Here's a quickie. By late 1879, Francis Joseph Bushu and his wife, Agatha Burkey, had moved to a farm in Edgar County, Illinois (US Census 1880). In the early 1900s, Francis sold the farm and moved to Mattoon. By this time was Mattoon was thriving; the Big Four railroad had offices there and rail was big business. Francis and Agatha and their children were an integral part of the town and two of the boys, Melvin and Herbert, worked for the railroad. As the years went by, Otho set up his piano tuning business and sought customers, Samuel was a county official, Myrtle was a party girl, Mel knew how to have a good time, and Herbert was a serious go-getter.
How do I know this? The newspapers of the day reported on the daily doings of their more important citizens; Francis, Agatha, and children were in that category.
Visit the website http://jg-tc.newspapers.com and type the name BUSHU into the search box. You will get over 1500 hits, and yes, they are our family. If you restrict by time frame, say limiting the search to years before 1922, you will still get over 500 hits. Yes, that means the family is mentioned that many times in the papers.
To actually read what was written - as it appeared in the newspaper -- you will need to pay the good people $7.95 a month. But the experience is worth $8. Here are a couple of tidbits.
Herbert went to business college and graduated, took a job with the Big Four as an office boy. Each of his promotions, including one to Mt. Carmel, where he met the lovely Ida, are mentioned in the paper.
Melvin and Myrtle go to Mt. Carmel for Herbert and Ida's wedding; no mention that Francis and Agatha go as well.
There's a huge article on the train wreck that killed Mel, and another when Pauline sued the railroad for his death and won.
Myrtle hosted a party that featured a pie eating contest and another contest involving taking a bit of an apple suspended from the ceiling by a string. The winners are praised.
Betty Lou and Marietta's letter to Santa was published in the Dec. 24, 1922 issue. Betty Lou reminded Santa to bring her sister a doll.
And so it goes. Check it out.
Betty Lou, as you call her, was my mother. I never heard her called anything but Betty or Bette. I will check out the letter to Santa, and I never heard her or anyone else call my grandmother Pauline anything other than Pauline. I met you at my grandmother Pauline's apartment when you and your sister came through Mattoon on your way to somewhere in the early 60's. I think all the chit-chat was about your oldest sister's marriage, whether that was upcoming or accomplished. I thought you were the most sophisticated person I had ever met.
ReplyDeleteBetty Lou, as you call her, was my mother. I never heard her called anything but Betty or Bette. I will check out the letter to Santa, and I never heard her or anyone else call my grandmother Pauline anything other than Pauline. I met you at my grandmother Pauline's apartment when you and your sister came through Mattoon on your way to somewhere in the early 60's. I think all the chit-chat was about your oldest sister's marriage, whether that was upcoming or accomplished. I thought you were the most sophisticated person I had ever met.
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