EMORIA
WILLIAM
LINCOLN BUSH
William Lincoln Bush passed away
quietly at Oak Forest Sanitarium, Oak
Forest, Illinois, after a brief illness. His
life was spectacular and dramatic. He was
a colorful character who believed in the old
Roman motto, "While we live, let us
live." He inherited wealth and spent free-
ly. At one time he was President of the
Bush and Gertz Piano Manufacturing
Company and had several stores housed
in large buildings which he erected. He
built the Bush Temple of Music in Chica-
go which graduated thousands of students.
William
some of whom have made fine records in
Lincoln
the world of Music.
Bush
The Editor of Presto Music Times got to know Mr. Bush
through his close friend Frank D. Abbott from whom Mr. Pen-
gelly purchased Presto Music Times. Mr. Abbott shared office
space with Mr. Bush at the old address on Dearborn Street. When
Presto Music Times moved to the McCormick Building, Mr. Bush
used space in the offices. Mr. Bush occupied these until the very
morning of the day he went to Oak Forest Sanitarium.
It was interesting to know Mr. Bush who was more than
eighth/ years old for his memory went back over many active years.
He was a good story teller, and as he had known many leading
men it was always interesting to listen to him. Not long before
he died Mr. Bush took Mr. Pengelly over to the Chicago Musical
College and said, "[ want to play for you." He played several
classical selections remarkably well with fine force, all from
memory.
All of Mr. Bush's friends will be glad to know that he died
quietly.
Mrs. Bush is living at the Methodist Home for Old People in
Chicago. It is a most comfortable and well kept home. In the
"Good Old Days," the Bush family made a very large donation to
this institution.
Presto Music Times has received many letters of inquiry about
Mr. Bush's passing and Mrs. Bush's home. A number of letters
sent to Mrs. Bush from old friends of Mr. Bush were exceedingly
kind.
manufacturers.
He was well known throughout the entire music industry, by
whom he was called "O.C." He was greatly beloved by all who
came in contact with him. He was a recognized authority on every
phase of piano advertising and sales promotion, and unofficially
acted as friend and counsellor to many of those in the piano in-
dustry who later reached positions of high importance. Without
any doubt, his influence upon the industry as a whole had an al-
together favorable effect.
THEODORE CASSEBEER
Theodore Cassebeer, former Vice Pres. of Steinway & Sons,
died Saturday, Oct. 11th, in the Lenox Hill Hospital, after a brief
illness. Mr. Cassebeer was born in New York on September 9.
1879, the son of H. A. Cassebeer, for many years proprietor of a
pharmacy on Madison Ave., and Julia Cassebeer. He was cousin
of the sons of the founder of Steinway & Sons and entered its
employ in 1896. In 1919 he was made factory manager and a di-
rector, and later became Vice Pres. He resigned in Oct. 1939. He
was considered an authority on woods and veneers, and his knowl-
edge of woods was such that he sometimes rejected from a yard
containing 200.000 feet all but 20 feet of lumber. As factory man-
ager he was greatly loved by the men under him.
For many years Mr. Cassebeer was a member of Company B
of the Seventh Regiment of the New York National Guard. He
was a former Governor of the New York Athletic Club and a
founder of the Winged Foot Golf Club, lie also was a Trustee
of the Lenox Hill Hospital and a member of the University Glee
Club, the Oakland Golf Club, Bayside, Long Island, and the Lions
Club of Astoria. He leaves a widow, Mrs. Clara Kuttroff Casse-
beer, a sister, Mrs. Frederick Steinway. and two brothers. Dr. H.
A. Cassebeer and Edwin Cassebeer. all of New York City.
0. C. STONE
Mr. O. C. Stone became associated with the Everett Piano
Company as Sales Director in 1924. During his connection with
this Company he introduced many valuable and novel features in
piano mechandising. It had always been his thought to consider
the piano as an instrument of artistic worth, and in thinking along
these lines he did much to elevate the standards of ,the entire
industry.
He was the first man to introduce period styling and design-
ing into pianos, which had heretofore been produced according to
fairly standarized forms which were for the most part unattractive.
He also suggested and carried out many valuable aids to piano
selling which were used throughout the trade, and which in all
cases were on a high plane and in keeping with his thoughts.
He resigned from the Everett Piano Company in July. 1938
and since that time had lived in South Haven.
Before coming to South Haven, Mr. Stone had a rich exper-
ience in both piano retailing and wholesaling. He served with the
well known New Orleans retail music house of Philip Werlein,
Ltd., as Sales and Advertising Manager; was with the W. F. Fred-
erick Piano Co., of Pittsburgh ; and later located in New York
where he acted as consultant on sales promotion activities for eleven
PAGE SIX
Theodore Cassebeer
PRESTO MUSIC TIMES
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