Millard and Ethel Akers

Photo courtesy of Aker family

Rev. Millard Merle Akers (1890-1945) = Carpenter, School teacher, Farmer, Minister. Millard was born to Oliver and Clara Isabelle (Shaffer) Akers in Linn County, Kansas near Mound City on August 7. The Akers emigrated to Seward County, KS. Millard learned the carpenter trade from his father and then became a school teacher when he grew up and taught two years after he married his wife, Ethel Julia (1890-1974; great-granddaughter of Elder Martin White) on November 6, 1910 at her parent’s home, Alfred Jefferson and Fannie Viola (Bogart) White, east of Liberal, KS.

To this union, six children were born – Richard, Alfred, Fannie, Nellie, Arlene, and Donald. Richard, Alfred, and Don owned menswear clothing stores in Kansas – Richard, Pioneer Men’s Store in Elkhart; Alfred, Al’s Clothing in Kinsley; and Don in Dodge City. Fannie worked in the canteen at the Veterans Hospital in Wichita, KS; Nellie was a nurse and Arlene was a teacher and pastor’s wife.

Millard and Ethel moved to Baca County, Colorado after his school teaching days to a claim about fifteen miles west of Elkhart, Kansas. During this period of time, he felt God calling him to ministerial work. He pastored Church of God (Anderson, IN.) churches in Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, and Florida. He was the pastor at the Liberal, Kansas church when his youngest daughter, Arlene was born. Millard filled the pulpit of the Pleasant Prairie Church of God near Satanta, KS. from time to time during the year of 1938-39 when the church was without a pastor. He was in Beaver County, Oklahoma at the time of his death with cancer on November 4, 1945. He was buried in Liberal’s city cemetery and Ethel was laid to rest next to him.

* I have happy memories of spending a week with Great-Aunt Ethel at her home in Liberal, KS during campmeeting one summer. She lived in a tiny bungalow across the street from the Church of God campmeeting tabernacle. Ethel’s granddaughter also had the privilege of staying that week too. Donna and I went shopping uptown, bought some liquid dip film in a can and wire to make plastic flowers from the dime store that was all the rage then and spent our week making bouquets of flowers to donate to the ladies missionary store on the campgrounds. The WOCG supplied linens and craft items to sell and the money collected went to help support Church of God missionaries, like Edna Thimes.

* I just learned this week that my grandmother was saved after her brother-in-law, Rev. Akers preached during the 1923 Liberal, Kansas Church of God (Anderson, IN) Camp-meeting.  And that my dad and mother met at camp-meeting several years later. 

More to Read:

1. Ancestry.com -- US Federal & State Census Records

2. Haskell County, Kansas. 1887-1987. 100 Years Beneath the Plow, A Historical Anthology. Ed. By Janice Lee McClure, Haskell County Historical Society. Mennonite Press, Inc., Newton, Ks. 1988.

3. “The Old Timers: As I Remember Them” by Chester C. Tucker. Printed c. 1963

4. White’s Family and Their Kin. Mrs. Gladys Esther White O’Neal and Elma Leota White Stoops. Paper Graphics, Garden City, KS; 1983. 
5. Gospel Trumpet, the Church of God (Anderson, IN) publication: Google Books and Internet Archive.  
6. 1937 Dust Storm Photograph of Elkhart, Kansas
7. An ad of Richard Akers' Pioneer Men's Wear & Department store on this sheet

8. Findagrave #10328566

Places to Visit in KS:

1. Church of God campgrounds, Liberal

2. Pleasant Prairie Church of God, Satanta
3. Morton County, Kansas Historical Museum, (Pioneer Men's Store exhibit), US Highway 56,  Elkhart 

Biography written by Dolores J. Rush. Updated: 7/3/2020

Patti Page (1927-2013): A Tribute

by Tim Akers,  son of Richard "Dick" Leon And Sally Kay (Fowler) Akers. 

