Sketch of my Great Grandparents:
MARTIN AND ELIZABETH DEGEN BUSHMAN
Taken from the Bushman Family Record...Given to Wanda Bushman By Aunt Lois Smith
Martin Bushman was born the first of April 1802 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His father was Abraham Bushman, son of Henry Bushman and Barbara Trout, and his mother was Esther Franks.
Martin Bushman was a strong, well built man, 6 feet tall weighing 175 pounds, and he had light brown hair and blue eyes. He was a successful farmer. Little is known in detail of his life until he married Elizabeth Degen in 1827.
Elizabeth Degen was born the 12th of September 1802 in Holstein, Baselland, Switzerland, Her father was John Casper Degen, who was the son of Fredrick Degen, who was the son of Ulrich Degen, who was the son of Christian Degen , who was born about 1655 in Oberdorf, Switzerland. Her mother was Ana Maria Graf, who was the daughter of Johannes Graf, who was the song of Johannes Graf, who was the son of Freidli Graf, who was the son of Hans Graf, who was the song of Bernard Graf, born about 1560 in Maisprach, Baselland, Switzerland.
When Elizabeth was four years old her mother had a baby girl and both mother and baby died. One year later her father married Anna Maria Shaublin. Six children were born to this second mother. Two died in Switzerland as infants. In the fall of l8l6 John Casper Degen took his family to America. They came in an old sailing vessel, and were seventeen weeks, crossing the ocean. Two of their children died during this trip and were buried at sea. When they reached American their trip being much longer than expected, they were indebted to the captain of the ship. Elizabeth then fourteen years old was bound out for two years to pay this debt, after which she continued to work to help provide her for her future life. At the age of 24 she could read and write the English language as well as she could her native tongue. She could cook, sew, spin, weave, milk cows, make butter and cheese, and even help in the fields.
John Casper Degen died the 19th of August 1821 and his wife died the 22nd of October 1856 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. There were two children who lived to maturity besides Elizabeth, Fredreick and Anna Maria, half brother and sister of Elizabeth. Anna Maia married Addison W. Leftwick and lived in Ohio. She lived to be one hundred years old. They are the progenitors of our Leftwick cousins. Fredrick Degen married Anna Otto; they are the progenitors of our Degen cousins in Pennsylvania.
Martin and Elizabeth Degen married in 1827 at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Elizabeth was five feet four inches tall, rather a stoutly built with black hair and black eyes. They lived near his parents and were happy and prosperous. Seven children were born to them here. Three died when very young.
In 1840 two L.D.S. Elders; Elisha H. Davis and H. Dean, brought the Gospel to them. Feeling that it was from the Lord they accepted it and were baptized. Soon they had the desire to gather with the Saints at Nauvoo, Illinois. None of the relatives in Pennsylvania joined the church. In June 1842 after selling their property, settling up their affairs, and bidding goodbye to their kindred, they commenced their thousand mile journey through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois to the city of Nauvoo on the banks of the Mississippi River. They had four living children at this time: Jacob, Sarah, Elizabeth, and Martin, the baby.
Soon after their arrival they met the Prophet and Patriarch who gave them a hearty welcome. They rented a farm from Bishop Edward Hunter and were prospered and blessed. Their son, Jacob, now thirteen years old was a great help to his father. Every tenth day they worked on the Temple which was being built by the Saints at this time. On the 12th of March 1843 the Patriarch Hyrum Smith ordained Martin Bushman a High Priest and also gave he and his wife a Patriarchial blessing. The promises and blessings contained in these blessings have extended to us, their posterity.
On the 7th of June their son, John was born. Soon after the enemies of the Saints began preferring charges against the leaders, and mob violence grew. The Prophet and his brother Hyrum were killed, but with the twelve apostles at the head the Saints continued on and finished the Temple so that many of the Saints received their blessings therein. Another girl, Esther Ann was born the 28th of November 1845 to Martin and Elizabeth. On the 25th of December 1845 they received their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple. In the fall of 1846 the Saints were driven out of their beautiful city, but before they left, Martin Bushman took his children into the Temple and showed them the Baptismal Font resting on the twelve bronze oxen. This occasion they never forgot.
The Bushman family with six children were compelled to leave all they possessed except what they could take in one wagon, and crossed the great Mississippi into Iowa. On the 12th of October their nine year old daughter Elizabeth died just before they camped for the night. The next morning they buried her without a coffin and had to go on with the company. Just one week later the beautiful dark eyed baby, not a year old, died and was buried the same as her sister. They continued their journey in sorrow as their little son John was near death’s door, but as the rainy season passed they regained their health.
After many hardships they arrived in Hyland (Highland) Grove, a small village near Council Bluffs, on the western border of Iowa. Here they located to prepare for the winter. They built a log house, covered it with sticks and dirt and only had a floor of dirt. With provisions gone the father went over one hundred miles into Missouri to work splitting rails. For pay he earned cornmeal and pork and his son Jacob went to get it with their ox team. In the spring of 1847 they broke up some land and put in crops.
Their youngest son, Elias Albert was born the 6th of December 1849 at Hyland Grove. The winter of 1850-51 their daughter Sarah who was seventeen taught at the village school. With what they earned working out and raising crops, they got enough to bring them to Salt Lake Valley. In the fore part of June 1852 they were ready to start.
Son John was now eight years old and his father baptized him in Key Creek and then confirmed him. Arrived in Salt Lake ... They only stayed there a week, then they went south to Lehi. There were only 30 families living here then. David Evans had been appointed Bishop. Lehi was then called Evansville.
The father traded with Abram Hatch for 20 acres of land and here they did their first farming by irrigation. They went to into the canyons and got timber for building. He got sheep that they might have wool to make into clothes. Each did his part and they were prospered and thanked the Lord for bringing them to this goodly land. They lived in Lehi nineteen years in peace and plenty and having a comfortable home. They were always willing to take in emmigrants from the old country and help them get settled. In the spring of 1852 their only daughter Sarah married Alonzo D. Rhodes. Grandmother was a practical nurse and midwife. Besides taking care of her family she spent much of her time helping the sick and comforting those in sorrow. Elizabeth had the gift of tongues. We have the copy of an interpretation of the prayer in tongues she gave on her death bed.
Martin Bushman died the 18th of October 1870, age 68. Elizabeth Degen Bushman died the 21st of May 1878, age 76.