Born in an Illinois farming community, Edwin Brush (1873-1967) found his love of magic early on when a neighbor showed him a few magic tricks. The hobby translated into a career after Brush watched a performance by Hermann the Great. While working as a traveling salesmen, Brush performed at community gathering until 1900 when he decided to become a full-time performer. From that time on, he became a regular performer in lyceum, Chautauqua, USO and school tours.