Used by permission.

There were 11 Fowler children born to Benjamin and Maggie between 1910 and Christmas Day, 1929. On album liner notes and print interviews -- the children were just a number; here, they are Hazel, Daniel Benjamin, Trudie Jane, Sarah Louise, Mack Bolin, Charles Edward (Ed), Rema Ruth, Ruby Nell, Virginia Bell, Clara Ann, and Margaret Ellen (Peggy). Why mention them? That’s simple: Christmas is about family!


Their father worked on the Midland Valley Railroad in Eastern Oklahoma and supported all 13 of them on less than $50 a month; their mother picked cotton to augment that income. Over the years, a highlight of every family get-together became a happy time of reminiscing as each Fowler sibling related knee-slapping, laugh-until-you-cry stories – and how they tried to hide everything from their strict mother, Maggie. The Fowler family was rich beyond words when it came to their memories. They all had beautiful singing voices but there was one musical storyteller in the group who could interpret a story in song, who set the world on fire with hit after hit from 1948 until her last charted single in 1980. Through her final interview in December 2012, that storyteller reiterated that she wanted to be a commercial artist; she never wanted to be a singer. But “It just worked out that way. I guess God had other plans for me,” exclaimed Clara Ann Fowler, a.k.a. Patti Page.

The world lost one of its greatest ladies of song when Patti Page passed away on January 1, 2013. She left us a storehouse of recordings to cherish.

From our extended Fowler family to yours, here’s a heartfelt wish --

in every Christmas season –

you love, cherish, and enjoy your family and friends.

More to Read:
1. This is My Song: A Memoir. By Patti Page. (my copy was reprinted in 2009.)
2. Once Upon a Dream: A Personal Chat with All Teenagers. By Patti Page. Bobbs-Merrill, New York; 1960. 

3. The Liner Notes from the tribute 2013 CD recording of “Christmas with Patti Page.”

4. Patti Page Relatives Preserve Her Life: Tim Akers and Dena Roeder

5. Patty Page's Official Website

6. Baltimore Radio's Tribute to Patti Page
7. Patti's IMDb biography 
8. Wikipedia -- Patti Page
9. Travel Oklahoma's Tribute Page to Patti.
10. Oklahoma's Music Hall of Fame -- 1997 Inductee
11. Museum of Broadcast Communications -- search "Page, Patti"

12.  Obituary 1
13. Obituary 2
14. Obituary 3
15. Obituary 4
16. Obituary 5 (turn on sound)
17. Findagrave #103010674

It was a family tradition! Patti's grandfather Benjamin Fowler; her father, Ben A. Fowler; and her brother, Mack B. Fowler all worked for the Midland Valley Railroad company.  

Places to Visit: 
1. Claremore Museum of History, 121 North Wenonah, Claremore, OK.
2. Oklahoma State Historical Society (insert "Patti Page" into their search engine for current exhibit info)
3. OKPOP Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture (ditto for current exhibit info) Museum is being built across from Cain's Ballroom, 423 N Main St, Tulsa, OK, where Patti sang with Al Clauser and his Oklahomans and Bob Wills when she was in high school. 
4. Patti Page's Oklahoma Music Trail (Tim said #7 stop should be 3702 W. 43rd St., Tulsa, OK.)

Here's a sampling of some of Patti's songs:
(click on lower right hand corner of Youtube videos to enlarge screen)

Christmas Song

Home

Home for the Holidays

Home, Sweet Oklahoma

How Much Is That Doggie In the Window?

Jingle Bells

Life is just a Bowl of Cherries

Mockingbird Hill

Mom and Dad's Waltz

Moon River

Oklahoma Blues

The Person Who Used to Be Me

Silent Night

Want to hear more?

Click on my first YouTube playlist of Patti's music. 

This one has still shots of Patti that accompany her music. 

And this is my second YouTube playlist of Patti, filmed live as she sang her songs.  

