WILLIAM BUSH, now living retired in Rockford, is one of the most thrifty young farmers of Plainfield township, Kent county, Mich., was born in Grattan township, same county, February 17, I859, and is the second son in a family of children of whom James and Elizabeth (Abeel) Bush are the parents, the others being Clara; Charles, of Grattan; Ralph, on the old Bush homestead in Grattan, and Mrs. Justus Berry, of Read City. William 'was reared to agriculture, although he for a short time followed the trade of a carpenter. May 22, 1882, he married Miss Myrtie Elkins, and a year later settled on his present farm in section No. I2, Plainfield township. Mrs. Myrtie (Elkins) Bush was born in Cannon township, Kent county, March 28, I863, a daughter of William and Martha (Black) Elkins, and is the second eldest in a family of six children, the remaining five being Joseph, the first born, and Frank, the third born, who are married and live in Cannon township; Belle, is a teacher and a resident of Grattan township, on the old homestead; Fred is married, resides in Courtland township, and Blanche, the youngest, lives in Grattan on the old home. Mr. and Mrs. Bush have no children, but have adopted a three year-old girl, Maisy. Mr. Bush has always been a republican in political affiliations and cast his first presidential vote for James A. Garfield. He has served his fellow-townsmen as highway commissioner for several years, but has never been a partisan in the office-seeking sense of this word, being a republican through principle only. Fraternally he is a member of Rockford lodge, F. & A. M., and Lovell Moore chapter, R. A. M., and he and his wife are members of Rockford chapter, order of the Eastern Star.. Mr. Bush is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is not, however, connected in membership with any religious denomination, although Mrs. Bush is an active member of the Congregational church, to the support of which Mr. Bush frequently contributes with a liberal hand. The upright and industrious life led by Mr. Bush has gained for him the approbation and esteem of all his neighbors, and Mrs. Bush shares with him the respect of all who know them. Mr. Bush's farm of I6o,acres with excellent barns and outbuildings, and all in a high state of cultivation, lies on the state road two and a half miles south of Rockford. Devoting his attention to the farm, it yields a golden tribute to the labor bestowed upon it.