RUSH, Willis

RUSH, SKINNER, BODEN, PAGE, SPEAR, HAMER, CHRISMAN, SIGAFOOS, BROWN COOL, SENG, PATTERSON

Posted By: Norma Jennings, Administrator (email)
Date: 3/30/2013 at 12:03:08

Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa 1881, p 181

WILLIS RUSH, deceased, was born Sept. 21, 1808, in Somerset County, Pa., and was the son of David and Mary (Skinner) Rush, who were also natives of Pennsylvania, but of Welsh descent. He was reared a farmer, but learned the blacksmith's trade, which he worked at till forty years old, then went on a farm, which occupation he followed the remainder of his life. On the 3d day of July, 1836, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Boden, daughter of James and Catherine (Page) Boden, the former of English and the latter of German descent. She was born in Pennsylvania, Feb. 22, 1816. They have had nine children, seven of whom are now living: Sylvester married Jennie S. Spear; they have two children—Harry S. and Mary G. Nathaniel married Nettie Hamer; they have seven children—Willis, Mary, Freddy and Eddie (twins), Mattie and Minnie, with one deceased, Effie. Martha is the wife of Cyrus W. Chrisman, of Minneapolis, Minn.; Simeon married Katie Sigafoos, and has one child, Glen; Samantha is the wife of Dr. Allen Brown, of Nebraska; they have one child, Ethel. Ella is the wife of Rev. William E. Patterson, of Ft. Madison, Iowa; Catherine married Simon Cool, and died leaving one child, Willis; Elizabeth married Corydon Seng, and died leaving two children—Charles and Arrela.

Mr. Rush died Jan. 20, 1887. He had been a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His widow is also a member of the same church. Politically he was a Republican. He was a kind and loving husband and an affectionate father, and in his death the county lost one of her best citizens. At his death he was the owner of a fine farm of 320 acres, all of which was under a high state of cultivation. The widow resides in Ainsworth, "waiting, only waiting," to join her loved one who has gone before.