John R. Busby

  John R. Busby, of Rose Hill, who is engaged in the banking business and also carries on a general mercantile enterprise which he has conducted for twelve years, is one of Mahaska county's native sons, his birth having occurred in Oskaloosa, November 25, 1869. He is a son of Elijah Busby, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. The father was born in Carroll county, Ohio, and when a young man came to Iowa, settling in Mahaska county, where he was married to Eliza Bass. She was born in Indiana but was reared in Iowa, her father, William Bass, being one of the pioneer settlers of this state.

John R. Busby spent his youth in his parents' home, acquiring his education in the public schools of Mahaska county and afterward attending Des Moines College. He remained with his father until nineteen years of age and for about a year engaged in teaching school. He studied pharmacy and afterward spent two years as a pharmacist in Des Moines. He then came to Rose Hill and purchased a drug and grocery store, since which time he has been identified with the business interests of this town. He soon built up a good trade and has enlarged the scope of his undertakings by putting in a stock of dry goods and shoes. He now carries a large and complete line of general merchandise and has a liberal patronage owing to his reliable business methods, his earnest desire to please his patrons and his reasonable prices. In 1900 he established the Rose Hill Savings Bank, a stock bank capitalized at $15,000. The president is Robert Bass, while Mr. Busby is cashier. A prosperous business is being conducted and Mr. Busby has thoroughly acquainted himself with banking in all of its departments, so that he is able to give excellent service to the public. The institution has long since become a paying one and is a valued addition to business interests of Rose Hill. It is to the bank that Mr. Busby gives the greater part of his time and attention.

On the 1st of January, 1894, was celebrated in Jasper county the marriage of John R. Busby and Miss Lulu Austin, who was born and reared in that county. She was educated in Oskaloosa and in Des Moines and is a daughter of Henry Austin, a native of Maine, who spent his boyhood and youth in the Pine Tree state. Later he came to Iowa and owned and conducted a big stock farm in Jasper county. He was a pioneer there, entering land from the government and was closely associated with the early development and progress of that part of the state. Mrs. Busby was reared and educated in Jasper county and by her marriage has become the mother of one child, Lois. Mrs. Busby belongs to the Friends' church but attends the Methodist Episcopal church at Rose Hill. Both Mr. and Mrs. Busby are deeply interested in the
work of the church and of the Sunday-school and he has served as Sunday-school superintendent for several years. They contribute generously to the support of the church and do everything in their power to promote its growth and extend its influence.

Politically Mr. Busby is independent and has never sought or held office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business interests and other duties. He is one of the active and prosperous business men of Mahaska county, a good financier and man of keen discernment. He is public spirited in an eminent degree and while advancing his individual interests has also contributed to the general welfare. He built a large double store building in the town; also a residence and has thus contributed to the material improvement of the village. He is ever ready to give aid and encouragement to all-enterprises for the advancement of the community and he is well known in Oskaloosa and Mahaska county, he and his estimable wife enjoying the warm regard of a very large circle of friends here. Their influence is distinctively on the side of the just, the true and the beautiful, and their genuine personal worth is recognized by all with whom they have come in contact.