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J.O.A Bush, circuit and ex-officio county clerk, Murfreesboro, Ark. No name
is justly entitled to a more enviable place in the history of Pike County
than the one that heads this sketch, for it is borne by a man who, though
young in years, has yet been usefully and honorably identified with the
interests of this county, and with its advance in every worthy particular.
Steadily and surely has he come to the front in public as well as business
affairs, and it is but the utterance of a well-know fact that it would be
a difficult matter to find a person of greater popularity, one who enjoys,
to such a boundless extent, the respect of all. Mr. Bush owes his nativity
to White Township, of this county, his birth occurring on December 1, 1854,
and is the fifth of ten children born to the union of James R. and Amanda
(Reeves) Bush, the father a native of Kentucky, and the mother of South
Carolina. The father was reared in his native State, came to Arkansas in
1849, settled in White Township, Pike County, and there entered and bought
about a section of land. He made this place his home, and placed
considerable improvement on the same. He was a prominent members of the
Methodist Protestant Church, and also took a prominent part in the politics
of the county, In political preferment he was, during the existence of that
party, a Whig, and upon the dissolution of that, became a Republican, being
in favor of the Union during the Civil War. He remained at home during that
time, and supported both sides, with the result of his farm produce, without
prejudice. In 1868 he was elected to the Lower House in the General
Assembly, by the Republican party, from this county. During his residence in
Pike County he was sincere and outspoken in the advocacy of any views that
he had adopted, and was all times respected by his neighbors for his
honesty. He died November 12, 1882. The mother is still living on the old
homestead. She removed to Tennessee with her parents with her parents, at
an early day, and while making the trip the family was robbed by John A.
Murrell. On the father's side an uncle, Smith Barlow, served as State
Senator from Barren County, Ky., for thirty years, and died in that State
about 1881. J.O.A. Bush was early instructed in the mysteries of farm life,
and, although he had but limited educational advantages, he was naturally
of a studious turn, and by personal application in his books, as time wore
on he secured a good general education. He always had a taste for debating
and in the contests at the debating society was always a victor. He remained
under the parental roof until twenty years of age, and was then married to
Miss Lucetta J. Eastwood, a native of Pike County, Ark., and the daughter of
Hiram and Margaret Eastwood, who were also natives of this county. At this
time Mr. Bush bought and homesteaded 160 acres of land in White Township,
made many improvements, and farmed on this place for two years, when, on
December 7, 1876, he lost his estimable wife. After this he began teaching,
and followed it with farming during the intervals, for about eight years.
He also became very active, politically, advocating the principles of the
Greenback party, and, in 1884, was elected county clerk, as an Independent
candidate. In 1885 he purchased the Pike County Sentinel from R.H Waddell,
changed it in politics from a Democratic to an Independent paper, with
Greenback proclivities, and conducted the same until June 1, 1889, during
which time he was a member of the Press Association, and went on various
excursions with that body. He was re-elected at the expiration of his term
in 1886 by a large majority. In 1887, from a technical error, Mr. Bush was
removed from office, and an especial election was immediately ordered by the
governor. Mr. Bush declared himself a candidate for re-election, and was
returned to office by a majority from every township in the county. So great
was his popularity that he was elected to his third and present term in
1888. In 1885, during the trouble attending the burning of the county jail,
from the firm and outspoken attitude in his condemnation of such acts of
violence, in his personal conversation, and through the columns of his
paper, the life of Mr. Bush was frequently threatened. On September 10,
1887, he was assaulted in the streets by four armed men, was shot at with
a shot-gun twice, and ten or twelve times with pistols, and, although most
of the shots pierced his clothing, he received but slight injury. He was
married, the second time, on February 10, 1889, to Miss Viola Reese, a
native of this county, and the daughter of S.W. and E.J. Reese, natives of
Tennessee, who came to Arkansas in 1849, and were pioneers of this county.
Both are living, and reside at Corinth, Howard County. On February 3, 1890,
was born a daughter to this union - Vivian. Mrs. Bush is a members of the
Corinth Christian Church. During his leisure hours Mr. Bush has been
pursuing the study of law, and is now prepared for examination. His natural
tastes and talents for oratory, and his influence with this power, will
eminently fit him for this profession, and undoubtedly make him successful.
In personal character Mr. Bush is pleasant, social, courteous and
gentlemanly. In moral habits he is above reproach, and, being enterprising
and public-spirited, is striving in all ways to advance the interests of
Pike County. He is a members of the A.F. & A.M. Pike Lodge No. 91.
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Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Southern Arkansas, 1890, Pike County,
pages 318-321.
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