Charles Henderson Rush

RUSH, THURSTON, HARTLEY, BURFORD, LINCOLN, HENDERSON, MILLER

Posted By: Deb Barker (email)
Date: 12/12/2006 at 19:00:33

Nebraska, The Land and the People, Vol. 3

Charles Henderson Rush, M. D.,one of the very able physicians and surgeons of Nebraska, has been engaged in the practice of his calling in Lincoln for over twenty consecutive years, and stands in the foremost ranks of the men who have accomplished much for his home city. He was born in Springfield, Illinois, December 22, 1868, and was educated in Nebraska. Entering Cotner University, Lincoln, Nebraska, he was graduated therefrom in 1894, after a four-year course, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and passed his examinations before the Nebraska State Board of Health immediately thereafter. That same year he established himself at Republican City, Nebraska, and in 1896, was elected coroner of Harlan County, in which office he continued for two terms. Senator John M. Thurston, now deceased, appointed him a member of the United States Examining Board of Surgeons at Orleans, Nebraska, and he continued a member of that body until his removal to Lincoln, when he resigned. Soon thereafter he was appointed United States surgeon for the Department of the Interior on the Lincoln Board, which office he still holds and he is also secretary of the board.
In July, 1902, Doctor Rush was graduated from the Post-Graduate School of Surgery in Chicago; and during the summer of 1923 he spent six weeks at the surgical clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, at which time the Mayo Brothers were operating before the American Congress of Surgeons, and he witnessed many operations performed by the noted surgeons involving the latest and most modern surgical technique.
In 1906 Doctor Rush was chosen professor of the chair of surgical pathology and surgical technique in the dental department of the University of Nebraska, which he held until 1918. In 1912 the late Governor Aldrich appointed him a delegate to represent the state of Nebraska in the International Congress of Hygiene and Demography and in the American Public Health Association Convention, both of which were held in Washington City. That same year he also attended a surgical clinic at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland, and he has attended special clinics in Chicago, Pittsburgh, New York, Washington, Philadelphia, and Montreal, Canada.
On June 5, 1912, following an accident, Doctor Rush was brought before the people of Lincoln in connection with his surgical skill and technique in bringing back to life Miss Fay Hartley, a very popular young lady of [p.346] the city, a daughter of the late Professor E. T. Hartley, and a recent graduate of the University of Nebraska.
In February, 1911, Doctor Rush was one of the original signers for the Lincoln General Hospital. He is a member of the county, state and national eclectic medical associations, and at one time served as vice president of the state association; and he belongs to the American Health Association and to the National Dental Association, and has been active in all health movements in Lincoln and Nebraska. Among other activities he organized the Nebraska Medical College, which he served as president; organized a drug company in Lincoln, in which he was interested for some years, but has sold his stock in it. When the city of Lincoln was called upon to raise its quoto of the $1,000,000 endowment fund for Cotner University, he was one of the prime movers in the work of securing subscriptions. Doctor Rush has delivered many papers before the state society. For many years he has been a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has always contended for a higher Christian education. In every way he has worked hard and tirelessly for the civic betterment of his city and state, and is admittedly one of the finest exponents of American manhood this region possesses. Through his father's service in the Union Army he holds membership in the Sons of Veterans Association.
On September 4, 1890, Doctor Rush married, in Elmwood, Nebraska, Miss Daisy L. Burford.
John Rudolph Rush, father of Doctor Charles Henderson Rush, was born in Switzerland, October 1, 1842, and when but fifteen years old he came to the United States, accompanied by his younger brothers and sisters, they having been early orphaned by the death of both parents. He located on a farm near Springfield, Illinois, and while making his living became so imbued with the spirit of patriotism that when war was declared between the states he offered his services to the government, and, although only eighteen years old, fought for the Union for four years, being wounded twice, the scars of these injuries remaining with him through life. Following the close of the war he was honorably discharged. A strong Republican, he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln the second time he was a candidate for the presidency.
The education of John Rudolph Rush was limited to that acquired during the few years he attended the public schools of Switzerland and Sangamon County, Illinois, but he was able to speak fluently in three different languages and was a remarkable linguist.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Upon his return from the army John Rudolph Rush married Phoebe Katherine Henderson, then seventeen years old, in Auburn, Sangamon County, Illinois, and soon thereafter they moved to Bloomfield, Davis County, Iowa, and there he and his wife united with the Christian Church, and brought its influence into their home. They bought a farm six miles west of Bloomfield, where Mrs. Rush died in January, 1876, at the early age of twenty-eight years, and she was buried in Pollard Cemtery, five miles west of Bloomfield. They had the following children William Henry, who was born October 11, 1866, and is a resident of Missouri; Doctor Rush, who was the second in order of birth; Luticia, who was born February 9, 1870; and Leslie Calvin, who was born June 1, 1874.
In 1877 John Rudolph Rush married for his second wife Miss Bettie Miller, of Bloomfield, and in September of that year he moved with his family to Weeping Water, Cass County, Nebraska, and located on a farm four miles east of that city. There he became a successful farmer, and continued active until his death, which occurred March 16, 1884, when he was forty-two years old. He lies in the Weeping Water Cemetery, and his second wife is buried by his side, she having survived him until November, 1893. She bore him two children: Phoebe A., who was born July 27, 1878, and died December 21, 1878; and Ora R., who was born August 18, 1879, both being natives of Nebraska.