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Below is a family biography included in The History of Dallas County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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David M. Rush, county collector, was born in Barren County, Ky., November 27, 1849, the grandson of John Rush, a Virginian, born in 1776, who was in the battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812; for that service he received a 40 and a 120-acre land warrant. David’s father, Daniel W. Rush, born in Allen County, Ky., in 1824, married Rhoda J. Chapman in 1848, immigrating to Polk County, Mo., in 1852, Four of their six children survive: David M., Mary E. (wife of John Tompkins), Rhoda A. (now Mrs. R. B. Lee) and William R. John J. died in 1868, aged twelve, and Maletha, in 1883, aged twenty-two. David M. remained on his father’s farm until 1870 (his mother having died in 1861), and in 1871 left the public schools to enter a select school at Urbana, Mo. A portion of his three years’ course was devoted to the higher mathematics. After teaching from 1874 to 1881 he engaged in the patent right business for several years, during which time he secured two patents of his own invention, one for a washing machine, and the other for an adding machine, both a success, and of acknowledged ingenuity in mechanical construction. In 1878 Mr. Rush married Vivia Lindsey, of Louisburg, Mo. Their four children are Dolores, Lascelles, Loise and Norma L. In 1886 he was elected as a Republican county collector of Wright County, and served with such satisfaction that he was re-nominated in 1888 without opposition, and was, of course, elected, running several votes ahead of his ticket. He has been a Mason since 1875. His wife is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.

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This family biography is one of 74 biographies included in The History of Dallas County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Dallas County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Dallas County, Missouri family biographies, click here

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