CONFEDERATE BIOGRAPHY: JOHN C. RUSK - Van Zandt County, TX 

***************************************************************** 
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

Submitted by Doris Peirce - ginlu@home.com 
12 October 2001 
***************************************************************** 
TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson 

JOHN C. RUSK

John Calhoun Rusk, of Canton, was born in Georgia, December 9, 1829, 
and came to the Republic of Texas with his parents when he was five 
years old.  His mother was a daughter of Gen. Cleveland of Georgia, 
and his father was Gen. Thomas J. Rusk who was a member of the 
convention at Washington on the Brazos that on March 2, 1836, 
declared Texas an independent Republic.  His name is affixed to the 
declaration as a delegate from Nacogdoches.  Gen. Rusk was Secretary
of War of the Texas Republic; participated in the battle of San 
Jacinto, was made commander in chief of the army when Gen. Houston 
left for New Orleans to have his wounds treated.  Later he was chief 
justice of the Supreme Court of the Republic, was president of the 
convention that formed the constitution of Texas when it became a 
State in the Union, and in 1846 he was by unanimous  vote of the 
two houses of the legislature chosen one of the two first United 
States Senators from Texas, his colleague being Gen. Sam Houston.  
Gen. Rusk was elected president pro tem of the United States Senate, 
and had he lived it is said he would have received the nomination 
of the Democratic party for President of the United States, his 
name being agreeable to both Northern and Southern wings of the 
party.  The subject of this sketch, John C. Rusk, was reared and 
educated in the Republic of Texas.  He served in several expeditions 
against the Indians, and at the age of twenty three became a 
successful planter.  He was for a while secretary of Gen. Houston 
in Washington, and later represented Nacogdoches county in the 
legislature.  He served throughout the whole of the war between the  
States as lieutenant in a Texas regiment of infantry, making a 
gallant soldier.  His first marriage was with Miss Harriett Ann 
Patton, November 1, 1849, and from this union was born three 
children  one son and two daughters.  Captain Rusk removed to 
Canton in 1874, and was for a number of years the sheriff of Van 
Zandt.  He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.