Mr. J. Rust

PASSING OF ONE OF OLDEST CITIZENS

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.

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