at Kingsessing meeting-house. George Bush, who was in business for himself when he enlisted, was also promoted to the rank of major, and he also was wounded at Brandywine, but recovered, and served throughout the war. He was brevetted and made paymaster in 1779, held the office until 1781, and was then made col- lector of the port at Wilmington, in which office he continued for a number of years. John Bush was but twenty years old, and had just finished his education when he enlisted in the Third Regiment, and was commissioned captain. He also was in the battle of Brandy- wine, It was unhurt, and served during the war. He married after the close of the war, and became a resident of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, his wife's native place. Their second son, William S. Bush, entered the U. S. Marine service as second lieutenant, July 3, 1809, was promoted to first lieutenant, March 4, 1811, and was killed on board the
frigate Constitution during the engagement with the Guerriere, August 19, 1812. He was shot through the head while preparing, among the foremost, to board the enemy's ves- sel. Ilis untimely death was universally re- gretted, and called forth on many public oc- casions the warmest encomiums on his worth and gallantry. As an expression of this feel- ing, in behalf of the country at large, Con- gress ordered, January 29, 1813, that a silver medal should be struck, and presented to his nearest male relative. A tablet to his memory is to be placed in the City Ilall of Philadelphia, by the Masonic Lodge, of which he was a member. David Bush, 2, youngest son of David Bush, was a physician, practiced at Wilmington, and died in 1799, in his thirty- sixth year. He was a skilful physician, and a kind and generous man.
CHARLES BUSHI, youngest son of Chris- toph and Elizabeth ( Erskine) Bush, Was born in Dublin, November 15, 1717. He re- ceived a liberal education. After the death of his father, Charles Bush and his sister, Ann Bush, emigrated to America, and resided in Wilmington, with their brother, David Bush. The services of Charles Bush have already been mentioned in the account of his elder brother. He maintained the organization and discipline of the militia for many years, and was commissioned an ensign in 1747, though never required for actual service. With his brother David, he signed the letter apprising Gov. Anthony Palmer of their joint action in the matter of rebuilding and arming Fort Christina. He became engaged in the West India trade. In 1739, Charles Bush married Rebecca Scott, whose father was a prominent citizen and property holder of Wil- mington, and presented the young couple with a lot on the corner of Second and King streets, on which Mr. Bush built a frame dwelling. This property is still in the pos- session of his descendants. The children of Charles Bush and his wife were: I. Samuel; HI. Rebecca. Mrs. Bush died in 1755, and her husband, leaving his children to the care of his brother, sailed for the West Indies, where he died of yellow fever.
SAMUEL BUSHI, son of Charles and Re- becca (Scott) Bush, was born in Wilmington, December 27, 1747. ITis unele, David Bush,
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gave him a liberal education. He made sev- eral trips to the West Indies between the ages of seventeen and twenty-one; during a part of that time, he was captain of a brig. He es- tablished, in 1774, the first regular freight line on the Delaware river, connecting Wil- mington with Philadelphia. This business, which soon extended so as to make the line the carrier of the products of a large part of eastern Pennsylvania as well as of Delaware, is still held by his descendants. During the Revolution, Mr. Bush transported supplies for the Continental army; at one time, he was so closely pursued by British gunboats that he was compelled to scuttle his vessel to prevent its capture. Samuel Bush was a prosperous man, a generous promoter of the growth and improvement of Wilmington. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and was actively interested in the erection of the Old Stone house of worship, at Fifth and Walnut streets; he was an office-bearer in the congre- gation that assembled there, and for many years its treasurer. Samuel Bush was married in 1775 to Ann, daughter of Andrew McKee, a Scotch Presbyterian, an early settler and a large property holder of the vicinity of Wil- mington. Of their eleven children, six were boys. Samuel Bush was noted throughout the state, and beyond its limits, as an eminent- ly just and honorable man. His death, at the age of eighty-three, was generally lamented.
