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Obadiah Newcomb Bush (January 28, 1797 – February 9, 1851) was an American prospector, businessman and ancestor of theBush political family. He was the father ofJames Smith Bush, grandfather of business magnateSamuel Prescott Bush, great-grandfather of former U.S. SenatorPrescott Bush, great-great-grandfather of former U.S. PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush, and great-great-great-grandfather of former Texas Governor and U.S. PresidentGeorge W. Bush and former Florida GovernorJeb Bush.

Obadiah Newcomb Bush was born on January 18, 1797, inPenfield, New York. His father, Timothy Bush Jr. (1766–1850), was a blacksmith; his mother was Lydia Newcomb (1763–1835). His paternal grandfather, Capt. Timothy Bush Sr. (1728–1815), was anAmerican Revolution militia captain.^[1]

Bush served in theWar of 1812.^[2]

Bush became a schoolmaster inRochester, New York.^[2] He also served on a committee that nominated candidates forjustice of the peace. He and his brother Henry, a manufacturer of stoves, were knownabolitionists. He served as vice president of theAmerican Anti-Slavery Society and supported theUnderground Railroad.^[3] He petitioned theNew York State Legislature to secede from the Union in a protest against slavery, after whichThe Rochester Daily Advertiser accused him of encouraginganarchy.^{[citation needed]}Abigail Bush was the wife of his brother Henry.

In 1849, he travelled toCalifornia "with theforty-niners during thegold rush".^[4]

Bush married Harriet Smith (1800–1867) inRochester, New York on November 8, 1821. They had seven children, among themJames Smith Bush.^[2] Following his years as a schoolmaster in New York, Bush traveled to the West Coast. Seeking to relocate there permanently, he set out for the East Coast by sea to wrap up his affairs. Bush died some time en route in 1851, and was apparently buried at sea.^[5]

• Mansfield, Stephen (2004).The Faith of George W. Bush. Tarcher.ISBN 1-58542-378-5.

• 1797 births
• 1851 deaths
• American gold prospectors
• American businesspeople in manufacturing
• Burials at sea
• Bush family
• Businesspeople from New York (state)
• People who died at sea
• Underground Railroad people
• 19th-century American politicians
• People of the California Gold Rush

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