William "Bill" McKinley Carrender



Bert & Bill's 50th
Anniversary

William "Bill" McKinley Carrender (1898-1989) = Logger (cut timber for staves). Farmer.  Bill was born on July 24 to George Alfred (1852-1920) and Lucy GOOD CARRENDER (1874-1944) in Cole County, MO. He was their fourth child of five children and their first son. His last years were spent in the care of his first daughter and he died in his sleep at her home in Wyandotte County, Kansas on January 8, but was laid to rest in the same county he was born in at the Hickory Hill, MO. Cemetery.

His wife of fifty-eight years, Bertha "Bert" Edith (1904-1991) was born in Miller County, MO. on April 19 to Joseph (1866-1947) and Mary "Mollie" Elizabeth STAPP GOLDEN (1870-1914). She passed away just a few days shy of her 87th birthday on April 8 in Cole County, MO. They married on January 11, 1931 and their last home together was a small cottage in the tiny village of Henley, Cole Co., Missouri.

Bill and Bert had four children. The first one, a daughter, eloped by bus, to meet and marry her fiancé. He was stationed at the army base, Fort Bliss, in El Paso, TX. They went to Los Cruces, New Mexico to get married by a justice of the peace. Must have been true love as they celebrated their 66th anniversary. And by the way, they begat five children.

Their second daughter, Shirley Mae  (1934-1973), married William Norment and had two boys.

The third one married twice; the second time after she was widowed. She had six children, including a pair of twins by her first husband and two more by her second.

The fourth child, finally a male descendant, Billy Joe Carrender (1939-1986), married Pinky Bias; had three children, but, sadly, his marriage ended in divorce.

Thus Bill and Bert's four children yielded eighteen grandchildren all told. 

More to Read: 

1.  The Car(r)ender, Car(r)inder, Carnder, Cornder, Car(r)inger, Car(r)ander, Car(r)endar, Cor(r)inder, Ker(r)ender, and allied lines, 1740-1990. By Minnie Carender.  Stevenson Print. Co, Richmond, Ind ; 1992. World Cat. 

2. The Rush Report. By Gaynelle Jenkins Moore & David Wayne Rush. Historical Data Services, Glen Falls, NY; 2003. p.187, 260, 291, 300, 357,391, 448, 503. Internet Archive.   

3. Col. Morgan Morgan Reunion website

4. Bill's Findagrave Memorial # 22532962

5. Bert's Findagrave Memorial #22532944

Philander H. O'Neal

Philander H. O'Neal (1850-1920) = Farmer. Born in Havana, Mason Co., IL on September 12 to John L. (1811-1857) and Martha Green (FREEMAN) O'NEAL (1819-1909). His siblings were: Joseph, Susan, Ann, Prander, twins-Frances and Frank, and Ella. We aren't sure when the O'Neals immigrated to Missouri or what route they followed -- they may have come by steamboat up the Missouri River as Bogard, Carroll Co, MO. where the O'Neals settled isn't that far north of the river or they may have come overland from Hannibal following the Indian trail (Hwy 24). However, it was sometime before 1874 because Philander married his first wife, Joan (1851-1885), a native of Bogard and the daughter of John and Lucinda (FARIS) GLAZE then. They had five children, the last two a set of twins. Joan died two years after the twins were born and was buried in the Ebenezer cemetery outside of Bogard.

Phi married Phoebe Emeline CANADAY (1851-1927), daughter of John C. and Mary Ann (SHOCKLEY) CANADAY at the Methodist church in Bogard on March 10, 1887.

Most of Philander's children grew up, married, and had families of their own. From Philander's first family, Effie died at a young age (1875-1876); Hallie (1877-1960) married St. Cloud BROCK (1881-1958); Fannie (1879-1914) married Wm. Carson JOHNSON (1883-1939); Luther (1883-1934) married Emma Ray JAMES (1882-1923); and Lewis (1883-1955) married Jennie E. WAGAMAN (1888-1947).