DAVID BUSH, 2, eldest son of Samuel and Ann (MeKee) Bush, was born February 10, 1776, and educated in Wilmington. At the age of sixteen, he was placed in charge of the receipt and delivery of freight on one of the vessels of the line above described, and three years later, became captain of a vessel of that line, which position he held for many years. Ile became his father's partner in 1804, and when, in 1820, Samuel Bush retired from business, David Bush and his brother George took the whole management of the line, which was now the carrier of most of the products of the southern part of Lancaster and Chester counties. The sons sustained in every respect the reputation of their father's excellent business methods and fair dealing. David Bush was long a member of the City Council, and was active in the directorship of banks, insurance companies and other public business organizations of Wihnington. David
Bush was married in 1804 to Martha, daugh- ter of Matthew Potter, of Bridgeton, N. J. Their married life was long and beautiful. One in Christian faith, one in uprightness and in beneficence, this union was productive only of good, to all connected with them as well as to the excellent couple themselves. David and Martha Bush became comumicant mem- bers of the "Old Stone" Presbyterian church during the ministry of Rev. Dr. Read, and al- ways honored their profession by a consistent life. With David Bush, convictions of duty and action were indissolubly united. An in- stance of this was his summary abandonment .of the trade in whiskey, during the general temperance agitation of 1830. Under the in- fluence of certain sermons preached by Rev. E. W. Gilbert, then pastor of the "Old Stone," he went one night from the church to his warehouses, and before midnight had destroyed all his large stoek of liquor, empty- ing the contents of the hogsheads into the gut- ter. This traffic had formed a considerable part of his business, the whiskey being manu- factured in southern Pennsylvania, and shipped by Mr. Bush to various ports. He never resumed that branch of his business, nor would suffer alcoholic beverages to be used in his house. David Bush was, like his father, scrupulously honorable, and took care to impress his principles of uprightness upon his children. Compassionate and generous to those in distress, he had no sympathy for dis- honesty or treachery. He was devoted to the interests of the church, fulfilling his duties as trustee and treasurer with diligent care; to the ministry, his house was always open, nor was his pastor ever forgotten or neglected; the first fruits of garden and farm were always shared with him. To David Bush and his wife, no beneficent work of the church, no case of want or suffering ever appealed without meeting with a hearty and liberal response. Inheritor of his father's longevity, as well as of many of his characteristics, David Bush did not lay down his life's work until he had entered his eighty-second year. David and Martha Bush had six sons and two daughters, of whom George W. Bush is the only survivor.
GEORGE BUSH, youngest son of Samuel and Ann (MeKee) Bush, was born in 1797, in Wilmington, where he was educated and trained for business under the care of his
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father. Ilis association with his elder brother, David Bush, and their succession to the busi- ness established by their father, have already been noticed. George Bush was prudent, hon- orable and prosperous. He was for many years president of the Bank of Wilmington and Brandywine, and was active in various insurance and trust companies of Wilning- ton. Hle married four times, and died in 1863, only two of his children surviving him. Ilis fourth wife also survives, and resides in Philadelphia. George Bush was a member of the Presbyterian church.
CILARLES BUSHI, 2, eldest son of David and Martha (Potter) Bush, was born in 1805. After receiving his education in Wilmington, he was sent to Baltimore at the age of six- teen, to learn the trade of machinist, and when he attained his majority, was established in business by his father. In partnership with Jonathan Bonney, he built in 1835 the foundry and machine shop at the corner of Second and Lombard streets. Mr. Bonney dying in 1838, the firm of Bush & Lobdell was formed; they erected works at Second and Lombard streets, and were for years the larg- est manufacturers of car-wheels in the coun- try, being the inventors of the double-plate wheel, the advantages of which speedily re- commended it for general use. Charles Bush was a man of intelligence and of good judg- ment in business affairs, of strict integrity and high principle. He was married in 1829 to Ellen Coxe; of their six children, five were sons. Their only daughter, Elizabeth Me- Kane (Mrs. Henry S. McComb), is deceased. The sons are: I. Samuel, 3, born in 1831, died in 1854; II. David P., born in 1834, was for a time actively engaged in the car-wheel business with the firm of Bush & Lobdell, but latterly has lived a retired life at his home; he was married in 1856 to Ella Jefferis, has children, i. Charles, ii. Elizabeth (Mrs. Charles E. E. Whiteley), iii. Eugene; III. Charles C., born in 1838, is deceased; IV. William C., born in 1847; V. Edward, born in 1849, died in 1850. Mr. Bush took an active part in the organization of the Central Presbyterian congregation, but did not live to enjoy the re- sults of his labors. His sudden and untimely death was greatly regretted by those asso- ciated with him in the church and in bu-iness
and social relations. IIe was killed by being thrown from his carriage, in the fall of 1855.
