George G Bush
3rd-great-grandfather of Kimberly Rowell Sides
Private Co. G 3rd MI Infantry
Dates of Service: 12 Aug 1862 - 2 Apr 1863
George G Bush was born 12 May 1812 in Benton, Yates, New York, the oldest child of farmer Alanson and Sarah “Sally” Mead Bush. His father was a veteran of the War of 1812, having served as a Private with the 12th Reg’t Boughton’s NY Militia. Alanson and Sally had moved to Genesee County by 1818, and three more sons were born to them by 1821. Alanson died 30 Oct 1821, less than two months after his last child’s birth. Sally remarried to Lyman Giddings in 1824, and they moved to Oakland County, Michigan Territory by 1825. Four more children, two sons and two daughters, were born in the next 10 years. Lyman died in July 1846.
On 3 Aug 1850, the Federal Census enumerator recorded Sally Giddings still in Farmington Twp, Oakland, living with her sons Harvey and Alanson Bush, Myron and Oscar Giddings, daughter Alta Giddings, and 2 granddaughters, the children of Betsy Giddings Sage who had died the previous year. Sally outlived Lyman by 31 years, dying in Jan 1877 in Farmington.
In Sep 1850, George Bush was counted in Bingham Twp, Clinton Co, Michigan, aged 33, a cooper married to Harriet, 21 years old, with 3 daughters aged 4, 2, and 4 mos. George and Harriet had likely married about 1845. Harriet was one of 8 children born to Joseph A and Hannah [Shumaker] Sperry in Crawford Co, Pennsylvania. Both of Harriet’s parents had died by 1842 in PA, and most of the Sperry siblings had migrated into Clinton and Oakland Counties in Michigan.
The 1860 Federal Census recorded George in Bingham, Clinton, PO address St Johns. He was farmer w/$1000 real estate, married to Harriet, with 5 daughters and 2 sons between the ages of 1 and 15.
"Civil War has commenced!”
...a merchant in Adrian, Michigan, wrote in his journal 13 April 1861. “The feverish excitement that has so long existed has now, in great part, given away to a sensation of horror and intense sorrow at the announcement that the long expected yet dreaded storm has burst over Fort Sumter. Alas for our beloved country!!" [from “Michigan Men in the Civil War” ]
At the outbreak of war, Michigan was called on to provide two regiments, with the new soldiers enrolling for three months’ service. The call for volunteers was enthusiastically met. “[But] hardly had the ‘Three months men’ reached the field before it was discovered that a mistake had been made in not calling out a larger number of troops, and for longer service -- it took a long time to realize what a gigantic rebellion we had on our hands. So on the 3d of May [1861] President Lincoln issued a call for United States volunteers to serve three years, unless sooner discharged. At once thousands of loyal men sprang to arms so large a number, in fact, that many regiments raised were refused until later.” [from “Enlisting In A Civil War Army" ]
More About Raising New Regiments [from “Enlisting In A Civil War Army" ]
“The methods by which these [new] regiments were raised were various. In 1861 a common way was for some one who had been in the regular army...or had been prominent in the militia to take the initiative and circulate an enlistment paper for signatures. His chances were pretty good for obtaining a commission as its captain, ...and [popular] men who had [assisted] him would secure the lieutenancies....In 1862...the War Department was working on a more systematic basis, and when a call was made for additional troops each State was immediately assigned its quota, and...each city and town was informed by the State...how many men it was to furnish under that call....Recruiting offices were multiplied in cities and large towns...[being] of two kinds: those which were opened to secure recruits for regiments and batteries already in the field, and those which solicited enlistments in new organizations. Unquestionably, at this time the latter were more popular....The flaming advertisements with which the newspapers of the day teemed, and the posters pasted on the bill-boards or the country fence, were the decoys which brought patronage to these fishers of men.
