asahel bush was born in westfield, massachusetts, on june 4, 1824. his parents, asahel bush, sr. and sally noble bush, were of english descent. the younger asahel attended public school and later westfield academy, then at the age of 17 moved to saratoga springs, new york where he became an apprentice printer. bush later worked for a newspaper before studying law. he passed the bar in 1850 in massachusetts, but soon left for the oregon territory by the steamship panama, taking the isthmus of panama route.