Arizona republican., 1894-01-30
HE WAS A GuuD MAN.
That's What Everybody Says of
Uncle Jerry Rusk.
Eventful Career Of Wisconsin's Popular Ex-
0overDor-HOw He Rose from m
Humble Station to Positions
of Great Trust.

jeremiah M. Rusk, who died recent.
ly at Viroqua, Wis, was born in Nor.
gan county, o., on the anniversary OF
the battle of Bunker Hill, June II,
1880. His parents, Daniel Rusk and
Jane Fakner Rusk, were unable to
give him more than an ordinary common
school education. When jeremiah was
IA years old his father died. Young
Jerry then had to leave school and
work to support his mother and sisters.
For year he stayed on the farm.
Then he got job driving the stage
between GAINESVILLE and Newark.
Though only Is years old his powerful
physique made him the equal of any
full-grown man. When he was 20 he
married Mary Martin, the daughter of
a neighbor. She bore him three chill
dren. In 1858 he moved to Bad Axe
(now Vermont county, Wis, where he
opened hotel Soon he was elected
sheriff. Other local offices followed,
and he became a leading figure in
county politics. In 1856, his first
wife having died, he married Eliza
beth johnson, a Wisconsin girl, who
bore him four children, two being now
alive. In 1861 he went to the legisla-
ture, but, declining a reelection, he
went to the war with the Twenty-ffth
Wisconsin regiment as major. He saw
much service and distinguished him
self over and over again by his daring
and hro +oo1x
siege of Vicksburg, and at Helena,
January Is, 1868, was promoted to be
lieutenant colonel for gallant con-
duct. After the battle of De-
catur, Ga, he was made colonel.
In Sherman's march to the sea
Col. Rusk commanded the Seven
teenth corps. Col. Rusk's most famous
exploit was at the bloody battle of
Salkehatchee. There his regiment
was selected to capture bridge
which was the key to the battle
ground. The enemy had command of
the approaches and over thirty cannon
were trained upon the narrow cause
way. 1t was second bridge of Lodi.
Two-thirds of his regiment were cut
down before the rest reached the
bridge. But, with the handful remain
ing, Col Rusk drove away the confed-
crates and captured and held the
bridge. 1t was after this battle that
Gen. Mower sent for him, and in the
presence of his whole staff said: 'By
-, sir, you are the only man I ever
saw who could ride deeper into HI
than can" For his brave capture of
this bridge he was breveted brigadier
general after the war.
At the close of the rebellion Gen.
Rusk returned to Wisconsin, where he
was at once elected bank comptroller
for the unexpired term of 1966-67. His
reelection for the two ensuing years
followed. When this second term ex-
pired he went to congress, being elect
ed by the biggest majority ever given
to any congressman in any district of
Wisconsin.
He was unanimously reelected to the
Forty-third congress, no democrat be-
ing willing to run against such pop
ular opponent. He also served in the
Forty-fourth congress. In the house of
representatives he was a member of
the important committees on war,
public lands, mines and mining, agri-
culture and pensions. For two terms
he was chairman of the committee on
pensions, and during his last two
years he was chairman of the commit
tee on agriculture.
In 1877 he retired from congress and
went back to his farm. In the spring
of 1881 President Garfield offered to
make him charge d'affaires to Para
quay and Uruguay, minister to Den
mark, or chief of the bureau of en-
craving and printing. He refused
them all, and that fall was elected
governor of Wisconsin by plurality
of 1857. In 1882 a constitutional
amendment extended the term of office
of all state officers from two years to
three. In 1884 he was reelected gov
ernor by 1920 plurality and in 1886
chosen governor for third time by
1878 plurality. Gov. Rusk occupied
the gubernatorial chair longer than
any other governor in Wisconsin. Dur
ing his last term the anarchist riots
took place in Milwaukee. This was
just after the Haymarket massacre in
Chicago. Gov. Rusk concentrated the
entire militia of the state in Milwau-
kee within few hours. His prompt
and stern action gave anarchy its
death blow :, V"icoo,e;n
He prevented railroad riot by send
ing the starving workmen food instead
of troops. This wise act made him the
idol of the laboring classes. 1t is uni
versally admitted that he could have
had fourth term for the asking. He
went out of Office at the end of 1888
the most popular governor Wisconsin
ever had. The 4th of the next March
he was nominated by President Har-
rison to be secretary of agriculture.
This Office he hnld until Secretary
Morton succeeded nm last spring. In
1888 he was the unanimous choice of
Wisconsin for the republican presi-
Dental nomination. He withdrew
after the third ballot.
An honest mistake was that of col
ored man in the south, whose former
master had allowed him the use of a
piece of land on condition that he. the
owner, should receive one-fourth of the
crop.
When the corn was ripe, the laborer
h a MI d fhrnn do In H.c