Charles William Bush was born in Germany and immigrated with his family to the United States while he was still an infant.

In 1905, he moved to Valdez, Alaska, where he operated a tobacco store with his sister, Emma.

It was about this time that a boy, Edward, was born to Charles and his wife, Dora.

Meanwhile, Brown & Hawkins decided to close its Anchorage store, and Bush return to Portland.

Bush moved to San Diego, California sometime between 1926 and 1930, where he worked as a salesman for the Marston Company, a local department store.