The Coolidge examiner., 1931-09-25
/ STAGE COACH
; TALES
B y E. C.. T AY Il o r
From Stage Driver to Cabine;

JEREMIAH NJ. RUSK, who later
- became governor of Wisconsin
and still later was first secretary OF
agriculture of the United States,
was picturesque stage coach driv.
er of the early days in Wisconsin.
Almost a giant in stature, and
heavily bearded, he was a leading
personality in the state even when
he was handling the reins behind
two or three span of horses over
the bumpy, marshy roads of that
new commonwealth.
Tales of his muscular prowess in
those early days made him famous,
but his chief claim to fame, other.
wise, was that he probably was the
only stage coach driver who did
not drink. Drivers as a lot were
moral men, noted for their integ-
rity, and famous for their seeming
aversion for swearing and cursing.
But with the exception of Rusk, all
of whom there are any records,
drank. A mans size glass of
whisky or brandy was the first
thing they asked for when the coach
stopped at the taverns along the
route, and in winter, when they de-
scended half frozen from their high
seats where they had been fighting
gales and icy temperatures for
hours, it probably was needed to
get their blood circulating again.
But Rusk never took drop, even
after long stretch of driving
through the bitterest cold. He was
one of the early ardent prohibition
lists.
AS Rusk's stage coach neared Vir-
Oqua one day, a horse fell i'll. Rusk
saw that it could not pull its share
of the coach any longer, so he tied
it to the coach, seized the neck
yoke himself and with his great
strength helped to pull the coach
into the next town.
Rusk was reticent about his phys
ical prowess, and was almost bash
full when anyone mentioned it, but
he often told story on himself
about how he. a teetotaler, had TO
buy drinks for a tavernful of
people.
One cold day, he stopped his stage
coach ar a tavern near Prairie du
Chen, Wis, so the passengers
might warm themselves.
When they all trooped into the
public room, Rusk noticed an inno-
cent looking horn on the counter
The young driver was invited TO
blow it. He did. But instead of
musical notes, there issued from the
horn a quantity of flour that COW
cred his face. Everybody laughed.
and Rusk had to "set them up" for
every one in the place.
Rusk began driving stage coach
when he was only sixteen years
old. He drove for McNeill, Moore
and company, famous stage coach
operators Of Columbus, Ohio. He
migrated to Wisconsin in 1858. and
drove coaches there until the Civil
war broke out.
Rusk raised regiment of volun-
teerS and was commissioned q ma
jor in the Union army. He took
part In the battle of Vicksburg, and
in August, 1863, was promoted to
lieutenant colonel.
He was with Sherman in the
Meridian campaign, and displayed
such great gallantry in the battles
around Atlanta, Ga. that he was
breveted a brigadier general.
After the Civil War, he went back
to Wisconsin, where he entered poll
tics. He was elected a member of
congress in 1871, and served in the
national house of representative
until 1877.
In 1882, Rusk was elected COVER
nor of Wisconsin, and was con.
tinued in that office until 1889.
In the latter year President Har-
rison appointed Rusk to his cabi-
net, and the tall former stage coach
driver became the nations first Sec
retary of agriculture, branch of
the executive department of the fed
eral government which congress
had just created. He served in
Harrison's cabinet until Grover
Cleveland succeeded Harrison In
the Presidency in 1893.
00. 1881. Western Newspaper Union.)