Title: A history of the northern peninsula of Michigan and its
people;.
Author: Sawyer, Alvah L. (Alvah Littlefield), 1854-1925.
Publication Info: Chicago, : The Lewis publishing company, 1911. Page
971 - 972
JOHN MICHAEL BUSH.-Standing prominent in the business circles of
Gogebic county is John Michael Bush, of Ironwood, general
superintendent of the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company's properties on
the Gogebic Range, and who has achieved marked success in his career
through a systematic application of his abilities. A native of Canada,
he was born, February 6, 1877, in Buckingham, province of Quebec. His
father, Michael Bush, was born in Buckingham in 1848. Brought up in
his native place, Michael Bush, father of the John M., the subject of
this sketch, began to be self supporting when quite young, and until
1879 was engaged in lumbering in Buckingham. Removing then with his
family to Michigan, he located in Norway ere the town had been
platted, its site and the country roundabout being then a dense
wilderness. Resuming his former occupation, he was engaged in
lumbering there for two or three years, and then went to Florence
county, Wisconsin, where he was similarly occupied the remainder of
his active life, his headquarters being either at Florence or at
Commonwealth, where his death occurred, October 26, 1889. He married
Mary Ann Cosgrove, who was born in Buckingham, Province of Quebec,
Canada, a daughter of Patrick and Mary Cosgrove. Her father emigrated
from County Sligo, Ireland, his native place, to Canada, purchased
land in Buckingham, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits
until his death. Mrs. Mary Ann Bush survived her husband and now lives
with a daughter in Hibbing, Minnesota. She has five children living,
namely: John M., the special subject of this sketch; Mary, wife of
Cyprian Foucault, of Hibbing, Minnesota; William, a resident of
Eveleth, Minnesota, married Louise Valkner; Rosemary, wife of Chase O.
Youngs, of Florence, Wisconsin; and James Grover, of Eveleth,
Minnesota. As a pupil in the public schools of Florence and
Commonwealth, Wisconsin, John Michael Bush acquired a practical
education, and when ready to begin his active career commenced as a
miner, wielding the pick and shovel successfully until 1896. The
following year he was employed as a bookkeeper and delivery man at a
meat market in Commonwealth, Wisconsin, and in 1897 accepted a
position at Vulcan with the 0. C. Lumber Company, at first working in
the mill and then being employed for a few months as clerk in the
company's store, afterwards being made bookkeeper for the company and
manager of the store. On August 25, 1901, Mr. Bush entered the employ
of the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Company, becoming timekeeper and supply
clerk at the Ashland Mine in Ironwood, a position that he retained
until September 1, 1903, when he was promoted to cashier. In November,
1905, he was transferred to the Crosby Mine, at Nashwauk, Itasca
county, Minnesota, where he had control of the mine as superintendent
for nearly two years. In 1907 Mr. Bush, whose services have ever been
appreciated by his employers, was again promoted, being made general
superintendent of the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company's properties on
the Gogebic Range, a position which he has since filled with
characteristic ability. Mr. Bush married, in 1906, Margaret Hartigan,
who was born in Oconto, Wisconsin, a daughter of an early pioneer
family of Ironwood, Thomas and Mary Hartigan, of whom a brief personal
record may be found on another page of this work. Politically Mr. Bush
is an earnest supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and
is now a member of the Board of Supervisors, representing the First
ward. Fraternally he is a prominent member of Ironwood Council, No.
1396, K. of C., of which he was the first Grand Knight, and is
District Deputy Supreme Knight of the Western Division of the Upper
Peninsula; a member of Norway Court, No. 269, Catholic Order of
Foresters; and of Hibbing Lodge, No. 1022, B. P. O. E. He was one of
the organizers and is now director of the Gogebic National Bank of
Ironwood, Michigan. |
