John Rush family photos donated by Patricia Anderson

For more information about the photos, please contact Patricia Anderson.

John Rush who lived in Merrill after he was married and had a family was born near Bronson. He was one of 11 children born to Josephus Rush and Mary Jane (Walden) Rush. Josephus also had a son from his first marriage. His wife Frances Melvina Cordell died in Decatur County when their son McClellan (Tell) Rush was 9 mo. old in 1866. In 1867 Josephus married Mary Jane and they moved to Missouri where his sister and her family were living in Nodaway County. J. Arthur, Alta, Dennis (Shorty), Amelia, Thomas, and Theodore (Doc) were born in Missouri.  The sister, Caroline (Mrs. George)  Malone passed away in 1877. Josephus and Mary Jane moved to Kansas. Cleora (Ora) and Olive (Ollie), Jestie and Vida were born in Kansas. After the family returned to Iowa in the Woodbury and Monona County line area they had the youngest child John (Pop) Rush. The older siblings were married and had their own families and lived mainly in Fairview, Lake, and Lincoln Twps. in Monona County and in the Sergeant Bluff area in Woodbury County.
 

 

The Rush Family-front row, Jestie Rush (Cameron), Mary Jane (Walden) Rush, John Rush, Josephus Rush, Vida Rush (Dansereau), Amelia (Amy) Rush (Lamoureux).  Between the front and back rows are the twins, Ollie (Watson)  and Ora. Back row, Alta Rush (Sisson), J. Arthur (Art) Rush, Theodore, Dennis, Tom and Tell Rush.

 

McClellan (Tell) Rush married Jennie May Titterington in Stockton, Kansas. They lived near Sloan in Fairwiew Twp. The photo was taken in the 1890's with the first four children. In descending age they are: Melva, Blanche, Clyde, and Josephus Hiram.

 

Ora and Ollie Rush were twins born in Kansas in 1881. At the turn of the century (1900) they were 19 years old.

Ollie Rush married John A Watson. Their eldest child was a son named Ernest. John Watson was a resident of Lake Township, Monona County. His parents were Nathan and Catherine Watson. John and Ollie moved to McIntosh SD. They were early settlers there.

Photo taken at the home of Wallace and Alta Sisson in Lincoln Twp. Ollie and Ora with their brother John in the background.

Rush Reunion- Late 1930's or early 40's, The surviving family members at the time- John, Ora, Ollie, Alta, Amy and Dennis.

In Lake Twp., Monona County- Tell, Doc, Mary Jane and Mabel ( Cameron) Rush with Doc and Mabel's boys, Jake and Mose.
Mary Jane, Josephus, Shorty and Ruth and Iven Neal Rush.