Biography of Mathew M. (Mack) Rushing - Coffee Co., AL ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with the USGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other gain. Copying of the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged. ALGenWeb File Manager - Lygia Dawkins Cutts ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Sun, 18 Oct 1998 09:04:16 -0500 Contributed By Ronald D. Bridges Biography of Mathew M. (Mack) Rushing, Coffee Co., AL "Mathew M. (Mack) Rushing, the first child born to William Cain and Mary (Rushing) Rushing was born about 1831 at Robertson Cross Roads, Montgomery County, AL. There are some discrepancies as to Mack’s date of birth. The 1850 Pike County Census shows his birth as 1831; his military records show his birth as 1827 and his grave has 1829. Mack Rushing married Sarah Jane Amerson 22 December 1853. Sarah Jane was born 23 September 1834 in Alabama. Her father was from Georgia and her mother from South Carolina. Mack Rushing was a Civil War Veteran, having served with the Confederate Soldiers of America. He entered service in 3 Mar 1862 at Elba, AL, as a Private in Company A, 38th Alabama Infantry and was discharged at Chicamauga, TN after being wounded at the Battle of Perryville, KY where he had an arm shot off. The left arm was amputated at the shoulder. Mack received a Pension #1429, Coffee County, AL, Witnesses: B. D. Simmons and W. D. Bryan. The date of his final discharge was 10 May 1865. Records on the internet recorded that he was wounded and captured at Battle of Perryville KY 10/8/62. He was sent to Cairo IL to Vicksburg MS for exchange via steamboat City of Madison 12/5/62. On roll of invalid corp 9/1/1864. (Records seem to suggest he was in the 33rd.) Mack and Sarah had already settled near Elba in Coffee County before the war and were farmers. After the loss of his arm, it was said that Mack could turn out more work than most men with two arms. He was also a real good shot with a rifle with just one arm. He was very strong and short in stature. There are numerous deeds recorded in the Probate Office of the Coffee County Courthouse for Mack and Sarah Rushing. There are also Crop Lien Notes that he made in order to plant his crops for the next year. It is interest- ing to read the wording on the papers. Some of these were hard to read; however, it is amazing that they were saved after the Elba Flood of 1990. The following are two of his Crop Lien Notes, dated 22 November 1878 and 28 January 1893 (100 years ago): By the first day of October next, I promise to pay Henderson Brothers & Company or bearer Two Hundred Dollars for value received, it being for necessary advances in horses, mules, oxen and necessary provisions, farming tools and implements and money to procure the same obtained by me form them bona fide for the purpose of making a crop the next year on my plantation in Coffee County, and without such advancements it would not be in my power to procure the necessary ?, provisions, money, implements, etc. to make a crop the next year, hereby creating a Lien thereon in accordance with Sections 1858 to 1860 inclusive of the revised lands of Alabama and Sections 3286 to 3288 inclusive of the present lands of Alabama, and it is further agreed that if the said Henderson Brothers & Company shall advance me anything over and above the amount named in the above note that this Lien shall stand as security for the same as fully as if included in the original amount of this instrument and to further secure the payment for the advance herein before named in consideration thereof. I hereby waive all right of exempt Liens secured to me by the exemption and Laws of the State of Alabama, which may be exempt now or may be exempt thereafter to any resident of said State ? sale or execution or other legal process of any Court issued for the collection of any debt. This 22nd day of November 1878. Witness: L. C. Wright, P. H. Baker Signed: M. M. Rushing THE STATE OF ALABAMA PIKE COUNTY Know all men by these presents that I, M. M. Rushing for and in consideration of being indebted to Henderson Brothers & Co. by Crop Lien Note bearing even date with this instrument and due on the 1st day of October 1879 for the sum of Two Hundred Dollars and to further secure the payment of said sum together with any amounts that may be advanced under said Lien Note, I do hereby grant, bargain, sell and convey to the said Henderson Brothers and Co., my entire crop grown the next year by me or under my direction in Coffee County, Alabama; also all the next year, also the following stock and plantation implements now owned by me and in my possession in said county, to-wit: One black horse, mule 3 years old, one sorrel horse mule 5 years old, 2 cow and calves, one wagon and harness and all other stock and plantation implements not mentioned above, now in my possession or in my possession at maturity of this paper, to have and to hold the above described property, real and personal, to the said Henderson Brothers & Co., and their heirs forever. And if said note, with all amounts that may accrue under the same is not paid at maturity, the said Henderson Brothers & Company are hereby authorized to take the above described property into possession and sell the said personal property as they may deem best and the said real estate for the highest bidder for cash after giving thirty days notice of the time and place of sale by advertise- ment in some newspaper published in Pike County or by posting written notices at three public places in said county and apply the proceeds thereof to the payment of said amount and the expenses of keeping and selling the said property - upon this conditi9on nevertheless, that if said amount is paid at maturity this conveyance is to be void. And I hereby waive all rights to exemptions secured to me by the Constitution and Laws of the State of Alabama. And the said M. Rushing hereby declares that the said property is his own, and that there in no Lien or encumbrance on the same. Given under my had and seal this 22nd day of Nov. 1878. Witnesses: L. C. Wright, P. H. Baker Signed: M. M. Rushing Filed in my office for Record on the 7th day of Jan. 1879. B. M. Stevens, J. P. Mack Rushing died 22 December 1914 and is buried at Zoar Methodist Church Cemetery in Coffee County. Sarah Jane (Amerson) Rushing died 2 July 1918 and is buried next to Mack. The following is inscribed on Mack Rushing’s grave: "REST SOLDIER, REST, THE WARFARE IS OVER" ZOAR CHURCH AND CEMETERY The land for the Zoar Methodist Church and Cemetery was donated by Mathew B. (Math) Rushing, a son of Mack Rushing. The church was established circa 1850 as well as several other churches in the area. Two families that helped to erect the church were the Johnsons and the Millers. The church was called The Zoar Methodist Church. Many Rushings were buried in the cemetery. In the 1960’s the property was purchased by the Holiness Organization and was renamed The Zoar Community Holiness Church. The church was moved across the road next to the cemetery and there is a pretty brick church there. Several of the Rushing descendants are members of the cemetery committee today and help support the upkeep of the cemetery."(1) (1) "Rushing" Through the Generations, by Peggy Rushing Sims