The Michael & Thomas Bush (Bussa) (Busa) Families

Donated to LaPorte INPCRP web site by Susan I. Taylor email her at taylor49@csinet.net

Michael Bussa arrived in New York on the ship Christel from Bremen on 25 July 1871. He was 24 years old and showed his occupation as Labor.
ref: Germans to America Volume 25.

Michael's wife Francisca would come on another ship called the Marco Polo a little over a year later in August of 1872. Also arriving in New York the ships registry showed her age as being 27 years old and occupation unknown.
ref: Germans to America list of passengers arriving at U.S. Ports -Volume 28

In referencing the obituary of Francisca, we note that Michael and Francisca were married in Germany about 1870. The Bush family were evidently already settled in Michigan City when their son Thomas was born in 1875.

Please note the following newspaper articles and obituaries to learn more about the Bush family who arrived in this county as the Bussa (Busa) family.

Michael (Busa) Bush .........Man Falls to Instant Death...... Michael Bush Apparently Walked in His Sleep....... Fatal Accident Early Tuesday...... During House Cleaning he sleeps in hayloft - Death about One o'clock. Tuesday headline read - Wife and Seven Children Survive... Michael Bush, aged 59 years, residing with his family in Krueger's addition near the cemetery, met instant death early Tuesday AM by falling from the hayloft at his barn., where it appears he had slept Monday night. The man evidently walking in his sleep and stepped off the edge of the loft, falling probably 15 feet to the floor. The unfortunate man struck his head and death was instant. Michael Bush was born in Germany and had resided in this city for a number of years. It appears that during house cleaning time, Mr. Bush spends the nights in the hayloft. Monday night he was accompanied to the barn by his son-in-law. The fatal accident occurred about one a.m. Tuesday. The deceased's children are: Thomas, Stephen, John, Stanislaus, Mrs. William Orleske, Mrs. Wrobeleske and Miss Anna Bush. A wife is also left to mourn. The funeral will be held this Thursday morning from St. Stanislaus Church. article appeared
(MCDW Thursday, October 19, 1905)

Mrs. Frances (Czechowiak) Busa (Bush) 610 Decatur Street, died Friday afternoon at 3:45 o'clock after an illness of two weeks. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Sept. 3, from the home at 8:20 and from St. Stanislaus church at 9 o'clock, with Rev. Joseph Bolka officiating. Burial will take place at St. Stanislaus Cemetery.
Mrs. Busa was affiliated with St. Stanislaus church, the Married Ladies' Society and the League of the Sacred Heart. She was born in Germany on March 19, 1846 and has been a resident of this country for 63 years. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Czechowiak and was married to Michael Busa 65 years ago in Germany, who died 29 years ago.
Two sons, Ignatius and Stephen Bush of this city and two daughters, Mrs. Stella Robel, of Lansing, Michigan and 23 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren survive.
Friends may view the remains at the home Sunday and Monday and until the funeral Tuesday.
News Dispatch Michigan City, IN August 31, 1935 Obituaries - Funerals

Thomas Bush, Michigan City Evening Dispatch - September 16, 1932....Section 1 Page 2 Column 4
Thomas Bush, a former Michigan City resident, died at 6 p.m. yesterday in Lansing, Michigan., his death being attributed to a complication of ailments.
He was born in 1875 in Michigan City and spent his entire life here with the exception of the last year in Lansing.
Mr. Bush was twice married, his first wife preceded him in death. Eleven years ago he was married to Mrs. Josephine Ciesielski at Terre Coupe, Indiana, and she survives him.
Besides the widow, he leaves three sons, John Bush, Michigan City, and Joseph and Stanley Bush, South Bend, three daughters, Mrs. Mary Labioda, Lansing, Michigan, and Mrs. Margaret Grattenhaler and Miss Elisabeth Bush, Michigan City; his mother Mrs. Frances Bush, age 87, this city; three brothers, Steve, John and Ignatius Bush, Michigan City, and two sisters, Mrs. Stella Robel and Mrs. Ann Herbert both of Rolling Prairie.
The body will be brought to this city on Saturday afternoon and it may be viewed at the home of Mr. Bush's brother, Steve Bush, 610 Decatur Street from 3 to 3:30, and burial will be in St. Stanislaus Cemetery at 4 o'clock. Rev, Joseph a. Bolka will officiate at the service in the cemetery. (note: this news article failed to note my father, Thomas son' Clement, in this article.)

Lottie (Hanyzewski) Bush Michigan City News March 21, 1917
SAD NEWS FOR TWO GUARDSMEN... Mrs. Thomas Bush Dies After Brief Illness.. Two Brothers in Company G
Steve and Walter Hanyzewski Arrive from Border This Evening to Find Sister Dead - She was ill but a few hours.
Wednesday March 14,
It will be a sad homecoming for Steve and Walter Hanyzewski, who arrived from the border with Company G this evening. They reached home to find their sister, Mrs. Thomas Bush, dead after a few hours illness from uraemic kidney trouble. The Hanyzewski family had planned a family reunion for this evening including a big feast with all relatives present participating in a joyful celebration. The death occurred at 7:30 last evening.

The Bush family resided on Tilden Avenue, near Coolspring Avenue. Mrs. Bush was in her usual health yesterday morning, doing the family wash and her regular work, but later in the day taken with convulsions, and regardless of the best medical aid, she did not respond to treatment.

Lottie Hanyzewski, for that was her maiden, was born in Germany of May 32, 1882 and came to Michigan City with her parents when but three years of age. She was married in 1899 to Thomas Bush. She is survived by her parents Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Hanyzewski, and either children, John, Joseph, Clement, Vincent, Stanislaus, Mary, Elizabeth and Margaret; also five brothers, Steve, Walter, Wadislaus, George and Martin, and by one sister Helen. Steve and Walter Hanyzewski who are both in Company G, are expected home this evening.
Mrs. Bush was a good mother, ever mindful of the welfare of her family, and leaving nothing undone that would contribute to their happiness. The funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Friday in St. Stanislaus church. interment in St. Stanislaus Cemetery. Friends may visit the body any time Thursday.

Return to LaPorte County