My Genealogy Hound

A. B. RUSH, physician; P. O. German. Dr. Rush descended from a distinguished family of early pioneers in this country; was born in Harrison Township on the 19th of January, 1842; his paternal ancestors were German, and his maternal, English. His father, John R., was born in Bath Co., Va., near Hot Springs, the 3d of June, 1798; his paternal grandfather, Dr. John Rusk, was also a native of Virginia, and a near relative of the celebrated Dr. Benjamin Rush under whom he received his first medical instructions, and to whose valuable library he had access. Dr. Rush emigrated to Ohio on or about the year 1800 and settled in Pickaway Co., on Big Darby Creek, where he followed successfully his profession; in 1816, became to this county and located in Harrison Township just west of the present site of New Madison; an injury received from a falling limb, soon after coming here, prevented the discharge of his professional duties ever after; his first wife deceased in Pickaway Co.; he was married to his second wife after coming here. John R., father of our subject, was 18 years old when he came to this county, and knew what pioneer life was; his early life was that of a ‘prentice boy, passed upon the farm; he was united in marriage, April 13, 1824 to Miss Elizabeth W. Hill; she was born in York District, South Carolina, November 1788; she emigrated to the county with her parents in 1817; Mr. Rush’s life was spent upon a farm; his death occurred the 28th of January, 1863; his devoted wife survived him till April 4, 1871; thus we chronicle the departure of two more of the advance couriers of civilization, who pioneered their way into the untrodden wilds of this country, near the beginning of the present century. Dr. Rush our subject, passed his early life on a farm; his early education was somewhat limited but later he devoted himself assiduously to the acquisition of knowledge giving his attention chiefly to the study of medicine; he quite soon in life became proficient in this department of knowledge and entered upon the duties of his profession; in the year 1878 he graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati; he located where he now resides in 1871, and by careful attention to business has a large and lucrative practice; his marriage with Miss Smelker was celebrated Dec. 7, 1866; she is a daughter of Jacob H. and Christina Smelker. both natives of Germany; Jacob H. Smelker was born in Eppingen, State of Baden Germany, Aug, 9, 1800; he emigrated to America in 1819, leaving Germany the 13th of May, and landing in Baltimore, Md., the 1st day of the following August; on arriving in Baltimore, he found himself in possession of 5 cents in Low Dutch money, and no demand for labor in his line of work; his penury would not permit him to waste much time in search of employment, so he took at once to the country and engaged himself to George Fank, a farmer, as a farm laborer; at the end of one year, he found his way to Fredericksburg, where he halted for a period of three years, engaging, in the meantime, with various parties as a farm laborer; his marriage with Miss Christina Denner was celebrated at this latter place; he soon took up his journey westward, landing in Cincinnati May 21, 1824, from where he plied his way direct to Germantown, Montgomery Co.; from there he moved on a farm just south of Louisburg, Preble Co.; after some years, he moved to this township and has resided here since; Mrs. Smelker’s decease occurred the 15th day of February, 1850; fourteen children, forty grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren have been born to them; his children are as follows: Born in Preble Co., George, July 17, 1824; Jacob, July 20, 1825; Sophia, April 22, 1827; William, Sept. 14, 1828; Eli, Jan. 9, 1830; John, Jan. 15, 1831; Henry Jan. 21, 1832; David, Nov. 21, 1834; born in Darke Co., Daniel, Sept 11, 1836; Sarah, April 13, 1838; Elizabeth, Aug. 22, 1841; Catherine, May 10, 1844; Anna’ Feb. 14, 1846; one deceased in infancy; Dr. and Mrs. Rush are the parents of three children.