RUSCA, John L., Natchitoches, then Ascension Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller



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Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and
Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), p. 660.  Edited by Alcée
Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.

Rusca, John L., of Donaldsonville, parish of Ascension, superintendent of the
parish schools, was born at Natchitoches, La., Dec. 31, 1872; son of John and
Theresa (Delmonico) Rusca, who were both from Switzerland, the husband having
emigrated to Louisiana at the age of 14 with an uncle, and his wife, Theresa,
having come to the United States, with her parents when she was 2 years old. 
John Rusca went into business at Natchitoches, as a dealer in general
merchandise, and was more than 50 years a successful tradesman.  John L.
Rusca, the subject of this biography, is the second of 9 children, namely: 
Eugenia, wife of Robert Cook, residing at Shreveport, La.;  John L., a citizen
of Donaldsonville;  Josephine,  Regina, wife of Max O'Connell, a planter in
Pointe Coupée parish;  J. Delmonico, attorney-at-law, at Natchitoches;  St.
Elmo, a dentist, graduate of Philadelphia dental college;  Leo A., merchant,
at Shreveport;  Earl and  Stella, wife of Otto Reinach residing at Gibbsland,
parish of Bienville, La.  After having been educated at the state normal
school, Natchitoches, and also at the summer school of the University of
Chicago, Ill., John L. Rusca was a teacher in Natchitoches parish, in
Lafourche parish, for 3 years, in Vermilion, at Dutch Town, and in the parish
of Ascension.  He was principal of Dutch Town high school for 2 years, leaving
that position to accept the principalship of Donaldsonville high school, of
which he was the head during 7 years.  In 1909 he was elected superintendent
of the parish schools of Ascension, and has held that office ever since. 
Prof. Rusca is of the Roman Catholic faith, a member of the Knights of
Columbus at Donaldsonville, and has been advocate of that lodge for the last 4
years.  He is also a member of the Woodmen of the World and of the Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks.  Dec., 1904, occurred the marriage of Prof.
Rusca and Miss Nellie Bercegeay, daughter of August and Augusta (Beltier)
Bercegeay, the former a native of France, who emigrated to the United States
at the age of 17, in the year 1837, and locating at Donaldsonville, was a
teacher in the public schools for a long time, and died in Nov., 1891.  His
widow, who was a native of New Orleans, passed away in 1913.  Prof. Rusca and
wife have 2 children, John Lucian and Ralph Austin.