CHARLES WESLEY RUSH, I
Charles Wesley Rush, I, b December 1, 1863 in Columbus, Lowndes County,
Mississippi, d October 9, 1949 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas and buried in
Calvary Cemetery there - was a son of David Charles and Susan Elizabeth (Greer)
Rush. David Charles Rush owned a small plantation, and was a descendant of
Revolutionary War ancestors. He was, himself, a veteran of the ConfederateStates
Army during the Civil War.
In 1880, Charles Wesley Rush, I, walked from Mississippi to Texas in
search of work - ending his journey near Chilton, Falls County, where he worked
for a short time for Mr. William Duvall Gaines. In 1881, he made his way to
Marlin - about twelve miles east of Chilton, where he was befriended by Captain
Henry G. Carter, for whom he worked in a cotton yard. In 1885, after attending
two years of college at Trinity University in Waxahachie, Texas, Charles Wesley
returned to Marlin, where he worked in a hardware store owned by
Mr. Tom S. Sims. Later, he worked in the hardware business of W. M. Gunnell; and
in 1891, he and his brother, Henry G. Rush, formed a new hardware firm in
Marlin, under the name of "Rush Brothers Hard- ware." In 1900, with a new
associate, Walter Gardner, the firm became known as Rush, Gardner, & Bartlett. A
new building was erected on Live Oak Street in Marlin, which still houses the
hardware business - now owned by Wayne Pearson.
On April 23, 1889 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas, Charles Wesley Rush, I, was married to Hinda de Graffenried, b July 7,1868 in Round Top, Fayette County, Texas, d May 17, 1960 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas and buried in Calvary Cemetery-a daughter of Fleming Taylor and Augusta Georgia (Townsend) de Graffenried. They were the parents of five children:
Charles Wesley Rush, Jr., b March 12,1890 in Marlin, Texas - died as an
infant.
Susan Augusta Rush, b November 15, 1892 in Marlin, Texas - married
December 20, 1919 in Waco, McLennan County, Texas to Walter T. McMahan, and had
a son, Dick Rush McMahan.
Dimple Jenna Rush, b November 4, 1895 in Marlin, Texas - married first to
Irby Curry, who was killed in France during World War I; and married second on
October 22, 1920 to Wayne G. Broehl and had Wayne and Charles Rush Broehl.
Dimple died in Peoria, Illinois - date unknown.
Sallie Burke Rush, b May 28, 1899 in Marlin, Texas - married June 21,
1923 to Sam Williford, and had one daughter, Dimple Sue Williford.
Henry David Rush, b August 10, 1902 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas, d
April 10, 1982 and buried in Calvary Cemetery there - married September 17, 1927
in Marlin to Octavia Lillian Allen, and had three children: Irene Irma Rush who
married Dick Gordon Garrett - son of Edward Guy and Hattie Alma (Varnado)
Garrett, Sr., and had four children; and Charles Wesley Rush, III who married
first to Wanda Wray, and married second to Cynthia Olive Gerwig and had two
children. An infant Rush, b June 22, 1938 in Marlin, d June 24, 1938-was
unnamed.
Charles Wesley Rush, I, was prominent in Marlin and Falls County
affairs during the 70 years of his residence there. He was a trustee on the
Board of Marlin Independent School District for a number of years, chairman of
the Draft Registration Board during World War I, chairman of both the
Liberty Bond Drive and Falls County American Red Cross, served as a director and
also president of Marlin Chamber of Commerce and Commercial Club; and was an
original proponent of the development of Falls County Roads during the period of
World War II. He was an original member of the Texas Hardware and Implement
Association, and was known throughout the state by those engaged in the hardware
and furniture business.
The sixty years of married life between Charles Wesley and Hinda (de
Graffenried) Rush ended with his death in 1949, and his widow continued to
reside in Marlin until her own death in 1960.
Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of
these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical
Commission, page 401 column 2 and page 402 column 1 and 2.
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.
