Collection Guide
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Guide to the Thomas and Ellen Bush Family Papers
MS 241
MS 241
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Table of contents
Title: Thomas and Ellen Bush Family Papers
Identifier/Call Number: MS 241
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.25 Linear feet
(1 box)
Date (inclusive): 1858-1927
Abstract: This collection contains the Bush family papers, Thomas and Ellen Bush’s professional papers, and miscellaneous land grants
and mortgages from San Diego County.
creator:
Bush family
creator:
Bush, Ellen A.
creator:
Bush, Thomas
Material added to collection from Document Files Collection; Bush, Thomas H. & Ellen file.
Collection processed by Katrina White on July 11, 2012.
Collection processed as part of grant project supported by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) with generous
funding from The Andrew Mellon Foundation.
Thomas and Ellen Bush Family Papers, MS 241, San Diego History Center Document Collection, San Diego, CA.
Biographical / Historical Notes
Thomas Henry Bush was born in Pennsylvania on June 8, 1831, and first came to California in 1853. During this period, he married
Ellen Augusta Porter. The couple’s only daughter, Bertha, was born in San Francisco in 1863. Before establishing himself in
San Diego, Bush was a bookbinder in San Francisco and later ran a store in Baja California where he mined locally. He came
to San Diego in 1865, and became Postmaster in Old Town in 1868. That same year, he was appointed county judge to replace
Julio Osuna, a position he held for eight years. Bush was also a member of the City and School Board of Trustees. As a city
trustee he was instrumental in the sale of the city lands to Horton, and actually signed the deed. Bush was absent from San
Diego between 1878 and 1887 as he returned east to visit his native state and also engaged in prospecting. After returning
to San Diego in his later years, Bush was a notary and served as the Director of the San Diego and Gila Railroad, and the
Secretary of the San Diego Society of Pioneers. His wife, Ellen, was an early teacher in Old Town.
This collection contains personal and professional papers related to the Bush family, as well as miscellaneous land grants
and mortgages from San Diego County. It includes the Bush family’s legal and financial papers and mortgages, as well as the
professional papers of both Thomas and Ellen Bush. There are documents related to the School Board of Trustees, on which Thomas
Bush served for many years, as well as documents related to the San Diego Postmaster. The collection also includes miscellaneous
land grants, declarations of homesteads, mortgages and property deeds of numerous San Diego residents. Of particular interest
are Thomas Bush’s Will, Ellen Bush’s teaching certifications, and professional testimonials and letters of recommendation
for both Thomas and Ellen. An additional document of note is a Redemption of Real Estate Certificate for Horton’s Addition.
Collection materials are arranged by subject.
This collection is open for research.
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Bush family
Bush, Bert
Bush, Ellen A.
Bush, Thomas
Horton, Alonzo E., 1813-1909
Louis, E. J.
O'Neill, Patrick
Porter, R. K.
Soto, J. M.
Westgate, Annie
Westgate, J. B., Jr.
Deeds
Land grants
Los Angeles (Calif.)
Mortgages
Old Town (San Diego, Calif.)
Pennsylvania
San Diego (Calif.)
San Diego County (Calif.)
Teaching