Archie Bush was born in 1887 on a farm in Renville County, Minnesota. By the time of his death he had amassed a fortune in service to a struggling sandpaper company that later became known as 3M, eventually becoming chair of the company's executive committee. In later years Archie devoted considerable thought and energy to redistributing his wealth to those who might benefit most from it through both the Edyth Bush Foundation and numerous entrepreneurial ventures, several of which continue to bring prosperity to his hometown of Granite Falls.