George Bush lived in Bingham Township in August, 1862; the nearest good-sized city was East Saginaw. Every able citizen would have attended the “war meeting”, and George couldn’t have missed it. Bingham was served by the St. Johns post office, and its Postmaster was William Sickles, a prominent and popular man known to every local resident. During the War, Mr. Sickles was also chosen the Register of Deeds of Clinton Co, and while holding that position he enlisted in the army, accepting a commission as 1st Lt, Co A, 23rd Mich Inf. [sources: findagrave; newspapers.com]
[more from “Enlisting In A Civil War Army" ]
“War meetings...were designed to stir lagging enthusiasm. Musicians and orators blew themselves red in the face....[Old veteran soldiers were] trotted out.... At proper intervals the enlistment roll would be presented for signatures.... Sometimes the patriotism of such a gathering would be wrought up so intensely by waving banners, martial and vocal music, and burning eloquence, that a towns quota would be filled in less than an hour. It needed only the first man to step forward, put down his name, be patted on the back, placed upon the platform, and cheered...as the hero of the hour, when a second, third, and fourth would follow, and at last a perfect stampede set in to sign the enlistment roll, and a frenzy of enthusiasm would take possession of the meeting.”
But why would a 50-year old farmer with a wife and 7 dependent children enlist voluntarily in the Army? Patriotic fervor? Pressure from Lt. Sickles? The chance for adventure? Was he eager to “get away” from the farm and home life? And wouldn’t his age have disqualified him? Perhaps the opportunity to receive bonus money was irresistible?
Billboards and newspapers promised such incentives.
If he enlisted before 07 Sep 1862, George would receive a Citizens’ Bounty of $50, a Government Advance of $25, a Recruiting Fee of $4, and one month’s pay of $13.
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Whatever his motivations, George enlisted for 3 years as a Corporal in the 23rd Regiment, Michigan Infantry, in St Johns on 12 Aug 1862. He gave his age as 44 years.
(Click to enlarge)
The next step was the medical exam to determine physical fitness for service, for which each town had its own physician. The potential recruit for admission into the army must first remove “all clothing, ...jump, bend over, kick, [be thumped on] the chest and back, ... [have teeth and eyes examined], after which, if [he] passed, he received a certificate to that effect....His next move was to...a recruiting station...[where he entered], sign[ed] the roll of the company or regiment,...[gave] his description,...height, complexion, and occupation, and then accompan[ied] a guard to [another] examining surgeon, where he was again subjected to a critical examination as to soundness.” Such men as who went directly to a recruiting office and enlisted had only one exam to pass, the other then being unnecessary. “It is interesting to note that in 1861 and '62 men were mainly examined to establish their fitness for service; in 1863 and '64 the tide had changed, and they were then only anxious to prove their unfitness.”
Source: "Hard Tack and Coffee or The Unwritten Story of Army Life" (Chapter II, Enlisting) by John D. Billings, quoted in “Enlisting In A Civil War Army".
A Manual of Instructions for Enlisting and Discharging Soldiers by Roberts Bartholow (1863) stated: “The examining surgeon of a recruit...certifies on honor that he has carefully examined the recruit...to the general regulations of the army, and...it is his opinion that the recruit is free from all bodily defects or mental infirmity which would in any way disqualify him for the performance of military duty. The principal object of the surgeon...is not to select what is in every way good, but to reject what is absolutely unfit.” Army regulations set the minimum age at 18 and the maximum at 35, raised to 45 by the enrollment act of 1863. The average age of a Union soldier was 25.8 years.
George didn’t have long to say his goodbyes to his family.
“They left Saginaw on the 18th of September 1862, under the command of Colonel Chapin, proceeding at once to Kentucky, its muster rolls showing a force of 983 officers and men. Soon after its arrival, it was assigned to the Tenth Division of General Rosecrans' Army, then pushed forward to Bowling Green. The 23rd. remained at Bowling Green until May 29,1863, employed in guarding the trains. https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/003931700 (As the record soon shows, by the time his regiment left Bowling Green, George was no longer with them.)
