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Obadiah Newcomb Bush

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'''Obadiah Newcomb Bush''' (January 28, 1797 - 1851) was an United States American merchant and an ancestor of the Bush family Bush political family. He was the son of a blacksmith Timothy Bush, Jr Timothy Bush, Jr. and Lydia Newcomb and was born in Penfield, New York Penfield, Monroe County, New York Monroe Co., New York on January 28, 1797. He left home during the War of 1812 amd married in Rochester on November 8, 1821, Harriet Smith the daughter of Dr. Sanford Smith and Priscilla Whipple Smith. He and his wife had seven children. Through his son James Smith Bush Reverend James Smith Bush, he is the great–great–grandfather of President George H.W. Bush and the great–great–great–grandfather of President George W. Bush.

Biography
In Rochester, Obadiah was employed as a schoolmaster and was also a well known abolitionist. He served as vice president of the Anti-Slavery Society and was on a committee to nominate candidates for justice of the peace. His brother Henry, a manufacturer of stoves, was also well known for his involvement in abolitionist activities. He was a participant in the Underground Railroad, and even petitioned the New York state Legislature to secede from the Union in a protest against slavery. "The Rochester Daily Advertiser," accused him of encouraging "anarchy." Eventually Obadiah, Henry and possibly another brother or two went off to find their fortunes in the California Gold Rush of 1849. After two years of toiling in California he began passage home, by ship, to retrieve his family in New York. He died, however, aboard ship and was given a sea burial. According to the book ''The Faith of George W. Bush'': :"... left his home during the War of 1812, became a schoolmaster, then caught gold fever and left for California during the Gold Rush of 1849. Two years later, he tried to return home to reclaim his family and take them west. He died in the attempt, though, and was buried at sea. leaving his wife and seven children alone in Rochester, New York."

Sources
*''The Faith of George W. Bush'' *''Rochester Democrat and Chronical.com'', ''President's family has deep roots here'', by Lara Becker Liu, February 21, 2005. *''American Presidential Families'', Hugh Brogan and Charles Mosley, MacMillan Publishing Company, New York, 1993.

External links

- Bush family genealogy (PDF) Category:1797 births Bush, James Smith Category:1851 deaths Bush, James Smith Category:People from New York Bush, James Smith Category:Bush family Bush, Obadiah Newcomb

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