Biography

Lillian Margaret Grabenhorst was born on 28 Dec 1884 in Dayton, Webster, Iowa, the second born of William Henry and Eva Haight Grabenhorst's eight children. She was named Lillian after her mother's sister, Lillian Haight, and Margaret after her paternal grandmother.In 1902, William and Eva and their family moved to Oregon from Iowa. They purchased the Frank C. Baker farm, consisting of three hundred and twenty-seven acres located four miles south of Salem in the Pringle area of Marion County. A highway intersection incorporating the farm area would later be mapped as Grabenhorst Corners. In 1910 William and Eva made the decision to subdivide the farm and sell it in small tracts of five acres while they moved into the city of Salem. That same year William and his older son, George Henry Grabenhorst, opened up W.H. Grabenhorst & Co. Real Estate in Salem to sell the tracts. The company was very successful and would go on to become a prominent real estate company in the Salem area.  

Lillian attended public schools in Iowa and then Capital Business College in Salem. She had an eye for finances and was meticulous in her work. She started working as a bookkeeper for W.H. Grabenhorst & Co. After her marriage to Sheridan Busch around 1907, she moved to Toppenish in Yakima county, Washington where she took an office position. Sheridan taught in the Yakima Valley schools and was later appointed as county superintendant of schools. They moved into Yakima and in 1921 Lillian took office as county treasurer after winning the Republican nomination hands down. It was almost unheard of for a woman to go into politics in that era but she did an excellent job and had a sterling reputation as a business woman. After the first official report on her work by the state examiner, there was no doubt about her re-election to a four-year term. She left the treasurer's office January 1, 1927 as the result of the two-term limitation on county officers. Efforts were made to hold her services for Yakima county but instead she became a member of the Republic Publishing Co.'s financial staff. When the owner Mr. Robertson died in 1938, she became auditor for the Robertson estate, a post she held until her death.

Lillian was a hard worker who willingly accepted responsibility and difficult jobs and always performed her tasks well. Her efforts helped break down the prejudices of the time both against hiring women and also electing them to political office. She also had a lighter side. She had a good sense of humor and liked to tell stories about her early days breaking into a field traditionally considered to be man's work.

Lillian was widowed during her term as county treasurer when Sheridan died unexpectedly in 1924 at age 50. She never remarried. She and Sheridan did not have children so she enjoyed being around her nieces and nephews on family visits. She and her sister Evelyn were close in their later years and spent a lot of time together. They also liked to go to the family beach cabin at Neskowin on vacation and have a good time. Their nephew Stuart McAllister describes them as "tall and beautiful bachelor women, outfitted in khakis and looking like adventurers". He tells a story about a trip Lillian and Evelyn took to the coast with Stuart and his older brother, Lee, as teen-agers. The boys had to wait in the car until 2 am outside a dance hall for their aunts who were having a good time inside! The next day they all took a chartered fishing boat where Stuart says they all caught a lot of fish and got their picture published in the newspaper so the boys had a great time.

Lillian died on 4 Nov 1947 at age 62 after being in the hospital for three weeks. Her sister, Evelyn, was with her at the end.  She is buried in Tahoma cemetery in Yakima. The outpourings of tribute at her passing were a testimony to all that she had accomplished during her life.

Photographs

	Lillian Margaret Grabenhorst Iowa	Lillian, George, Charles, Bill, Anna  Grabenhorst	Lillian Margaret Grabenhorst	Lillian Margaret Grabenhorst

Lillian and Anna Grabenhorst 30 Dec 1900	Lillian Margaret Grabenhorst	Lillian Margaret Grabenhorst	Sheridan Busch

