Louis Arthur Busch. The legal profession of Champaign County and the civic government of Urbana have a worthy representative in the person of Louis Arthur Busch, state’s attorney. A native of the city of Urbana, he has passed his entire life here, and his career among its citizens is looked upon as particularly worthy, as he has trod the hard self-made road to success and has triumphed over a number of discouraging obstacles which have arisen in his path. A member of the legal brotherhood since 1908, he has made rapid advancement in his calling, and since 1912 has been the incumbent of the official position which he now occupies.
Louis Arthur Busch was born June 4, 1886, at Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois, and is a son of Carl T. and Carolina S. (Hank) Busch. His father was born in Prussia, Germany, and was a child when brought to America in 1868, the family originally locating at Champaign, where he was reared and received his education in the public schools. Upon his removal to Urbana, in young manhood, he embarked in the furniture business, and continued to be identified with that enterprise during the remaining years of his life, his death occurring June 8, 1896. Mr. Busch was a Democrat in his political views, but not an active participant in politics. He religious faith was that of the Lutheran Church, in which his children were carefully reared. Mrs. Busch, who survives her husband and resides at No. 411 West Main Street, Urbana, was born in Germany, July 3, 1861, and was brought to the United States by her parents in 1868. She has been the mother of seven children, as follows: Carl C., William L., Mrs. Emma (Busch) Lange, Mrs. Minnie (Busch) Baker, Louis Arthur and Mrs. Bertha (Busch) Foesterling, and Henry, who died as an infant.
After completing the curriculum of the graded schools and spending one year in high school, Louis Arthur Busch, then a lad of fifteen years, became identified with the furniture business, to which he had been given an introduction some years before in his father’s store. He had lost his father by death when he was ten years of age, and he therefore had not enjoyed the privileges in an educational way which would have otherwise been his. However, he was desirous of obtaining a good education, having set his ambitions upon a professional career, and through his industry and continued effort managed, in 1905, to enter the University of Illinois, as a special student. For three years he took law and preparatory studies, and in 1908 duly completed his course and was graduated, whereupon he entered upon the practice of his profession at Champaign. Being earnest and industrious, he not only gained for himself a good clientele, but attracted to himself the attention of a number of representative men, who saw in him good official timber and eventually persuaded him to allow his name to be used as a candidate for the office of state’s attorney. To this office he was duly elected December 2, 1912, and in the same position he has continued to serve to the present time. He has proven a most excellent official, his value to the community being enhanced by his comprehensive knowledge of his calling, his conscientious performance of his responsibilities and the fearless manner in which he attacks the duties of his office. Among” his professional associates, Mr. Busch bears a good reputation as an adherent of the best ethics of the law, as a valuable fellow counsel and as a worthy opponent.
On February 2, 1910, Mr. Busch was united in marriage in Shelby County, Illinois, with Miss Laura Wascher, who was born at Champaign, Illinois, August 5, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Busch are the parents of two sons and one daughter, namely: Arthur, who was born November 1, 1912; Robert, born March 6, 1914; and Barbara, born December 24, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Busch are members of the Lutheran Church, and Mr. Busch belongs to the church council and is active in its work. His political support is given to the candidates and policies of the Democratic party. During Governor Richard Yates’ administration he was appointed law clerk of the House of Representatives for two terms. As a fraternalist he holds membership in the local lodges of the Masons, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias.