| Sources |
- [S99] Farrar Funeral Home, (http://www.farrarfuneralhome.com), 24 Jan 2003.
Frances Bush Clevenger obituary
- [S120] A Place Called Home: Our Story, David L. Popiel, Duay O'Neil, et. al., (2006, The Newport Plain Talk / Jones Media Inc.), dpopiel@xtn.net., 30.
- [S101] 1880 Census, District 3, Jefferson County, Tennessee, 510D.
grandmother Sarah C. Bush household
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 28 Feb 2012.
Dan Smith: Bush brothers a success story for U.S. business
It won't be long until we can break out the grill and start the summer barbecuing once more.
If you're like me, you want baked beans on the plate with whatever your favorite meat might be. I'm kind of partial to Bush Beans, made by an East Tennessee company located on Highway 411 in Dandridge, just over the Sevier County line. From Sevierville it takes only about 20 minutes to get there.
I had the pleasure of talking to some of the people who run the Bush Visitor Center recently, and learned a lot about a food we eat almost every day. If you get the opportunity to visit there, you'll see how fascinating the simply little food known as the bean can supply so much nutrition to so many people.
I talked with managers Max Fultz, Chuck Metz Jr., Randie Gentry and Susan Merrell, who were kind enough to tell me all about the history and success of Bush Beans. It's quite a remarkable story too; having been originally a tomato cannery in 1904 along with Stokely Brothers, and expanding in 1908 to establish the Bush Brothers & Company while buying out the Stokely interests.
Another name for the location and area of Bush Brothers is called Chestnut Hill. Bush Brothers became the backbone of the community along with A.J.'s General Store which provided mercantile and was also the social hub for the community; a meeting place for locals to gather and converse.
Today they have a restaurant on the property called Bush's Family Cafe which opened in April 2011. The food and atmosphere are excellent, to which I can attest after eating there several weeks ago. They serve many different sandwiches and even chili dogs and, you guessed it, beans! You pick the beans you want.
The history of the place is vast and is best experienced by going to the museum and getting hands-on experience with the interactive displays for kids and adults. They've erected a first-class showcase for the company to provide all the needed information you'll need to learn about this American success story.
Yes, Bush Beans is an American success story. There are many in our history and when one is local, it brings it home to those in the immediate vicinity.
A.J. (Andrew Jackson) Bush was actually born in Chestnut Hill in 1867 and attended Carson-Newman College. He was a teacher early on. He married Sallie and they had six children. They were a very "family and community oriented" group which they still are today.
A.J. would be very proud of what he left them and how they've continued with this same spirit.
One obstacle they had early on was when the TVA created Douglas Lake in response to the country's need for more electricity. TVA used eminent domain to claim company farmlands and their Oak Grove plant.
Then in 1946 the deaths of A.J and Sallie Bush dealt an emotional blow to the company and the community. It was these misfortunes that caused the directors to change the name to Bush's Best and would be the new logo that would represent the new direction for years to come.
Bush Brothers & Company Mission Statement: "Bush Brothers & Company is a community making a difference by providing nourishing branded bean products. As we perpetuate and strengthen our company, we will provide with reasonable balance: Value to our customers, Service to our customers, Opportunity to out team of employees, Enhance value to our owners, Stability to our suppliers and Responsible citizenship to our communities. Together we will live by the values of integrity, responsibility, trust and caring as exemplified by our founder, A.J. Bush."
My experience with Max and his staff left me feeling that in their departments, they are fulfilling the mission statement and things are in good hands.
You know that dog in the Bush Beans commercial, the Golden Retriever that appears with Jay Bush; Duke is always trying to sell the secret recipe, but with no success. I also tried to bribe Duke with a Scooby Snack. I figured if Scooby Doo would do anything for that delicious treat, maybe Duke would too.
I'm sorry to report that I failed and the secret to Bush Beans is secure. Oh well, I tried. Let me have another serving of those beans, please!
— Dan M. Smith is a Cincinnati native and Gatlinburg resident. He is the author of two novels. His son is serving in the Air Force. E-mail to dan0729@yahoo.com.
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 8 Aug 2015.
Upland Chronicles: Doc Collier was larger than life
- [S112] Census, 1930.
Name: Andrew J Bush
Event Type: Census
Event Year: 1930
Event Place: District 8, Jefferson, Tennessee, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 62
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Race (Original): White
Relationship to Head of Household: Head
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head
Birth Year (Estimated): 1868
Birthplace: Tennessee
Father's Birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace: Tennessee
Household Role Gender Age Birthplace
Andrew J Bush Head M 62 Tennessee
Sarah E Bush Wife F 58 Tennessee
Lena M Bush Daughter F 18 Tennessee
Maxie Kimbrough Lodger F 22 Texas
Jennie Lee Elledge Housekeeper F 16 Tennessee
- [S87] Death Certificate.
Name: Andrew Jackson Bush
Event: Death
Event Date: 08 Mar 1946
Event Place: Jefferson County, Tennessee
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Married
Race or Color: White
Age: 78
Estimated Birth Year:
Birth Date: 27 Oct 1867
Birthplace: Tennessee
Spouse: Sarah Ketner Bush
Father: U
Father's Birthplace:
Mother: Sara Elizabeth Bush
Mother's Birthplace: Jefferson, Tennessee
Occupation: Canning Fctry Store Oprtr
Street Address: Rural
Residence: Jefferson County, Tennessee
Cemetery: Chestnut Hill
Burial Place: Chestnut Hill
Burial Date: 10 Mar 1946
Informant:
Additional Relatives:
Digital Folder Number: 4184910
Image Number: 309
Film Number: 2137370
Volume/Page/Certificate Number: cn 7764
- [S147] Find a Grave, (Memorial: 104510763).
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