Corp George Bush, in Co G, was commanded by Capt Henry Walbridge. The Company Muster-in-Rolls (CRDs) are shown for the period of time that George was present. (click to enlarge)
On 10 Feb 1863 in Bowling Green, KY, George was examined by the Company Surgeon and found “incapable of performing the duties of a soldier because of ‘advanced age and impaired health. Said private has been unfit for duty for two months. Said private reports his age at 47, and I believe his statement is correct.’” The Commander of the Post, Brig Gnl M. D. Hanson signed his discharge effective 23 Feb 1863. His mailing address was given as St. Johns, Clinton Co., Mich. George was mustered out of his regiment for disability 2 Apr 1863 at Bowling Green.
Records of the time and place for “ordinary” people being scant as they are, it can only be surmised that George returned home to his family in Bingham Twp. There are no further records for him until 1870, but a lot had been going on in his family. Daughter Ruth Ann had married in 1866 and made George a grandfather. Daughter Adelaide married in 1868. In July 1870, George, wife Harriet, and children Alvah, William and Hannah were counted for the Census in Bingham Twp. George said he was 48 [only 1 year older than when he was discharged in 1863]. He was a carpenter, and his real estate was worth $400.
In Jun 1871, George’s daughter Sarah was married. In Jan 1872, daughter Ruth Ann married a 2nd time, to her 1st cousin Alfred W Bush, the son of George’s brother Orrin. Sep 1874 saw son Alvah married, and in Jul 1875, youngest child Hannah “Rose” got married in Steuben, IN. George’s mother Sally Meade Bush Giddings died on 23 Jan 1877 at age 84.
Work had become increasingly hard for George. On 17 Aug 1878, he filed for an Invalid Pension and was issued Certificate No. 184.318. On 22 Jan 1879, he was examined by a surgeon, who determined that his disability wholly originated in the service in the line of duty; that it was caused by “the kick of a mule...causing a tumor 2/3 the size of the right testicle...and he [is] 1/2 totally incapacitated.” His age was stated as 61 years.
The 1880 Federal Census revealed significant changes in George’s life. The census taker recorded George, “divorced”, living with his brother Harvey in Farmington, Oakland Co. All of his married children and all of Harriet’s siblings and in-laws, nieces and nephews have been accounted for in the 1880 census, but she was not with any of them. To date, no record of Harriet has been found since the 1870 Census.
**See NOTE at end of George G Bush biography
On 25 Feb 1882, George was examined for an increase in his pension. His stated residence was Pleasant Lake, Steuben, IN. Only a portion of the page was imaged, with no age nor $ amount, and no decision. Two of George’s children and one half-brother (Myron F Giddings) were living in Jackson, Steuben, IN, in 1880. Is that why George was residing in Steuben in 1882?
He was examined again in Dec 1884 for an increase in pension. He was living in Chippewa Station, Osceola, MI. The examining board was in Reed City. George claimed he was “69” and “the [previous] rating was too low”. No $ rate was mentioned. The examiner noted that “his hair is white as snow”.
In Mar 1885, George’s daughter Hannah “Rose” and husband Clement Jarvis were found on the Clifford, Butler, KS state census, as farmers. [Harriet was not with them.] In Jun 1885, George’s half-brother Myron Giddings was on the Wayne, Wayne, NE state census, also farming. On 24 Oct 1885, Myron married (his 2nd wife) in Sioux City, IA.
Harvey S Bush, George’s brother with whom he was living in 1880, died 15 Mar 1887 in Farmington, Oakland, MI. Fifteen days later, on 30 Mar 1887, George, of Chippewa Station, Osceola, MI, sought an increase in his pension “from $8/month for injury to Right testicle & hydrocele”. [The rest of the record is illegible.]
