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office. He belongs to the Church of Christ, to the Mutual Protective
League of Pike county and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at
Perry -- associations which indicate the character of the man, for
he is loyal to the teachings of these different organizations.
Deeply interested in everything pertaining to agricultural progress
and development, he was secretary of the Perry Grange and also its
master for two terms and was appointed by Governor Yates one of the
delegates to the farmer's congress held in Texas. He is ever
watchful for methods for the improvement of the community along
agricultural lines and he belongs to that class of representative
American men who while advancing their individual success also
contribute in substantial measure to the work of public progress and
prosperity.
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EDWARD R. RUST
Edward R. Rust, deceased,
who was connected with agricultural interests in this county and by
an active, useful and honorable life won the respect and esteem of
his fellowmen, was born in England, February 15, 1837. His father,
Edward Richard Rust, also a native of that county, came to America
in 1852, leaving England on the 15th of May of that year. He brought
with him his family, including six children, namely: Edward R., then
fifteen years of age; Louisa, aged thirteen; Martha, ten; Rebecca,
eight; Theresa, six years of age; and Charles, four years of age.
The father was a well educated man and the son of a lawyer. The
family landed in New York and thence made their way to Jacksonville,
Illinois, where they resided for seven years and during a part of
that time Edward Richard Rust was in an attorney's office. Mrs.
Edward R. Rush of this review now has in her possession the
passengers' contract ticket that the family had when they came to
America.
In the schools of England, Edward R. Rust
began his education, which he continued in Illinois. He came from
Jacksonville to Pike county in 1859, and, having learned the
blacksmith's trade, he followed that pursuit until 1863, when he
purchased a farm in Fairmount township near Perry, spending eight
years thereon. He bought another farm in Fairmount township, one
mile west of his first farm of seven hundred twenty acres, on which
he spent his remaining days with the exception of a period of six
years, during which time he lived in Baylis. He removed to Baylis in
1887, there remaining until 1893, after which he returned to the
farm whereon he resided until 1904. His health then failed and he
again took up his abode in Baylis, where he continued to reside
until his death, which occurred on the 11th of January, 1905.
Mr. Rust had been married on the 5th of
October, 1861, to Miss Margaret N. Robison, who was born October 17,
1841, and was a daughter of Henry and Margaret (Taylor) Robison,
both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, and were of Irish
lineage. The father came to Pike county at a very early day, when
this country was little else save an unbroken wilderness. However,
he cleared a tract of land and in the midst of the forest built a
log cabin and added other improvements to the farm. Settlers were
very few in this part of the county at that time and the family
lived in true pioneer style. For some years Mr. Robison carried on
farming near Pittsfield, but later removed to Adams county and
subsequently took up his abode in Clayton, Illinois, where about
1855 he built a brick store. He afterward returned to Pike county
and located near Perry, where he spent his remaining days, his death
occurring in March, 1867. He was a very successful man and
accumulated much wealth. In the family were five children.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rust were born seven
children. Henry R., born November 17, 1863, married Hattie Tripplett,
and they have eight children. He is a farmer and resides in
Fairmount township. Mary Ann, born in January, 1867, is the wife of
William Henthorn, a resident farmer of Fairmount township, and they
have three children. Emma H., born in January, 1870, married Wilson
Potter, a farmer residing in Fairmount township, and they have seven
children. Rebecca, born October 16, 1872, is deceased. Charles E.,
born November 14, 1875, has passed away. Alice G., born September
15, 1879, is
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