Amanuensis Monday - Henry & Victoria Busch - Pt 2

Excerpted from the book "Mayfield: Then & Now" by Elaine Evans Clark and Sherry Stocking Kline, published in 2003.

Henry had a motorcycle for several years, and he and Charles Rerick traveled together frequently.  The Mormon young traveled through this part of the state.  They were going on mission tours, and several of them stayed with the Hembrow Brothers and worked summers on their threshing crew.  After a couple of years, Henry decided to stay over the wintertime on this farm.

Henry fell in love with Victoria, "Babe," and on October 1, 1917, Henry L. Busch and Victoria F. "Babe" Hembrow went to get married in Wichita, and came home to live with William and Ollie Hembrow.

Henry and Victoria stated farming, and the story that was told was that Henry would not let "Babe" drive the hose team; she only drove the mules.  Henry also protested that Victoria farmed in crooked rows, and Victoria's answer to that was that "you could plant more corn in crooked rows than in straight ones."

There were four children born to this family, (Eldest son still living), Robert Adel Busch, Betty Jo Busch, and Anita Mae Busch.  Before Anita Mae was born, there was another house built, one-half mile from the earlier house.

During the war, the Busch family made a lot of changes in their homes.  Eldest son went to the service, Robert A. "Bob" married June Maxine Force, Betty Jo was in Nurse's training at St. Francis Hospital in Wichita, and Anita Mae was still in high school in wellington.  After high school, Anita Mae attended college at Southwestern College, Winfield, and received her Master's Degree at Pittsburg, Kansas.

Betty Jo married George E. Weber. and they had one son, Henry Leroy, named after her two grandfathers; she now has seven grandchildren.

Anita Mae did not marry but enjoyed helping raise "all the little kiddies in her care," some of her nieces and nephews.  Anita Mae died of cancer on September 18, 1999.

Bob and June continued farming until he retired and they had four children, 11 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Amanuensis Monday - Henry & Victoria - Mayfield: Then & Now

Pt. 1 - Henry and Victoria Busch, submitted by Betty Jo Busch Weber

In Bavaria, Germany, there was a young man, Johann George Busch, who had just lost his young wife, and he was trying hard to keep his small daughter, Louisa, alive.  After much searching he found Catherine Cyrch, also of Bavaria, and he proposed marriage to Catherine if she would help him feed his little daughter.  This plan worked out to everyone's satisfaction.

Later, when Germany was struggling to keep the poor from starving, Johann decided to go to America with some of his friends who were also ready to try their luck in America.  As soon as he made his plans, he shared the money with his wife, packed his duffel, and took off for America. 

Soon the ship sailed into New York; he climbed off the ship, and before long he was standing in Cincinnati. Johann had been a shoemaker in Germany, so he applied for a job and got it.  After a time, Johann finally felt he had enough money for the passage for his family to join him in Cincinnati.  Catherine  packed her belongings, and with the two little girls, Louisa from Johann's first marriage and Catherine, the first born of her own marriage, she was on her way.

Later, Johann and Catherine increased their family to eight children, and little Elizabeth was the only child they lost. 

As the family grew up, the parents decided to separate.  They decided to let the older children go with their father, and the younger ones were to go with their mother.  If their plan had been carried out, Henry L. Busch would have been with his father.  He was already crying and homesick, and they hadn't even separated.

Finally, the parents decided to put Henry on the train and send him to Kansas.  The younger uncle, William Busch, and his wife Mary Borden were traveling by covered wagon and they would meet in Eastern Kansas.  Henry used to comment that he kept the fee for the return trip in the sock in his valise in case he had to return to Ohio.

For the first few years, Henry farmed for a farmer east of Milan, and later he signed on with the Hembrow Brothers. (See Hembrow family history)

Read Pt. 2 - coming next Amanuensis Monday.

Excerpted from "Mayfield: Then & Now".  To order a book, stop by the Sumner County History & Genealogy Center, 208 N. Washington, Wellington on Tuesdays, or click here for a mailing order.

Genealogy & Evernote Classes Offered This Spring!

This spring, the Sumner County Historical & Genealogical Society will be offering classes taught by professional genealogist and former Information Technology professional, Gene Davies, Caldwell.

Starting with “Beginning Genealogy” Davies will instruct classes in Beginning Genealogy, how to use family tree software, and using Evernote for genealogy and to store photographs, organize files and back up your hard drive.

It’s not necessary to have your own laptop, but if you do, bring it and enjoy the hands-on Beginning Genealogy class.  Davies will show you how to find and use primary and secondary sources, research on-line at free and subscription websites, share with you how to use DNA to break down brick walls and learn your ancestral origins, as well as give you valuable tips on organizing the information you locate and entering the information into a family tree program.

Times, dates, and Wellington location to be announced after determining time constraints of participants, but there may be both day and night sessions offered. 

Cost for each four hour training session will be $10 for SCHGS members and $20 for non-members. (Joining the society saves $$$ on future classes!)  

For more information, stop by the Sumner County Historical & Genealogical Society History Center at 208 N. Washington in Wellington, Kansas on Tuesday from 10 am to 4 pm (closed through the lunch hour) or contact Gene Davies at 316-371-3157, or online at www.daviesonline.me.