WILLIAM HERBERT BUSH, a talented
musician of New London, Conn., the son of Aaron and Henrietta (Parkhurst)
Bush, is a native of this city. His grandfather, Anson Bush, was born in
Connecticut. He was a boss ship-rigger, and worked for the old established
firm of Hovens & Williams. He was a member of the Methodist church
in New London, where he died in 1880.
His son Aaron was born in 1832, and died
on Easter Sunday in 1893. He married Henrietta, a daughter of John Parkhurst.
Her grandfather Parkhurst was a bearer of despatches in the Revolutionary
War. Both Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Bush were Methodists in religious belief,
and Mr. Bush was an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church of
New London. They had eight children, only three of whom attained maturity,
namely: William Herbert, the second-born son and the subject of this sketch;
Ida M., a graduate of the high school, living in this city; and Charles.
William Herbert, the elder of the two brothers
now living, received a general education in the public schools, which he
attended until he was fifteen years of age, when his musical education
began under the direction of Charles B. Jennings, of New London. He afterward
took lessons on both organ and piano of Charles S. Elliot, who had been
a pupil of the great Guilmant, of Paris; and later he went to New York
to study, where his teacher was Samuel P. Warren, for twenty-five years
the organist of Trinity Church. He continued under the instruction of Mr.
Warren for three years; and at the end of that time he returned to New
London, where he has been a successful teacher of both organ and piano
ever since. He has been the organist of the Second Congregational Church
for eleven years and master of the choir for three years. Mr. Bush has
given recitals in his native city and in other places, which have been
most successful, his interpretation of the great masters being sympathetic
and impressive. He married Julia De Sant, of New London, February 14, 1887.
Mrs. Bush is a woman of an artistic temperament and much musical ability.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Bush are members of the Second Congregational Church.
Biographical Review Volume
XXVI
Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens
of New London County Connecticut
Boston
Biographical Review Publishing Company
1898
pgs 413 - 414
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