The 30 Jun 1888 GAR Muster Roll of Peabody Post 89 records the presence of “Member” George J [sic] Bush of Peabody, Marion, KS, a carpenter. It is the only time his name appears on their Roll. Perhaps George had gone out to KS to visit Hannah and her family.
However, in Nov 1888, he was back in Chippewa Station, Osceola, MI, to file a Declaration for Increase of Invalid Pension, claiming he was unable to perform manual labor [the rest is illegible].
About 2 Mar 1889 George was in Peabody, Marion, KS, again, and was enumerated for the KS equivalent of the 1890 US Veterans Census, the “Enrollment of Ex-Soldiers of the Late Armies of the United States, Residing in the State of Kansas”. He said he was receiving a pension of $8/mo; he was a member of GAR Post 12 Peabody [not a typo -- perhaps two Posts had merged]. He said his qualifying service injury was a “scrotal hernia from the kick of a mule at Jeffersonville, IN.” [the first time that geographic detail was ever revealed]
George next appeared as a resident of York, Clark, IL, on 28 Dec 1889. He was applying for a “Re-rating of Invalid Pension”, stating he was “73 yrs, currently pensioned at $8/mo from Detroit for injury to his right testicle & resulting hydrocele...” [the rest is illegible]. 14 July 1890, he filed a “Soldier's Application for Pension under Act of Jun 27, 1890”, bringing two witnesses to testify to his character and residence. 7 Feb 1891 a portion of another Invalid Pension includes similar statements but is almost wholly illegible, revealing only that he was a resident of York, Clark, IL, and currently received a pension rate of $12.
Six years later, on 22 May 1897, George, a resident of Tower, St Louis, MN, appeared to file a “Declaration for Increase of Invalid Pension”, stating he was 82 years, that his current rate was $12/mo for “injury to right testicle, hydrocele, injury to right wrist, & rheumatism”; that his “disabilities have greatly increased since last medical exam”. Two witnesses appeared for him. 22 Nov 1898, George appeared again for an “Increase of Invalid Pension”; stated he was a resident of Tower, St Louis, MN, was aged 83 years; and brought two witnesses. [The rest is entirely illegible.]
On 9 Jun 1900, the Federal Census recorded George in Buckeye Twp, Gladwin, MI, where he was living with his son Alvah. He stated his birth was “May 1815”, his work was “farm labor”, and he was “widowed”.
7 Jan 1903, George of Beaverton, Gladwin, MI, was examined by a Surgeon for a “Pension Increase”. This document contains the most detailed exam and interview yet, concluding with an unkind -- and inaccurate -- prediction:
“States he is 87 yrs, currently receives $12/mo; is a farmer-cooper; states ‘Wrist was injured in service. Testicle was injured. It now causes no trouble.’ Does not now complain of rupture or hydrocele.” The surgeon goes on, "Saber wound of right wrist. Scar is adherent. There is some stiffening of fingers, but they can be closed. Wrist causes some pain and is sensitive to cold. There has been hydrocele, but there is none now. Testicle bothers him whenever he gets a cold. No further injuries; no vicious habits....We cannot understand why this applicant comes for an increase. The wrist is no worse than it has been for years. About 6 years ago, he had hydrocele. This was tapped. Since then whenever he catches cold, a swelling occurs of the testicle which undoubtedly [is] a slight hydrocele, but no tapping has been done since the first operation. We would advise no change in his rate. He is a feeble old gentleman and will soon drop from the pension rolls."
On 21 July 1903, George of Beaverton, Gladwin, MI, appeared for a “Renewal and Increase of Invalid Pension”. The one-page document is mostly illegible with comments struck through crosswise. It is stamped “REJECTED”. Later the same year, 29 Dec 1903, George, still of Beaverton, appeared again for an “Increase of Invalid Pension”. He said he was 88 years, restated his injuries, stated his disabilty had greatly increased since the date of his last exam, and he brought two witnesses. 16 Jan 1904, an apparent copy of the previous claim, mostly illegible, is also stamped “REJECTED”.
