JACKSON RUST
1829-1914
There is no date on this but had to be before 1914
Jackson Rust-Wharton- Is one of the wealthiest men in this section of the State. The story of his struggles, his business misfortunes & his ultimate success should inspire young men of limited means with hope, faith and fortitude.
He was born in 1829 in Upperville, Virginia. His parents were Dr. Bushrod Rust and Margaret Carr Rust. His father was a physician and planter, who died in 1844, and his mother in 1869.
Jackson Rust had a very meager schooling, as he left home when 13 years old, his possessions consisting of a bundle of clothes and $10.00, a parting gift from his mother. He first went to Baltimore, Maryland, where for five years he worked for his board and clothes. The winter of 1850 found him in bad health and but with little money. He determined to seek health, wealth and happiness in far-off Texas, of which state he had heard of as offering exceptional opportunities to men of small means. In the winter of 1850, he counted his cash, and found that he had hardly enough to bring him to the Eldorado he was seeking . But it takes resolution, strength of purpose and a strong character to cut loose from your old associations and tempt fate and fortune in a strange land. These traits Mr. Rust possessed, and with them a willingness to labor and to wait.
In December, 1850, he landed in Galveston and went to Velasco, near the mouth of the Brazos. While at Velasco he made the acquaintance of General John A. Wharton, on whose farm he remained several weeks until he recuperated his strength, and recovered his health. They became fast friends, a friendship that continued until *General Wharton was killed by George W. Baylor in San Antonio, some years later. Mrs. Wharton, the General's good wife, loaned Mr. Rust a horse to ride to Velasco. He thence walked to Matagorda. While at the latter place, he met John Cumby and William W. Gorden, who were about to establish a general mercantile business in that town. Before opening this store, however, they took Mr. Rust to New York where they bought a stock of goods, aggregating about $30,000. With this stock they began business, and put Mr. Rust in charge. He managed the concern with marked ability and success for four years, and earned for himself about $4000. He bought out his employers, and continued the business until the Civil War burst upon the country.
He had accumulated quite a handsome competency, but it was in land and slaves, and he owed some debts to northern merchants. He left his business and enlisted in the Confederate Army in Captain Veasey's company. He was soon after detailed to collect taxes for the Government, in which capacity he served during the entire war. The emancipation of his slaves stripped him of the greatest part of his wealth, but with that high sense of honor, characteristic of the man, he went to New York, and paid the debts due his creditors when the the war broke out, and contracted in the course of his mercantile business. Having made an honorable settlement of these anti-bellum obligations, he was given an unlimited credit, which enabled him to buy goods and resume business in Wharton. Again, he succeeded and prospered, and again, with unconquerable faith in the future of Texas, invested his earnings largely in lands. These enhanced in value until he retired from business in 1870, quite wealthy.
But reverses were still in store for him. In 1874m, the State obtained a heavy judgment against him as a surety on the bond of the tax-collector and it took him practically all he possessed to satisfy the claim. Thus for the third time in his life, he was virtually bankrupt, but having preserved inviolate a good name which could not be taken from him, with that and a determination to succeed, he began the struggle the third time. His credit again served him as capital, and he has again overcome adversity, and accumulated a nice estate. Few men have triumphed over such calamities and reverses, and his final success is due to his high sense of honor in meeting his obligations, which fact emphasizes the truth of Solomon's time-worn proverb "that a good name is rather to be chosen than riches".
In 1854 he married Miss Hallie Milburn of Brazoria County, who died in 1871. Their children were: George Rust; Lizzie Rust, now the wife of Judge E. Hawes of Wharton; Lucy Rust, now Mrs. Kelly of Wharton; from which unions there have been born thirteen grandchildren.
Mr. Rust owns a plantation of about 4,000 acres. Surrounded by the comforts of life, and happy in the love of his children and grandchildren and possessing the esteem of his neighbors, he forgets the misfortunes and trials that are past, and enjoys the ripened fruits of final victory.
He never surrendered to misfortune, not yielded to despair, but kept a stout heart, a clear conscience, kept faith, and success at last crowned his life and labors.
