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From: marta burns <>
Subject: [PAGREENE] rush
Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2003 13:55:18 -0200

John Mahaffey Rush, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Hopewell
township, is of Irish descent, his father, Patrick Rush, having been born
December 25, 1797 in County Tyrone, Ireland. Patrick's parents were John
and Mary Rush, natives of County Tyrone, where they resided during their
entire lives.
Patrick Rush evinced a desire to come to America, and when but fourteen
years of age, joined a party of friends, named Miller, who were about to
emigrate. His parents pleaded with him to remain at home until he reached
manhood, but with the impetuosity of youth he determined to sail
immediately, and was permitted to accompany his friends on board the
vessel, where he concealed himself until out of port. His friends paid
for his passage, and he promised to work for them after reaching America
until he could repay them.
The Miller family came to Mt. Pleasant township, Washington county,
Penna, and began clearing land. After working out his debt, young Patrick
Rush hired to Mr. Miller by the year, remaining in his employ for several
years.
On Christmas Day, 1829, he was married to Sarah Mehaffey, a native of
Ireland, born September 18, 1799, in County Down, Ireland. She was the
daughter of John and Nancy Mehaffey. The latter family came to America
and settled in Chartiers township, when Sarah was thirteen years of age,
locating near Cross Roads Church, where Mr. Mehaffey was killed September
25, 1825, by a falling tree, while cutting timber for the church.
After his marriage to Sarah Mehaffey, Patrick Rush rented a farm in Mt.
Pleasant township, Washington county, upon which he remained for thirty
years. He purchased two farms, which he sold, and in 1849 removed to
Hopewell township, where the subject of our sketch is now living.
Five children were born to Patrick and Sarah Rush, namely: John M Rush,
Nancy Rush, wife of James Bigger of Muskingum county, Ohio; Mary Jane
Rush, wife of Matthew Knox of Guernsey county, Ohio; Robert Rush,
lieutenant of the Ringgold Battalion, Pennsylvania Cavalry, killed at
Rodney, Virginia; and Sarah Rush, married to Samuel Armstrong of Guernsey
county, Ohio.
The mother died in October, 1886. She and her husband were members of the
United Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr. Rush was a Democrat, but
aside from attending election, took no active part in political affairs.
He was a man of keen perceptive facilities and good judgment. Beginning
life for himself when so very young, he had no opportunity for getting a
literary education, yet he was in every sense of the word a successful
man, and accumulated a handsome property. He died in August, 1880.
John M. Rush was born October 22, 1830, in Mt. Pleasant township, and was
sent to a subscription school, which he attended during the winters until
seventeen years of age. He has a vivid recollection of the schools of
that time, which were in sharp contrast to the present school system. The
rude log schoolhouse with its primitive furniture familiar to every
pioneer was the "temple of learning" where he received his education. The
course of study pursued at that time included such text-books as "Cobb's
Speller" and "U. S. Speller," "Western Calculator" and "English Reader."
Quill pens were used, and the "copies were set by the master."
Primitive as were the methods employed in those days, it was in such
schools and by such methods that many of the most intellectual and able
men of our day laid the foundation of their education. The training Mr.
Rush then received has served well in his successful business career.
At the age of seventeen years he left school and engaged in wagoning
between Hickory and Pittsburgh, hauling grain and merchandise, driving
four or six horses to a great "Conestoga" wagon. He followed that
business nine years, and in 1856 took charge of his father's farm, having
since pursued the occupation of farming and stock raising.
In 1857 he was married to Nancy Stoolfire, daughter of Charles Stoolfire
and Elizabeth Fronacker Stoolfire of Donegal township, and to them were
born five children: Albert Stoolfire Rush; Eudora Winona Rush; Lillian
Rush; Sallie M Rush; and Herbert Rush. Mr. Rush is residing on his farm
two miles southeast of West Middletown. He is a Democrat, but seeks no
political prominence. Mrs. Rush and her daughters (all of whom are living
at home) are members of the Disciple Church at West Middletown. Mr. Rush
has no church affiliations.
Albert S. Rush, son of John M Rush and Nancy Stoolfire Rush, was born
August 20, 1860, and was reared on his father's farm in Hopewell
township, Washington county, Penna. He received his early education at
the district school known as Tarrtown school, attending there until about
eighteen years of age. He then followed farming, working with his father
until twenty-two years of age, when he entered Duff's Commercial College
at Pittsburgh, Penna, where he remained about three months, when sickness
compelled his return home.
On June 6, 1883, he was married to Miss San Jacinto Duvall, daughter of
Louis Duvall. Their children are Albert John Rush, Mary Nila Rush and
Stanley Oklahoma Rush.
In addition to managing a large farm, Mr. Rush does an extensive business
in breeding, raising and selling pure blood Poland-China pigs, Shropshire
sheep, and Jersey cattle, all registered. His exhibits of stock raised on
his farm during the last three years have excited the comment and
admiration of fine stock fanciers throughout western Pennsylvania. His
business is growing, and his sales book holds orders from Ohio, New York,
Maryland and Virginia, besides different localities in his own State. He
possesses in an eminent degree those qualities which form a first-class
citizen, and is a credit to his community, enjoying the esteem of his
neighbors. He leaves to others the business of politics, caring nothing
for the allurements of office-holding, but voices his sentiments at every
election by his ballot, being liberal in local elections, supporting the
most suitable candidate. In national elections he supports the principles
of pure Democracy.
Mr and Mrs Rush are members of the Dutch Fork Disciple Church, and by
precept, practice and financial support, perform their duty toward
sustaining and promoting the cause of Christianity in the community.
Beers, J H & Co, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County,
Pennsylvania, Chicago: J H Beers & Co, 1893, page 1245

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• [PAGREENE] rush by marta burns <>