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Sebastian Rush |
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SEBASTIAN
RUSH. The late Sebastian Rush, known far and wide as Boss” Rush,
and also popularly designated as the “King of the Mountains,” filled a
large place in his locality, Farmington, Wharton township, as farmer,
business man, and friendly adviser of a wide circle of acquaintances who
sought his counsel, and particularly as the
 genial
host of “Boss Rush’s hotel” on the line of the National pike, and over
which he presided from 1840, when he bought the hotel, until he died, Feb.
9, 1878. This hotel was a favorite stopping-place of many of the great men
of other days. Henry Clay, Tom Ewing, President Polk, etc., when
journeying over the National road, and Jenny Lind, in her famous tour
through the country with the great showman, Barnum, tarried overnight at
“Boss’s hotel,” and Mr. Rush while living, as does Mrs. Rush, who now;
conducts the house, made his more distinguished guests “twice happy” by
honoring them with lodgings in Jenny Lind’s room (a species of sagacity as
well as gallantry worthy of imitation by publicans in general).Mr. Rush was an ardent politician, early in life an old-line Whig, afterwards a Republican, and wielded a great influence in his region, putting into local office whom he would when his party was in power, and was a Presbyterian in religion, which fact doubtless added to his success as a politician. He amassed a large property, owning at the time of his death about twelve hundred acres of good land adjacent to his house, as well as several outlying farms of considerable size, besides the country “store” opposite the hotel, and which he for a long time conducted in connection with his other business and other property. He was also an extensive stock-raiser. Though noted for his unusually good sense and “clear head” in mature life, Mr. Rush enjoyed but meagre advantages of study in his childhood, but in after-life was notable as a reader. He was a man of great physical strength, and during the latter portion of his life of ponderous size, weighing sometimes two hundred and fifty pounds. When he arrived at about twenty-two years of age he was made a constable, and for years filled his office with more than usual ability, but for the first year or so he was obliged to execute its duties on foot, lacking a horse to ride through pecuniary inability to buy one. From such a beginning his great energy and sound sense built up for him the fortune he afterwards enjoyed. He was the son of Levi Rush (born 1783), who came to Fayette County from Somerset County late in the eighteenth century. His mother was Mary Kemp, a native of New Jersey, but living in Henry Clay township when she married. “Boss” Rush was born in the same township, Nov. 20, 1808, and in November, 1829, married Margaret Baird, a girl of fifteen years of age (born 1814), a daughter of James Baird, a native of County Derry, Ireland. This was a “runaway match,” and though it proved a happy tone, Mrs. Rush, a vigorous and intelligent lady, now conducting the hotel, as she and her husband so long and successfully carried on the business, is emphatic in pronouncing against “runaway matches,” among children especially. Mr. Rush died leaving seven children, four Sons and three daughters, three other children having died before him, two in childhood. History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co., 1882, page 840. View the image of this page online - Free Trial Search Hundreds of 1880s-1890s Pennsylvania County History Books for biographies and historical information on your ancestors. View the book page images on line and print them out for your genealogy file! Free Access to the old history books - plus birth & death records, census images and ALL other records at ancestry.com .
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