George Washington Bush Informative Speech
George Washington Bush
Washington was a state of many white settlers and Indians. But George was one of the first black American settlers in what is now called Washington State. Life back then was tough, especially for a black man. Many laws would make him move or give up land. Today I am going to tell you all about George Washington Bush. About his background, adult life, and why he is important to Washington State. George Washington Bush was born in Pennsylvania around 1778. He was an only child, raised as a Quaker, a religion based off of Christianity, and was educated in Pennsylvania. Bush’s father, Matthew Bush, was born in India but was of African descent. Mathew worked for a man named Stevenson, who was a rich English merchant. Stevenson’s home was in Philadelphia, he had an Irish wife back …show more content…
there, who Mathew met.
George's parents served Stevenson until his death. Stevenson had no other family so left the Bushes a huge amount of money and property.
As an adult, George did many things. Although he had many religious views, he was a veteran in the war of 1812, fought against the British. George was credited with being the soldier who persuaded General Jackson to use bales of cotton as barricades in the battle of New Orleans. That was one of the reasons why we defeated the British. He was again a veteran of the black hawk Indian war. In that war he was wounded. In 1820, him and some of his friends moved to the Pacific coast, they then trapped and hunted for a fur company. This was in St. Joseph, Missouri. On July 3, 1830, George married a girl named Isabelle James. Her father was a Baptist preacher. When they married, she was 30 years old and George was about 51 years old. In 1844, George Bush and five other families left Missouri and headed Northwest on the Oregon Trail. Bush’s knowledge of the western regions, and his navigation skills made him be the leader of
the party. George’s wife had a skill that was necessary for the trip. She was a nurse. George Washington Bush was very generous to other travelers. “He provided the settlers with food for their first winter and with seed for the first sowing. If they had no money, he still supplied them with what they needed. ” Bush’s neighbor had once said this. Once they reached Oregon County, there was a law that said no blacks were allowed. Immediately after that, the gang headed across the Columbian river. They reached an area that was owned by both United States and Great Britain. As a group, they made log homes to live in and planted seeds to farm with. The Settlers were taught by many Nisqually Indians on how to get oysters, dig clams and fish. Again, laws made Bush lose his land because he was black. But 53 of his neighbors signed a petition and sent it to the government, so he could stay. The government allowed George Washington Bush to stay. And soon the farm was the best in the region. In 1863, the man died.
One may ask how George Washington Bush was so important to the state of Washington. The answer is simple. The party that George led has been credited for opening land north of the Columbian river. Other settlers were attracted to this place and came to settle there also. Soon the United Sates and Britain were dividing the territory. Also, George was on of the first black American settlers in what was later called Washington State. In closing, after a harsh and prejudice life, George Washington Bush had found land that he and his family could finally stay in and farm. Bush was a veteran in the war, and a successful cattleman. He was a very famous man. In fact, Bush Prairie was named after him.
Washington was a state of many white settlers and Indians. But George was one of the first black American settlers in what is now called Washington State. Life back then was tough, especially for a black man. Many laws would make him move or give up land. Today I am going to tell you all about George Washington Bush. About his background, adult life, and why he is important to Washington State. George Washington Bush was born in Pennsylvania around 1778. He was an only child, raised as a Quaker, a religion based off of Christianity, and was educated in Pennsylvania. Bush’s father, Matthew Bush, was born in India but was of African descent. Mathew worked for a man named Stevenson, who was a rich English merchant. Stevenson’s home was in Philadelphia, he had an Irish wife back …show more content…
there, who Mathew met.
George's parents served Stevenson until his death. Stevenson had no other family so left the Bushes a huge amount of money and property.
As an adult, George did many things. Although he had many religious views, he was a veteran in the war of 1812, fought against the British. George was credited with being the soldier who persuaded General Jackson to use bales of cotton as barricades in the battle of New Orleans. That was one of the reasons why we defeated the British. He was again a veteran of the black hawk Indian war. In that war he was wounded. In 1820, him and some of his friends moved to the Pacific coast, they then trapped and hunted for a fur company. This was in St. Joseph, Missouri. On July 3, 1830, George married a girl named Isabelle James. Her father was a Baptist preacher. When they married, she was 30 years old and George was about 51 years old. In 1844, George Bush and five other families left Missouri and headed Northwest on the Oregon Trail. Bush’s knowledge of the western regions, and his navigation skills made him be the leader of
the party. George’s wife had a skill that was necessary for the trip. She was a nurse. George Washington Bush was very generous to other travelers. “He provided the settlers with food for their first winter and with seed for the first sowing. If they had no money, he still supplied them with what they needed. ” Bush’s neighbor had once said this. Once they reached Oregon County, there was a law that said no blacks were allowed. Immediately after that, the gang headed across the Columbian river. They reached an area that was owned by both United States and Great Britain. As a group, they made log homes to live in and planted seeds to farm with. The Settlers were taught by many Nisqually Indians on how to get oysters, dig clams and fish. Again, laws made Bush lose his land because he was black. But 53 of his neighbors signed a petition and sent it to the government, so he could stay. The government allowed George Washington Bush to stay. And soon the farm was the best in the region. In 1863, the man died.
One may ask how George Washington Bush was so important to the state of Washington. The answer is simple. The party that George led has been credited for opening land north of the Columbian river. Other settlers were attracted to this place and came to settle there also. Soon the United Sates and Britain were dividing the territory. Also, George was on of the first black American settlers in what was later called Washington State. In closing, after a harsh and prejudice life, George Washington Bush had found land that he and his family could finally stay in and farm. Bush was a veteran in the war, and a successful cattleman. He was a very famous man. In fact, Bush Prairie was named after him.