Bush, Louis [James]

Submitted by Mike Miller

Bush, Louis, late of New Orleans, La., was born in New Orleans, May 22, 1877; the son of Reuben G. and Clara Goodyear (Boise) Bush. The Bush family has for several generations been prominently identified with the agricultural, commercial, financial, social and public affairs of the state. In the early days of the colony the name of Bush became known as one closely associated with the varying fortunes of the pioneer settlers in the southern part of the Louisiana province. The first of the name came from France, engaged in the planting business, which has been followed by their descendants to the present day in the parish of Lafourche.

Hon. Louis Bush, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, owned a sugar plantation near Thibodaux, La., and was a most successful merchant in Lafourche parish. He occupied a high place among the Democrats, who waged a determined and prolonged warfare against the radical administration of Louisiana. In 1876, after the victory of his party, the Hon. Louis Bush became a member of the state legislature, and was speaker of the house. Mr. Bush founded the sugar commission firm of Louis Bush & Sons, which, after his death, was styled "Louis Bush's Sons."

Reuben G. Bush, father of Louis Bush (second of name) was born at Thibodaux, in 1853. He, also, was a planter and merchant. July 11, 1876, Reuben G. Bush married in Chicago, Miss Clara G. Boise, a native of Ann Arbor, Mich., the daughter of Prof. James R. Boise, of the University of Chicago. They had 4 children: Louis (died Jan. 25. 1914), James B., Reuben G., Jr., and Ruth E. Bush.

Louis Bush was reared and educated in New Orleans, but spent a few years in Chicago, Ill., attending law school. When the Spanish-American war was declared in 1898, he enlisted in the navy and served until peace was concluded. Except for a period of 8 years in Chicago, in the employ of the United States Steel corporation, Mr. Bush was in the insurance business in New Orleans, and at the time of his death was vice-president of the Edwin Shelby Co., limited. The marriage of Louis Bush and Miss Eveline Dreuil, daughter of Emile and Virginia (Russell) Dreuil, of New Orleans, took place June 28, 1913.

Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 496-497. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.