In Philander's second family: John, possibly stillborn (1888); Arthur (1890-1960) married Dorritt BILLHEIMER (1883-1969); Elmer (1892-1959) married Emma BUNNEY (1895-1978); Wm. Carson JOHNSON married Fannie's half-sister, Mabel (1893-1981), after Fannie died in January of 1914 the following December; Herbert (1896-1973) married Gladys IFORD (b. 1901); Gilbert (1897-1953) married Zelma E. DEHAVEN (1902-1967); Oscar * (1898-1977) married Gladys E. WHITE (1904-1994); Lillian (1900-1970) remained single; and Willie (b. 1902) married Roy Newton CANADAY (1902-1983).

More to Read:

1. Documents of the Philander H. O'Neal Family

2. The Canaday Book. 

3. Willie Green (O'Neal) Canaday's  Zucchini Squash Relish Recipe. 

4. Missouri State Board of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics Death Certificate 33692, Retrieved from website --www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/deathcertificates/ 

5. White's Family and Their Kin. By Mrs. Gladys Esther White O'Neal and Elma Leota White Stoops. Paper Graphics, Garden City, KS., 1983.

6. "Leslie Township Biographies: Nathan E. Canaday." History of Carroll County Missouri.  Missouri Historical Company, St. Louis, MO 1881. p. 628. Google Books.

7. Findagrave-- 110205316

Historical Note: According to the Carroll County, MO History book above, Nathan Canaday's family emigrated to Carroll County, MO in 1870. Nathan was Phoebe's uncle. 

Biography written by Dolores J. Rush, updated: 4/6/2022. 

Daniel Lewis LaRue

Daniel Lewis LaRue (1867-1934) = Farmer. Stonemason. Born to Amos Tiffin Davis "AT" (1830-1900) and Sarah Ann STROUD LARUE (1831-1891), Sr. in Madison County, Indiana on August 22. He was their 7th child of eight and he moved to Burr Oak, Rooks Co., Kansas when he was seven with his parents. His siblings names were: Amos, Jr., Elizabeth, Mary, John William, Jacob, Joseph, and Sarah.

Daniel married twice and had a total of thirteen children. In 1890, he married Amanda Jane MOON (1870-1891), daughter of Jonathan D. (1846-1916) and Harriett WALL MOON. Amanda died the following year giving birth to Earnest Preston (1891-1972). Daniel, at 22, was unable to care for his newborn son and left the little tyke in his sister, Sarah's (1870-1952) care until he was nine. Four years later, Sarah married Amanda's brother, Linton Henry MOON (1871-1950), producing seven children.

Click to Enlarge.

1890 Wedding Picture = Daniel & Amanda Jane MOON LARUE.

Meanwhile, Daniel met Deliah (NOT De-li-lah, but Del-lah) E. (1879-1943) in Hebron, Nebraska. She was there caring for her sister, Belle, who had married one of Dan's cousins, Marion LaRue and had contracted TB (tuberculosis). They tied the knot on August 27, 1898 in Stockton, Rook Co., KS. Della was the daughter of James A. (1828-1903) and Hester Ann MORRIS BAILEY (1844-1925) of Stanberry, MO. Since Dan was a stonemason, they moved where there was work. Their first five children were born in a different location every two years. Eventually, when number six came along, they had reached Hill City, KS where they lived a number of years. In 1920, they relocated to Topeka, KS where Ernie was residing at the time.

Click to Enlarge.

Grandma Hester A. (MORRIS) BAILEY's Visit.

1st row: Grace Bailey, Edith & Maurine LaRue.

2nd row: Harold and Deliah LaRue, Electa Bailey, Grandma Bailey,

Josephina Bailey Macy,

3rd Row: Axie, Ray, Daniel, and Ralph LaRue.

LaRue Children not born yet: Pearl, Howard, Paul, Lily, Lynn, and Wanda.