SAMUEL BUSH, 2, second son of David and Martha (Potter) Bush, was born in 1807, and died in 1821.
DAVID BUSHI, 3, third son of David and Martha (Potter) Bush, was born in 1810. Af- ter receiving his education in Wilmington, and his preparation for business in his father's office, he was admitted to partnership at the age of twenty-one, taking the place of his uncle, George Bush; the firm now became David Bush & Son. But a very few years later, the young man's ambition led him to seek a wider field in the South, and he en- gaged in mercantile business at Port Gibson, Miss. Success encouraged him to enlarge his business by opening a house in New Orleans. But reverses came, during the general depres- sion of 1837-40, obliging him to relinquish his mercantile engagements; he then became a cotton planter, residing in Tensas parish, La. In this venture he prospered, his planta- tion being most favorably situated, and at the beginning of the war he owned many acres of land and a large number of slaves. He was a delegate to the Louisiana convention, and to the last protested against what he considered the insane folly of secession. During the war, he remained on the plantation; after the United States fleet had opened the Mississippi, a store of cotton was taken from him, of the estimated value of $100,000, for which he re- ceived from the government only fifteen per cent. Having come home in February, 1864, he was attacked with pneumonia, and died at the home of his brother, George Bush. David Bush was married in 1839 to Matilda S. Frazier, of Wilmington.
LEWIS POTTER BUSH, M. D., fourth son of David and Martha (Potter) Bush, was born in 1812, in Wilmington, and received his early education at Davenport Academy, in the same city. He was prepared for col- lege in Lancaster county, Pa., at the academy taught by Rev. Francis Latta, D. D., and entered Jefferson College, in Penn- sylvania, from which he was graduated in 1831. In the study of medicine, his preceptor was William Bowen, M. D., of Bridgeton, N. J., and he was graduated from the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania in 1835, spent six
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months in dispensary practice, sixteen months at Blockley Hospital, and then began his long and useful career as a physician of Wilming- ton. Soon after joining the Delaware State Medical Society, in 1839, he read before that body a paper on typhoid fever which excited much favorable comment. A paper prepared by him in 1850 upon the epidemic of the same disease which prevailed in Wilmington from 1847 to 1849, was in substance incorporated in an exhaustive report made to the American Medical Association upon the climatology and epidemies of Delaware. Another paper, entitled "Some Vital Statistics of the City of Wihnington," wasread by him before the State Medical Society in 1877, and presented sta- tisties of the mortality occasioned by the most serious diseases prevalent in that city from the earliest registration, in 1847, as illustrat- ing the importance of systematically register- ing births, deaths and marriages. He was for many years a trustee of Delaware College, and an active member of the Delaware Ilis- torical Society. Dr. Bush was highly es- teemed and respected by his professional brethren, by his large circle of patients, and by all who learned to know his skill and his worth as a man and as a Christian. He was elected an elder of the Hanover Street Pres- byterian church in 1850; was one of the or- ganizers of the Central Presbyterian congre- gation in 1855, when he was chosen to its el- dership. Dr. Lewis Potter Bush was married in 1839 to Maria, daughter of Morgan Jones, E-q., and granddaughter of William Hemp- hill, a prosperous merchant and shipper of Wilmington. They had seven children. Dr. Bush died suddenly, March 5, 1892. The sons of Dr. Lewis Potter and Maria (Jones) Bush are as follows: I. Lewis P., Jr., born in 1844, died in 1851; II. Alexis Kean, born in 1846, died in 1849; TIT. Eugene E., born in 1849, died in 1851; IV. James HI. J., is also deceased. Their daughters are Martha P. ( Mrs. Heury Ward), has four children living, and Florence Bush.