* John A. Wharton died when his gun accidentally discharged while dismounting his horse.
Mr. J. Rust
Mr. J. Rust Responded to the Last Call Wednesday---
Funeral Yesterday
At the residence of Judge and Mrs. G.C. Kelly, with whom he made his home, on Wednesday evening about 5 o'clock Mr. J. Rust passed peacefully into the dreamless sleep that knows no waking. His death was not unexpected, as he had been slowly sinking for a number of days, and when the spark of life forsook its earthly tenement, about his bedside were gathered his children and grandchildren.
The interment took place yesterday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock under auspices of the Masonic order, deceased having been one of their charter members of the Wharton lodge. Previous to the forming of the procession to the cemetery, religious services were conducted at the residence by Rev. J.T. Dale, pastor of the First Baptist Church, to which Mr. Rust belonged and which he assisted to organize many,many years ago. As a mark of respect, the public school was suspended at noon, and many of the pupils were among those who attended the interment.
J. Rust first saw the light of day in Fauquier county, Virginia,in March 1827, but came to Texas while still in his teens, in the early 40's, and located in Matagorda county, to engage in farming and stock raising. In 1856 he married Miss Hallie Milburn at the old Milburn plantation on the Brazos River near Colombia, and shortly thereafter he moved to Wharton, establishing his residence on the site the Kelly homestead occupies today. In his home five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rust, three of whom survive and are residents of this city, namely: George Q., Mrs. Lizzie M. Hawes and Mrs. Lucy M. Kelly.
Mr. Rust engaged int he mercantile business here and for many years his was one of the leading establishments of the town. Then was before the days of railroad in Wharton and the goods he handled were hauled in ox-carts or brought up river by boat. In the summer of 1871 his wife died, and though that was forty-three years ago, he never re-married. As his children grew up, married and established homes of their own, he gradually retired from active business life, and for the past few years has known no business cares or worries.
While he lived with Judge and Mrs. Kelly, no day passed but saw his other children come to see him, and each summer until this he would spend several weeks with the Hawes family at Galveston, enjoying the surf bathing with the most active of them. This year, however, he was to feeble to go, and because he could not accompany them the stay was a short one. In the past few weeks he failed rapidly. There was little suffering, but just the fraying away of the thread of life until finally it parted without a snap or break.
This obituary from the Wharton Spectator dated October 23, 1914, the original newspaper is housed at the Wharton County Historical Museum along with all the papers of that year. The original article does not state who wrote this obituary. Transcribed by Janet Barrett Hobizal.
JACKSON RUST
County of Wharton
In the county Court
May Term 1880
In the guardianship of the estates of the Minors M. Lucy Rust & William M. Rust. Now
pending in said court and now comes Jackson Rust, Guardian of said Minors & represents to
the court that certain tract of land in Brazoria County known as the Milburn tract & being
1026 acres of the ? League is owned by the minors M. Lucy Rust & William M. Rust, G.Q. Rust, Lizzie Rust, Mrs. Hallie Atkins Dunklin, wife of V.W. Dunklin & in which Jackson Rust
& B.F. Atkins have each a life interest & shows that said parties have joined in a voluntary partition of said tract.........
The State of Texas
County of Wharton
In the name of God Amen!
I, J, Rust, of said county & State being of sound mind & disposing memory, do hereby make, publish, & declare this to be my last will & testament, hereby revoking all former wills made by me.
1st. It is my wish that all my just debts & funeral expenses be paid as soon after my decease as practicable.
2nd. I hereby devise & bequeath to my three children, G.Q. Rust, Lizzie M. Hawes, wife of E. Hawes, & L.M. Kelly, wife of G.G. Kelly all the property of every kind & description of which I may die seized & possessed, they to share the same equally.
3rd. I hereby appoint G.Q. Rust executor of this will & it is my will that he be not required to give any bond & that proceedings be had in probate court with reference to my estate than the probating of this will & the filing of an inventory & appraisement as required by law.
4th. In the case of the death, refusal or inability of the said G.Q. Rust to act as such executor then the said E. Hawes & G.G. Kelly are hereby appointed joint executors without.
7th July 1903