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Documents and Articles

Obituaries and Tributes

Lillian Grabenhorst Busch

Yakima Daily Republic November 4, 1947

Death takes Mrs. Busch Mrs. Lillian Busch, one of Yakima's leading businesswomen who had been serving as auditor of the W.W. Robertson estate, died early this morning in St. Elizabeth hospital where she had been for three weeks. Mrs. Busch, conscientious to the highest degree and never willing to have even her best friends disturbed in her behalf, displayed those characteristics in her final illness and asked that no newspaper announcement of it be made. Mrs. Busch came west in 1902 when her family moved from Dayton, Iowa where she was born to Salem, Oregon. Over 40 years ago Mrs. Busch came to the valley, going first to Toppenish to take an office position. Despite her youth, she speedily became known for the meticulous care she took of her books and the perfection of her records. She was married to S.S. Busch, then teaching n the valley schools and later to be county superintendant of schools. He died a number of years ago. In 1921 Mrs. Busch took office as county treasurer after winning the Republican nomination hands down though a woman as county treasurer seemed at the time so new as to be almost dangerous. After the first official report on her work by the state examiner, there was no doubt about her re-election to a four-year term. She left the treasurer's office January 1, 1927 as the result of the two-term limitation on county officers. Efforts were made to hold her services for the county but instead she became a member of the Republic Publishing Co.'s financial staff. When Mr. Robertson died in 1938, she became auditor for the Robertson estate, a post she held until her death. Funeral arrangements await word from relatives. Surviving relatives are three brothers, George H., William H. and Charles W. Grabenhorst, all of Salem, Ore., and two sisters, Mrs. Nell McAllister of Salem and Mrs. Evelyn Doane of Valsetz, Ore. She is also survived by an aunt, Mrs. Carrie C. Grabenhorst of Salem, and by a number of nieces and nephews, including Robert A. Johnson of Milwaukie, Ore., who grew up in the Grabenhorst home after his mother, Mrs. Busch's eldest sister, died in childbirth. Mrs. Doane came to Yakima as soon as the seriousness of Mrs. Busch's illness was realized and remained with her until the end. Funeral arrangements are being made at Shaw and Sons.

Yakima Daily Republic Editorial November 4, 1947

Mrs. Lillian Busch was a remarkable and inspiring businesswoman and friend. She was quiet and kindly. She was piquant and trim in her dress and mannerisms. She was loyal to the core, and completely devoted to the interests she represented. Bust mostly Lillian Busch was persistent in her pursuit of worthy and helpful objectives, and she was wise about many things, so wise. Mrs. Busch believed in the virtue of integrity as the basis of personal, business or political conduct. Everything she did affirmed that faith. And within the meaning on integrity this slender, dark-eyed woman included a concept of steady devotion to her duties-giving her job and the many people who depended on her the highest priority of her time and attention. Lillian Busch was not without humor. Her laughter and the light behind her dancing eyes were younger than her years. She liked to spin yarns, and to recall times when her service in county politics-a challenge to the traditional concepts of a woman's place in that day-involved her in a man's world. We'll miss Mrs. Busch, her sad smile, her shrewd word, her unshakable love for the dailies and their achievements. She led an enormously fruitful life, adding so much more than she took away, and doing so with grace and so easily. The dailies, for what they are, and Yakima, for what it is, are better for her influence.

Yakima Morning Herald November 5, 1947
 
Service Arranged for Mrs. Busch
Business Woman Dies in Hospital
Last rites for Mrs. Lillian Busch, prominent Yakima businesswoman, who died early yesterday morning in St. Elizabeth hospital, will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Shaw & Sons funeral home. Rev. Robert N. McLean will officiate. Internment will be in Tahoma Cemetery. Pallbearers named are H.A. Crum, Charles Cartony, Ted Robertson, Loren Rieman, Murray Clark and John Bennett. Ill Three Weeks Mrs. Busch was stricken three weeks ago and requested that no public announcement be made of her illness. Former county treasurer for two terms beginning in 1921, she joined the Republic Publishing Co. financial staff in 1929. In 1938, upon the death of W.W. Robertson, she became auditor for the Robertson estate, a post she held until her death. She was born in Dayton, Iowa and came west in 1902. She moved to Toppenish from Salem, Ore., over 40 years ago and later married S.S. Busch, who became county superintendent of schools. Survivors Named She is survived by three brothers, George H., William H. and Charles W. Grabenhorst, all of Salem, Ore., and two sisters, Mrs. Nell McAllister of Salem and Mrs. Evelyn Doane of Valsetz, Ore. She is also survived by an aunt, Mrs. Carrie C. Grabenhorst of Salem, and by a number of nieces and nephews, including Robert A. Johnson of Milwaukie, Ore. Mrs. Doane came to Yakima as soon as the seriousness of Mrs. Busch's illness was realized and remained with her until the end.

