Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-27
JOHN BUSH, OF ST. PETER,

A few weeks ago it was stated in the
GLOBE, and that beyond any doubt, John
Bush of St. Peter, is now the oldest living
resident of Minnesota, having come here in
1926. In view of the fact that the sOld
Settlers Association Of Minnesota" meets on
Saturday next, it is we'll to record the cir
cumstance, as our oldest old settlers are be-
coming so few, and disappearing SO rapidly,
that man who has lived in Minnesota fifty
two years must naturally be regarded as
sort of prehistoric relic.
There can be no doubt, we think, that the
claim which Mr.. Bush's friends assert, that
he Is our Oldest settler, is well founded. Mr..
Williams, of the State Historical Society,
has, within few days past, paid Mr.. Bush a
visit, and carefully interviewed him regard
ing the events of early dayc, and the men of
that period, and having taken pains at
various times to ascertain who are our Oldest
residents, and the date of their settlement
here, is convinced that Mr.. Bush should
rightfully head the list. Mr.. Mousseau, of
Minneapolis, he thinks, comes next, claim
ing to have lived here since 1927.
MIR. Bush, like many others of our pio-
neers, came to Minnesota originally as a
soldier. He is a native of Olean, N. Y, and
is 50 or 81 years of age, he does not know
exactly which, as he was separated from his
parents at very early age. He subsequent
~ went South, and III 1928 enlisted in the
First United States Infantry, at Baton
Rouge, La. In 1926 he was, with other
troops, transferred to Jefferson barracks,
thence to Fort Crawford, and in. 1926 with
four companies, under Lit. Col. Zach Taylor,
came to Fort Smelling on steamboat.
MIR. Bush relates many amusing occur
rences of those early days, and curious Incl
dents about the men of that early period,
but they will require too much space to re-
peat here. His first term expiring about
1880, he went to Prairie du Chen, and the
Black Hawk war breaking out soon after he
enlisted again. During that war Bush vol
du ChieD to Galena, a service full
OF danger, but though running
great risks. he escaped without any accident.
He was subsequently discharged from SER
vice at Fort Smelling in 1880, and made
Through Maj. Taliaferno, then Indian agent),
a purchase from the Indians of the right to
erect house and wood yard, just below the
fort, on the st. Paul side of the river, but
others (who had been prevented from set
ting on that side Of the river), made such
fuss about it, he abandoned the place.
After the treaty of 1887 was ratified, Bush
came to what is now St. Paul, and made a
clalm in the lower part of the city, near
Trout brook, simultaneous with the claims
made by Evans and others, but afterwards
sold it to some one, probably to "Johnson,''
the mysterious character mentioned by his
torlans of the early days Of our city. During
this time he had been in the employ of B. +.
Baker, a trader near the fort. Baker died
at st. Louis in the fall of 80, and Bush
then settled at Point Prescott but was soon
after appointed Indian farmer at Red Wing,
and lived there several years. When the
indians were removed to the lower agency,
he went there, and was in the employ of the
department. until 1856, when he made a
claim at Lafayette, where he resided some
years, running great danger from the Ind,-
ans IN 1862. He subsequently removed to
Redwood Falls and thence to St. Peter
which has been his residence ever since. He
is in INDECENT circumstances.
Mr.. Bush is an intelligent old gentleman
of good address, fair eduction, and has evi
IDENTITY seen great deal of the world. His
memory is good. and he relates his remin
essences IN very interesting manner. Elk
cept suffering from rheumatism his health
Is good, and he does not look to be mucl
over 80 years old. He may live these doze1
years yet, while all the companions of hi
pioneer days have preceded him to til,
'other side,'' and the wonderful changes b,
has witnessed in his So years residence b.
still more remarkable.