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Rusk Collection
A collection of
papers from the
collection of Thomas
Jefferson Rusk,
donated by the
family to the El
Paso Public Library |
Thomas Jefferson
Rusk (1803 - 1857)
U. S. Senator from
Texas, was born
December 5, 1803 in
Pendleton District,
South Carolina, the
son of John Rusk and
Mary Sterritt. Self
taught, Thomas
studied law and was
admitted to the bar
in Georgia where he
began his law
practice. He moved
to Nacogdoches,
Texas in 1835. He
was a delegate to
the convention which
declared for the
independence of
Texas in 1836, the
first Secretary of
War for the new
Republic, and fought
at the Battle of San
Jacinto and took
control of the
forces commanding
them until October
1836. He was a
Democrat to the
United States Senate
when Texas was
admitted into the
Union in 1845 until
his death (reelected
in 1851 and 1857).
Thomas married Mary
F Cleveland, the
daughter of John
Cleveland in 1827.
They had a total of
seven children. Mary
died on April 23,
1856 from
tuberculosis. |
Thomas Jefferson
Rusk
(U.S. Senate
Historical Office) |
Rusk, despondent over
the death of his
wife and ill from a
tumor on his neck,
took his own life on
July 29, 1857.
Thomas and Mary are
interned at Oak
Grove Cemetery in
Nacogdoches, Texas.
For more
information about
Thomas Jefferson
Rusk:
Rusk, Thomas
Jefferson -
Biographical
Information
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=R000518
Handbook of Texas
Online - Rusk,
Thomas Jefferson
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/RR/fru16.html |
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Rusk's Commission to
Major General
Militia of the
Republic of Texas,
December 19, 1837 |
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PRESIDENT,
IN THE NAME
AND BY THE
AUTHORITY OF
THE REPUBLIC
OF TEXAS
TO ALL WHO
SHALL SEE
THESE
PRESENTS,
GREETING: |
Know ye.
That
reposing
special
trust and
confidence
in the
patriotism,
valor,
fidelity,
and
abilities of
Thomas J
Rusk I do
commission
him Major
General in
the militia
of the
Republic of
Texas, to
bear date
from
December
19th 1837.
He is
therefore
carefully
and
diligently
to discharge
the duties
of Major
General by
doing and
performing
all manner
of things
thereunto
belonging.
And I do
strictly
charge and
require all
officers,
soldiers,
and others
under his
command, to
be obedient
to his
orders, as
Major
General of
the Militia
of the
Republic of
Texas.
And he is to
observe and
follow such
orders and
direction
from time to
time, as he
shall
receive from
me, or the
future
President of
the Republic
of Texas, or
his superior
officer set
over him,
according to
the rules
and
discipline
of the Army.
This
commission
to continue
in force
during the
pleasure of
the
President of
the Republic
of Texas,
for the time
being.
Given under
my hand, at
Houston this
Twenty First
day of
December in
the year of
our Lord one
thousand
eight
hundred and
thirty-seven
and in the
Second year
of the
Independence
of the
Republic of
Texas. |
|
Barnard E
Bee |
BY THE
PRESIDENT, |
|
Sec of War |
Sam H
Houston |
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Rusk's Commission to
Major General
Militia of the
Republic of Texas,
January 16, 1843 |
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Sam
Houston
In the name
and by the
authority of
the
Republic of
Texas:
Tell to whom
these
presents
shall come
or may
concern –
Greetings: |
Know ye:
That
reposing
special
trust and
confidence
in the
patriotism,
valor,
fidelity,
and ability
of Thomas J
Rusk
Esquire, I
do hereby
Commission
him a Major
General of
the Militia
of the
Republic of
Texas, in
accordance
with the 1st
Section of
“an Act for
the
protection
of the
Western and
South
Western
Frontier,
and for
other
purposes”
passed the
16th day of
January
1843.
He is
therefore
carefully
and
diligently
to discharge
the duties
of Major
General, by
doing and
performing
all manner
of things
thereunto
belonging.
And I do
strictly
charge and
require all
under his
command to
be obedient
to his
orders as
such
Given under
my hand and
the Great
Seal of the
Republic at
Washington,
this twenty
eighth day
of March, in
the year of
Our Lord,
One
Thousand,
eight
hundred and
forty three
and in the
eighth year
of the
Independence
of the
Republic |
By the
President
M C Hamilton
Actg
Secretary of
War and
Marine |
Sam H
Houston |
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