Yakima Morning Herald Editorial November 5, 1947

Good Examples Remain
Death has claimed Mrs. Lillian Busch. Her passing takes from Yakima one of its most capable business women and one who left examples of influence, integrity and other sterling qualities which might well stand as patterns for others in the business world to follow. Throughout most of her 40 years of residence in the valley, Mrs. Busch was identified with business activity. Although she went about her work only to give her employer value received and to do a good job she was blazing a trail which made entrance into the business field a much easier task for women who followed her. She started in the business field as a girl in a period when employment of women was not the common practice that it was today. She did a good job and beyond doubt her work broke down some of the early prejudices against hiring women. She again blazed another trail for women when she was twice elected Yakima county treasurer in a period when women had a hard time breaking into politics. In her two terms, beginning in 1921, Mrs. Busch did a good job and gave additional proof of woman's capabilities in public office. Mrs. Busch started her business activities in the valley in Toppenish. After her terms as county treasurer she became associated with the Republican Publishing Co., where she willingly accepted responsibility and difficult jobs and always performed her tasks well. Her loyalty to the newspapers she served was of the highest type. Her associations with fellow employees always were pleasant. Her helpfulness to fellow workers both experienced and inexperienced, never will be forgotten by people still here and by those who moved to other jobs. Her passing is regretted by a wide circle of friends both inside and outside of Yakima's newspaper organizations.

Business Card

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Census Records

1900 census
		William Grabenhorst age 40 born in Maryland farmer Evelyn Grabenhorst age 38 born in Iowa Anna A Grabenhorst age 16 born in Iowa Lillian A Grabenhorst age 14 born in Iowa George W Grabenhorst age 12 born in Iowa William H Grabenhorst age 10 born in Iowa Charley W Grabenhorst age 8 born in Iowa Eugene B Grabenhorst age 6 born in Iowa Nellie C Grabenhorst age 3 born in Iowa Amos Mores age 38 born in New York farm laborer Elmer L Ruby age 24 born in Pennsylvania farm laborer Dayton, Webster, Iowa; Roll: 465; Page: 18B; Enumeration District: 0172; FHL microfilm: 1240465
1910 census
		Sheridan S Busch age 36 born in Ohio school superintendent Lillian M Busch age 25 born in Iowa no occupation listed Sarah Rennie age 22 servant 22 born in Scotland Emil E Hays age 18 lodger born in Michigan A Pierson age 46 lodger born in Sweden N Yakima Ward 4, Yakima, Washington; Roll: T624_1675; Page: 22B; Enumeration District: 0287; FHL microfilm: 1375688
1920 census
		S S Bush age 46 born in Ohio insurance agent Lillian M Bush age 35 born in Iowa bookkeeper treasurers office Yakima, Yakima, Washington; Roll: T625_1946; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 221; Image: 277
1930 census
		Lillian M Busch widow age 45 born in California (note: no) accountant in a publishing company Yakima, Yakima, Washington; Roll: 2524; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0005; Image: 153.0; FHL microfilm: 2342258
1940 census
		Lillian Busch widow age 55 accountant 2 years of college Yakima, Yakima, Washington; Roll: T627_4371; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 39-3

Military Records

World War I Draft Registration

NAME: Sheridan S Busch BIRTH: 10 Aug 1873 RESIDENCE: Yakima, Washington OTHER: Yakima County

Vital Records

Birth Records

Iowa Births Database
NAME: Grabenhorst
BIRTH DATE: 28 Dec 1884
BIRTH PLACE: Dayton Twp, Iowa
FATHER'S NAME: Wm H Grabenhorst
MOTHER'S NAME: Eva Haight
FHL FILM NUMBER: 1401748

Death Records

Washington Death Certificate Database

NAME: Lillian Busch [Lillian Grabenhorst]
GENDER: Female
MARITAL STATUS: Married
AGE: 62
ESTIMATED BIRTH YEAR: abt 1885
DEATH DATE: 3 Nov 1947
DEATH PLACE: Yakima, Yakima, Washington
FATHER: William H Grabenhorst
MOTHER: Evelyn Haight

NAME: Sheridan S. Busch
GENDER: Male
MARITAL STATUS: Married
AGE: 51
ESTIMATED BIRTH YEAR: abt 1873
DEATH DATE: 27 May 1924
DEATH PLACE: Yakima, Yakima, Washington
FATHER: Martin Busch
MOTHER: Nancy Lott
SPOUSE: Lillian Busch
FHL FILM NUMBER: 2022252
REFERENCE ID: 2022252

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Gravestones
 

Lillian Grabenhorst Busch and Sheridan Busch  Tahoma Cemetery Yakima, Yakima, Washington

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Index

Title Page

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