Guide to the Thomas and Ellen Bush Family Papers
MS 241
Finding aid prepared by Katrina White
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.
San Diego History Center Document Collection
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA, 92101
619-232-6203
July 11, 2012
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.
Language of Materials: Collection materials are in English and Spanish.
creator:
Bush family
creator:
Bush, Ellen A.
creator:
Bush, Thomas
Comments
Material added to collection from Document Files Collection; Bush, Thomas H. & Ellen file.
Processing Information
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.
Preferred Citation
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.
Scope and Content
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.
Arrangement
Collection materials are arranged by subject.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
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
Box-folder 1:1
Bush family legal papers,
1867 June–1887 March
Includes:
Will and Testament for Thomas Bush, June 13, 1867
Box-folder 1:2
Bush family deeds,
1873 June–1897 August and undated
Includes:
Redemption of Real Estate Certificate and receipts for Horton’s Addition, December 24, 1891
Box-folder 1:3
Bush family finances,
1871 August–1889 July
Includes:
Property Tax receipt, December 4, 1886 (in Oversize Collections D4)
Box-folder 1:4
Ellen Bush professional documents,
1873 March–1896 October
Includes:
Letter of recommendation for Ellen Bush from E.J. Louis for teaching position, October 6, 1896
Box-folder 1:5
Thomas Bush professional documents (some in Spanish),
1858–1897
Includes:
Testimonial regarding Thomas Bush’s store in Baja California by R.K. Porter, 1858 (in Spanish)
California Attorney and Counselor License for Thomas Bush, October 1, 1879
Farewell letter from friends in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, October 3, 1887
Thomas Bush Notary Public Certificate, May 6, 1897 (in Oversize Collections D4)
Box-folder 1:6
School Board of Trustees,
1869–1910
Includes:
List of Delinquent Purchasers of School Lands (in Oversize Collections D4)
Box-folder 1:7
Miscellanea: land grants and homesteads,
1880-1927
Includes:
Land Grant for Isaac Friedlander, East of Mt. Diablo, May 15, 1869 (in Oversize Collections D4)
Land Grant for Jacob Bergman, San Bernardino meridian, October 10, 1879 (in Oversize Collections D4)
Land Grant for Samuel Basserman, San Bernardino meridian, April 10, 1882 (in Oversize Collections D4)
Land Grant for William Fitzsimmons, San Bernardino meridian, July 30, 1891 (in Oversize Collections D4)
Land Grant for Samuel Basserman, San Bernardino meridian, June 28, 1895 (in Oversize Collections D4)
Land Grant for E.C. Hinkle, Mt. Diablo region, July 20, 1927 (in Oversize Collections D4)
Box-folder 1:8
Miscellanea: mortgages and deeds,
1867–1889
Box-folder 1:9
Miscellanea: mortgages and deeds,
1891 January–1925 January
Includes:
Mortgage for A.D. and Helen M. Salisbury, near Mission Rancho, November 25, 1890 (in Oversize Collections D4)
Mortgage for Mary M. Clark, W.A. and Jane Darris, Horton’s Addition, May 11, 1893 (in Oversize Collections D4)
Mortgage Coupon Bond for James Rutherford, San Diego, December 15, 1893 (in Oversize Collections D4)
Mortgage for Aylmer and Elizabeth Keith, San Diego, June 28, 1895 (in Oversize Collections D4)
Box-folder 1:10
Miscellanea,
1873 May–1894 October
Includes:
Agreement and Declaration of Marriage, J.B. Westgate, Jr. and Annie Drobui, February 28, 1893
Warrant for arrest for Mrs. Annie Westgate, October 25, 1894
Official Appointment Document of Patrick O’Neill as San Diego Postmaster, May 10, 1873 (in Oversize Collections D4)
List of Dead over 21 years of age, 1887-1890 (in Oversize Collections D4)