Los Angeles County
Biographies
WILLIAM E. BUSH
BUSH, WILLIAM E.,
Automobiles, Los Angeles, California, was born at Vriesland,
Michigan, September 18, 1870. He is the son of Simon Bush and
Gertrude (Tromden) Bush. He married Henrietta Sweet,
at Georgestown, Michigan, May 20, 1896.
He received his primary education in the public schools
of Grand Rapids, Michigan, whither his parents had moved when he was a child,
and then entered the High School of that city. He remained at school until he
was fifteen years of age, when he left to learn mechanics, a line in which he
became expert and with which he has been associated in all branches to the
present day. He learned his trade in Grand Rapids, and after graduating from
the apprentice class, became a traveling mechanic. He followed his trade in
Grand Rapids, Michigan, and in other states. He was recognized as an expert.
After several years spent working for other people,
Mr. Bush, who had saved some considerable money, decided in 1900, to go
into business for himself. His first venture was made at South Bend, Indiana,
where he formed a partnership known as Bush and Palmateer,
builders of stationary and marine gas engines. Although the business was a
paying proposition from the start, Mr. Bush, after two years, decided that
he wanted to go further west, so he sold out his interest in the firm and moved
to Los Angeles, where he has since remained.
In 1902, the automobile boom was attaining its height in
Southern California, and Mr. Bush, with his thorough mechanical knowledge,
decided to enter that field. He opened first an automobile machine shop, making
repairs and building new parts. He quickly won a reputation in the business and
succeeded accordingly. From a small beginning, he branched out into a large
automobile agency and moved to a larger plant. This place, however, he soon
outgrew, and he next built a mammoth place, one of the largest autobile (sic) buildings in the West and today it is
one of the leading motor headquarters of Southern California.
When he first went into business in Los Angeles, Mr. Bush
was associated with John Burge, another expert mechanic, and did business under
the firm name of Bush and Burge. This partnership continued two years, when
Mr. Bush bought out the interest of Burge. In January, 1906, Mr. Bush
took in another partner, the firm under this arrangement being known as Bush
and Shields. This partnership did not last long, however, for in September of
the same year, Mr. Shields sold out his interest and Bush continued
business alone. The various changes in the name of the firm did not seem to
have any effect upon the business, for, under Mr. Bush’s personal
management, it continued to grow. In addition to his motor car business, he is
a director of the Glendora Irrigating Company.
In the automobile business in Los Angeles he is a leading
factor in all movements for the betterment of the trade.
He was at one time president of the Automobile Dealers’
Association of Southern California, and at present is a member of the Board of
Directors of that organization, which has done a good deal for good roads in
Los Angeles County, and, in fact, in all of the Southwest. Mr. Bush is
also a member of the Union League Club, Los Angeles Athletic Club and the San
Gabriel Valley Club. He is prominent in the Mystic Shrine, being a member of
the Al Malaikah Temple, Los Angeles, and the
Plymouth Commandery, Knights Templar, of Plymouth,
Indiana.
He is a member of the Technical Board of the Los Angeles
branch, American Automobile Association. In this connection he has been one of
the officials in charge of all the automobile races in the vicinity of Southern
California for the last two years.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard
16 October 2011.
Source: Press Reference
Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 712, International News Service,
New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta. 1913.
© 2011 Marie Hassard.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPIES