BIOS: Harrison H. RUSH, Lower Turkeyfoot Twp., Somerset County, PA

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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, Vol. XXXII, Containing Life Sketches of Leading 
Citizens of Bedford and Somerset Counties, Pennsylvania. Boston, 
Biographical Review Publishing Company: 1899, pp. 232-234

  Harrison H. Rush, a Civil War veteran and now a prosperous farmer of 
Lower Turkey Foot township, Somerset County, Pa., was born in Upper 
Turkey Foot, January 7, 1843, son of Jehu and Mary (Hanna) Rush.  He is 
a representative of the fifth generation of his family in this country, 
being a great-grandson of Jacob Rush, Sr., a native of the Island of 
Jersey, born in 1755, who emigrated prior to the Revolutionary War, and 
joining the Continental army participated in the battle of Trenton and 
in other engagements.
  The father of this patriotic ancestor was William Rush, first, who 
was born in 1727, and died October 2, 1800, age seventy-three years, 
and whose wife, Elizabeth, born in 1725, died November 13, 1813, age 
eighty-eight years.  Jacob Rush, Sr., was an early settler in Lower 
Turkey Foot, locating near Ursina, and he became a well-to-do farmer 
and cattle dealer.  He died January 14, 1850, age ninety-five years.  
His first wife, Mary Skinner, was born in 1760, and died October 13, 
1826, age sixty-six years.  For his second wife he married Ann McNeil, 
born 1787, died December 28, 1866, age seventy-nine years, 1 month 23 
days.  He reared a large family, and each of his children upon reaching 
maturity received a farm.
  William Rush, second, son of Jacob and Mary, and grandfather of the 
subject of this sketch, was born in this county, April 8, 1784, and 
lived to the age of eighty-five years, ten months, and twenty-eight 
days.  When a young man he settled at Paddytown in Upper Turkey Foot, 
where he engaged in farming.  He married Sarah Killpatrick, who was 
born January 3, 1787, and lived to the age of sixty-five years, four 
months, and twenty-three days.  They had a family of twelve children, 
four of whom are living, namely: Nancy, who is now Mrs. W. Scott, and 
resides in New Centreville; Eston, who resides in Nebraska; Margaret, 
who is now Mrs. Maust, and lives in Fayette County; and Phoebe, who 
became Mrs. Harter and makes her home in the far West.
  Jehu Rush, the father, above mentioned, son of William, second, and 
his wife, Sarah, was born in Lower Turkey Foot, November 1, 1816.  He 
settled upon the farm which his son Harrison H. now owns in 1849, and 
was prominent in the political and religious affairs of the township.  
He died July 19, 1884, age sixty-seven years, eight months, eighteen 
days.  His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Hanna, was a daughter of 
John and Sarah Hanna, of Addison.  She was born September 30, 1820, and 
died September 26, 1878, age fifty-seven years, eleven months, twenty-
six days, having been a mother of six children.  Of these the four now 
living are: Jacob J., who resides in Ursina; Harrison H., of Lower 
Turkey Foot; Francis, of Upper Turkey Foot, and Mary Ann, who married 
I. W. Mitchell, and resides in Fayette County.
  Harrison H. Rush was educated in the public schools of his native 
town.  He remained at home working with his father upon the farm until 
June 17, 1863, when he enlisted as a private in Company H. First 
Provost Battalion, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.  His company was 
stationed successively at Huntington, Harrisburg, Gettysburg, and 
Chambersburg, doing guard duty, and was discharged in January, 1864.  
Returning to the home farm, he assisted in its cultivation for the next 
two years, and then worked the property on shares until 1869, when he 
bought a portion of the estate.  In 1886 he purchased still more of it, 
and in 1893 he became the sole owner of the property.  He has two 
hundred and fifty-two acres of excellent land, which is desirably 
located, and as a general farmer he is unusually energetic.
  On August 7, 1864, Mr. Rush was joined in marriage with Sabina Hyatt, 
daughter of A. S. and Pamelia (Woodmancy) Hyatt.  Eleven children have 
been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rush, and seven are living, namely:  Norman 
R. and Ira V., who reside in Confluence; Ida B., J. S. Rush, A. G. 
Rush, Jehu, and William H., all of whom are at home with their father 
and mother.  It is a remarkable circumstance that Mr. Rush has seen six 
generations of his family, counting from his great-grandfather, Jacob 
Rush, Sr., nonagenarian, down to and including his own grand-children.
  Mr. Rush has rendered valuable services to the town in a public 
capacity, having served as Assessor, Supervisor, Auditor, Tax 
Collector, and Inspector and Judge of Elections.  In politics he is a 
Republican.  He is a comrade of Ross Rush Post, No. 361, G.A.R., of 
Ursina.  He is actively concerned in the religious welfare of the 
community, and is a member of the Brethren church.