WILLIAM BUSH, 2, fifth son of David and Martha ( Potter) Bush, was born in 1821, and educated in Wilmington; he began busi- ness life at sixteen in the office of his brother, Charles Bush, then engaged with Mr. Bonney at their new foundry. There he enjoyed the advantages of thorough training both in bu-i-
ness methods and in mechanical work. For fifteen years he was actively and successfully engaged in the lumber business in the yard at Market street wharf, where his father es- tablished him in 1844. In 1859, he began the manufacture of morocco, in connection with G. T. Clark and I. F. Vaughan. This indus- try was then in its infancy, and was a new one for Wilmington. Mr. Bush improved upon the crude manual processes which he found in use at the time of his start in the business, by introducing machinery, which enabled him to lessen the cost of his products, while improving their quality. The goods made by William Bush & Co. are now favor- ably known among the best purchasers throughout the country. Mr. Bush has al- ways been among the most respected business men of the city, not only for his well-merited success, but for his upright and benevolent character. William Bush was married in 1845 to Mary Ann, daughter of Thomas C. and - Alrich. She died in 1847, leaving one daughter. William Bush, in 1849, mar- ried Susanna Canby Alrich, a sister of his first wife. Ile has been a member of the Central Presbyterian church from its organization, was actively interested in the erection of its house of worship, was a member of its build- ing committee, and contributed generously to its building fund; he served for some years as teacher of the Bible class. He was also for several years president of the board of trustees of the Young Men's Christian Association. Ilis beautiful and comfortable mansion of Greystone is well known to every resident of Wilmington. William Bush departed this life January 8, 1891.
GEORGE WASHINGTON BUSH, youngest son of David and Martha (Potter) Bush, was born August 31, 1824. His early education being completed, he entered his father's office. Soon after arriving at his ma- jority, he became the partner of his uncle, George Bush, in the business at French street wharf, taking the place of his father; the firm was then styled G. & G. W. Bush. His uncle dying in 1868, George W. Bush succeeded to the management of the whole establish- mont, which he carried on so judiciously as to immensely develop the Invines. He has lent the aid of his energy and business tart to many public enterprises. He has been a
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director of the First National Bank ever since its institution, and was among the first sub- scribers to its stock. He was also a director of the Delaware Fire Insurance Company, and president of the Artisans' Savings Bank. He was a large stockholder in the Electric Line of steamers, the first freighting line con- meeting Wilmington with New York, and president of its board of directors. George Washington Bush was married in 1850 to Emma N., daughter of Rev. Joshua N. and Jane Danforth. Their children are: I. Wal- ter Danforth, born August 29, 1851, was re- ceived early in life into partnership with his father, the firm being then George W. Bush & Son; he is now vice-president and treasurer of the George W. Bush & Sons Company; married in 1874 Rebecca G. Latude, has had nine children, of whom eight, three boys and five girls, are now living; II. Lewis Potter, born March 28, 1853, married in 1879 to Mar- garet P. Whitely, has three children; he was for years engaged with William Bush in the morocco business, is now secretary of the G. W. Bush & Sous Co .; III. Julia Janvier, born July 8, 1855, married Rev. Marens A. Brown- son, died August 3, 1889, no children living; IV. George W., born August 30, 1858, is managing director of the G. W. Bush & Sons C'o .; V. Alice; VI. Joshua Danforth, born December 4, 1868, married September 6, 1892, to Martha MeComb, has children, i. Eleanor, ii. Alice. Mrs. Emma N. Bush died in 1880. George W. Bush married, in 1884, Martha Robeson, of Bridgeton, N. J.
Mr. Bush has always been a faithful and active member of the Central Presbyterian church, having its welfare and increase al- ways at heart, and contributing liberally to its work. The building of the Gilbert chapel was due to his efforts, as well as the establish- ment of the Sunday school connected with it, of which he is superintendent. He was warm- ly interested in the erection of the Monroe and Rodney street chapels, and in placing their schools upon a permanent basis.
SAMUEL LAMBERT MCGONIGAL, No. 10 West Twenty-third street, New York City, N. Y., son of the late Samuel Dreaden and Amelia Jane (Loffand) MeGonigal, was born in Dover, Kent county, Del., July 19, 1864.
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