24 Dec 1906, George of Beaverton applied for admission to the Michigan Soldiers’ Home; he testified he was “born 12 May 1812, is 95 yrs old, a carpenter, a widower; is disabled due to Senility, cannot support himself, has no relatives of sufficient ability to maintain him, who are legally liable for support under the laws of Michigan and he therefore applies for admission. He now receives $12/mo pension at the Detroit agency, nearest relative is Michael Bush (‘nephew’) of Farmington, Oakland, MI.” On 29 Dec 1906, George was admitted to the Michigan Soldiers’ Home.
George Bush, Application for Admission, Michigan Soldiers Home, MI_GRPL_Film 5_Folder M-4980_1 thru _05
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Another “Declaration of Pension” included in George’s file from the Soldiers’ Home is puzzling because it is chronologically impossible, dated 12 Aug 1907, and attesting that George G Bush of Mt Pleasant, Isabella, MI, “appears, aged 95 years, states he was born May 12, 1812 in Benton, NY; he attests to his service”. Two witnesses attest... [the rest is illegible]. Also included in his Soldiers’ Home file is an important document dated 14 Aug 1907, “Pension ‘Reissue’ Under Act of Feb 6, 1907”. If he ever saw it himself, George must surely have felt finally vindicated:
“Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions."...”In conformity with the laws of the United States, George G Bush who was a Corporal Co G 23 Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry is entitled to a pension at the rate of Twenty dollars per month to commence on the Fourteenth day of August 1907.” Signed on the 15th Jan 1908 by James Rudolph Garfield, Secretary of the Interior.
Note that although the new rate was retroactive to 14 Aug 1907, it wasn’t signed until 14 Jan 1908. And previous pension payments received were to be deducted from the retroactive payments. Once George moved into the Home, the payments belonged to the Home. He wouldn’t even benefit from the new rate, although the Home surely appreciated the increase in the payments received across the board for all of their resident veterans.
Published 19 Aug 1907, the 35th Volume of the Grand Rapids City Directory included an entry for Bush, George G, inmate Soldiers Home.
On 12 Apr 1908, George G Bush passed away. His death certificate recorded that he “died of Senility and Dry Gangrene of Foot at the Michigan Soldiers’ Home at 3:30 AM.” The last page of his file reads “Funeral services were conducted by Rev J. K. Stark. Buried in Mich Soldiers Home Cemetery April 15th 1908; 95 years old.
**NOTE at end of George G Bush biography
Findagrave memorializes Harriet Sperry Bush with “burial details unknown” and a death date of 1893, with the note that a “statement in husband [sic] civil war pension says she died abt 1893”. His pension record has been scoured for such a statement and none was found, only the designation “widower” on his application for the Soldiers’ Home. Only one other time -- on the 1900 census -- did George say he was “widowed”. In 1880, he said he was divorced. Maybe he was, but maybe she found her “affections” for her disabled and probably disagreeable husband becoming increasingly strained. As each child married and left home, she may very well have left home herself, to live with and help raise grandchildren. This researcher has observed that many people preferred not to reveal their actual marital situations, some even saying they were divorced or widowed rather than reveal their spouses had left them. Unless further records are found of Harriet’s whereabouts after 1870, the only speculations that can be made are that she may have died before 1880 and definitely before 1900.
SOURCES: ancestry; wikipedia; nps.gov; fold3; civilwarhome.com; newmarkethistoricalsociety.org; newspapers.com; chroniclingamerica.gov; civilwarmed.org; hathitrust.org; archive.org; wmgs.org; nps.gov; bentley.umich.edu; findagrave; familysearch
My special thanks to Kimberly Rowell Sides for copies of her 3x-great grandfather’s pension records.
GRAVESITE: Grand Rapids Veterans Home Cemetery,
Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan
Written by Dorotha Simmons Piechocki,
May 2023