Following a broken neck caused by a drunk driver in a head-on collision, Daniel died in Bell Memorial Hospital, Kansas City. Both he and Della rest in peace together in the Waverly, Kansas cemetery.

More to Read:
1. Ash Rock Church
2. (more books on Ash Rock Church -- Captain Osborn's Legacy by Patsy Redden; Ash Rock and the Stone Church by Leo E. Oliva; Woodston: The Story of a Kansas Country Town. By Leo E. Oliva)

3. See LaRue labeled articles on this blog.

4. Findagrave Memorial for Daniel's father, Amos Tiffin Davis "AT" LaRue.

5. Morton County Kansas History Book. Morton County Historical Society, Elkhart, KS.

6. Phillips County Kansas Settlers Prior to 1900. Phillips County Historical Society, Phillipsburg, KS. 1977.
7. Grandma Hester Ann (MORRIS) BAILEY's Findagrave Memorial #68079871
8. Documents of Daniel L. LaRue Family

Alford ULLOM

Alford ULLOM (1847-1928). Innkeeper. Restaurateur. Farmer. Born in Wheeling, Ohio Co., West Virginia on May 12 to Lorenzo Dow (1821-1908) of Greene County, PA. & Hannah EMERICK (1823-1911) ULLOM. He was their second child and first son of approximately eight children. He immigrated with his parents from West Virginia to Illinois sometime after 1859, eventually settling in Streator, LaSalle Co, IL before 1874.

Alford married twice and had a total of fourteen children.

Click to enlarge.

1st Family = 1st row: Alford, Linna, Hannah, Samantha, Ollie;

2nd row: Jim, Clarence, Bert

When his first wife, Samantha Jane PITMAN (1848-1891) died in childbirth (their daughter, sweet baby Sam following a month later) in Coffeyville, Kansas, he married his second wife, Tacy Emmaline BERRY (1868-1937), daughter of Benjamin Franklin (1841-1904) and Elizabeth MCCLOUD BERRY (1846-1902) about two weeks before the outlaw DALTON'S raid on the banks in Coffeyville. Tacy, first employed as a nanny for Alford's six motherless children, she began to cook for his cafe on the west side of the main street (Walnut) and later married her boss. Alford also had a small inn in Coffeyville called the Farmer's Home a few blocks away from the cafe at 115 West 8th St which burned in the early 1900s.

When news of an impending stork delivery to his house reached Alford's ear, they returned to Streator, IL in the early spring of 1893. Eventually, all seven children of his second family were born there.

The Ulloms moved again in 1915, this time by railroad and wagon to Postle, Oklahoma. All the children of his first family grown by then, his second family moved also except his oldest son. All his children scattered from Illinois and Oklahoma, making homes for their descendants in California, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, and Washington, but his youngest son and bride remained on the homeplace, raising children and in due time welcoming their great-grandchildren.

Click to enlarge.
2nd Family = 1st row: Laura, Alford, Tacy, Mabel;
2nd row: Ellsworth, Frank, Lawrence, Ronald, John

Historical Note: There are some conflicting reports that Emmett DALTON may or may not have recooperated in Alford's inn before he was taken away to the county jail in Independence, KS depending on who you talk to. Emmett's brothers are buried about 300 yards from where Samantha, Alford, and Tacy are buried in Elmwood cemetery in Coffeyville, KS. Emmett eventually was pardoned and ended up in Hollywood, CA. where he directed a movie of the raid from the sidelines. But until his death in 1937, he controlled all information concerning the raid, threatening to sue anybody who published anything he didn't like.

