Biography - John Rushing
JOHN W. RUSHING was born at his present home in Burnside Township, Johnson County, to Abraham W. Rushing, who was a native of Kentucky, born in 1824, and the son of Nathan Rushing, a native of Tennessee and a farmer. Grandfather Rushing was an early settler in this section of Illinois, coming here not long after 1840. He came here from Middle Tennessee with his one yoke of oxen and covered wagon, bringing but little money, with which he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of wild land, about one mile from the house in which John W. Rushing now lives. On this land he made a permanent home, clearing about one hundred acres, and at first building one of the primitive style log cabins, in which he lived some time, and then erecting a one and one-half story hewed-log house, in which he lived the rest of his days. He was married twice. His first wife, by whom he had three sons and one daughter, dying in Kentucky, he was married again in Kentucky, this time to Miss Mary Veal, of that State, who bore him three sons and four daughters. He died on his farm in the year 1865, aged seventy-two years; his widow survived him twenty-five years, and died in 1890, at the age of seventy years. Abraham W. Rustling was brought up on the farm, and he married Sarah Campbell, of Kentucky. Soon after their marriage Mr. Rushing and his wife came to Illinois, settling in Johnson County early in the '50s. He settled on one hundred and twenty acres of land, of which John W. now has eighty acres. This land was then new and for the most part heavily timbered, so he first cleared a spot on which to build a log cabin, and in which they lived some years. He paid $50 out of the proceeds of his first crop of tobacco for the land on which they made their permanent home, and by hard work and economy accumulated a valuable estate. They buried in infancy two sons and two daughters, and also saw their first-born son, Valentine, consigned to the dust when he was but fifteen years old, and J. M. at the age of twenty-two, a teacher by profession, and a bright, scholarly young man, who received his education at Ewing College. F. M. died at the age of twenty-three years. This young man was also a student of Ewing College and Metropolis. The untimely deaths of these two bright young men, which were caused by consumption, were a matter of general regret. The next to pass away was Eliza, wife of J. P. Vancleve, who also died of consumption, at the age of twenty-one. The survivors of the family are John W., and Roland D., who is a farmer of this vicinity. These two sons had excellent opportunities for securing an education, but finally made choice of farming as their vocation in life.
John W. was married at the age of twenty-two years to Martha E. Reed, a daughter of J. M. and Ollie (Robison) Reed, who came from Kentucky to Illinois at an early day, and it was on their farm in Burnside Township that this daughter was born. Mr. and Mrs. Rushing have lost one little daughter, Minnie, aged three years, and have living one daughter, Luella, aged fourteen, who is a bright student, and has fine musical talent, which the parents are permitting to be developed. She is taking lessons both in vocal and instrumental music. Mr. Rushing is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows' lodge, and both he and his wife are consistent members of the Baptist Church. Politically, he is a true and loyal Republican. His business is that of general farming, and he also has a steam threshing-machine and a gristmill at Ozark, his brother being in company with him in the two last-named interests.
Extracted 16 Dec 2016 by Norma Hass from 1893 Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, pages 384-385.