More to Read:

1. See Paper Trail documents, letters, and recipes posted on this blog for BERRY, EMERICK's and ULLOM'S 
2. Documents of Alford Ullom's First Family 

3. See Hamlet History article on Postle, OK.

4. The DALTON Brothers and Their Astounding Career. By An Eyewitness. 1892, reprinted in 1977.

5. The Last Raid of the DALTON'S: A Reliable Recital of the Battle With the Bandits at Coffeyville, Kansas; Oct. 15, 1892. By David Steward ELLIOT, Editor of Coffeyville Journal. 1893; reprinted 1971.

6. Northwest Flats Heritage: A History of Five Townships in Northwest Texas County, OK. Compiled by the Committee: Ida Brewer, Marie Cooper, Delpha Dain, Maxine Fowler, Minnie Johnson, Allie Mitchell, Emma Weeks, & Lydia Wessler. Times Publishing, Texhoma, OK., p. 216.

7. Findagrave #25885749

Places to Visit:
1. Earline (Griffith) Spinney's Clock Collection, Port Jefferson, NY.

2. Dalton Museum, Coffeyville, KS (Dalton Days, first weekend of October)

3. Elmwood Cemetery, Coffeyville, Montgomery Co., KS.
4. Morton County Historical Museum, Elkhart, KS.

Biography written by Dolores J. Rush. Updated: 10/6/2019. 

Zerelda “Ruth” & Archie Truman Rush, Sr.

Zeralda “Ruth” Rush was born on 24 June, 1908 in Jim Henry township, Miller County, MO, to Ephraim “Ephie” David (1869-1942) and Alice Isabelle “Belle” Bittle (1877-1951) Rush. She was the eighth child of twelve and a younger sister to Ishmael L. Rush with whom she was very close. Theirs was a musical family. Ruth played a horn and I.L. played a fiddle.

Archie Truman Rush, Sr. was born to Albert “Lee” (1879-1981)and Minnie Catherine Sullens (1900-1951) Rush on 9 September, 1905 in Jim Henry Township also. He was their 3rd child of ten children.

They, third cousins, married on 28 August 1926 in St. Louis, MO. Together they had one child, Archie Trueman Rush, Jr., born 12 July, 1927. “Junior” begat three grandchildren with his wife, Jewell Mae Vernon (1927-1992).

Ruth and Archie farmed a piece of land off Rush Road in Jim Henry Twp., Eugene, MO. I’ve heard stories that Ruth was a dead aim and could shoot squirrels from her front porch for the supper-pot. As far as hobbies go, she was a quilter, crocheted doilies to sell for pocket money and could write very good poetry (see the sample below)..

She was a member of the Eldon, MO. Church of the Nazarene.

Archie died on 22 January 1993. Ruth died 11 October 1999, tragically in a car accident beside her big brother, Ishmael. Her funeral service was held at the Phillips Funeral Home in Eldon. Her pastor, Rev. Jerry Frye officiated. All were buried in the Rush Chapel Cemetery in Jim Henry, between Mary’s Home and Tuscumbia, MO.

The Poor Old Beggar
By Ruth Rush.

The night was cold and dreary, the rain was coming down,
The poor old ragged beggar lie silently on the ground.
His clothes were worn and shabby, his hair was all unkempt,
His body tired and weary; for nights he hadn’t slept.

No one seemed to love him; he had tried but all in vain
To find a place of shelter, but everywhere the same.
The finest homes he hunted, and asked for a bite to eat,
Always “No” for an answer; was made to walk the streets.

He came to a humble dwelling, the steps were tumbled down.
He knocked upon the door and this is what he found:
A smile from the nicest lady with music in her words,
The most hearty welcome that he had ever heard.

“Madam, I hate to bother, but please, just a bite or two,
I’m so weak and hungry; I know not what to do;
I know you must be busy." “Hush,” said the lady fair,
Dinner just now is ready, with you I’ll gladly share.”

He thanked her very kindly as he sat with trembling hands,
He thought she was the nicest that lived throughout the land,
He kept his eyes upon her and watched her all the time.
“What makes her so different?” was the thought that crossed his mind.

She finished up the dinner and showed him where to sit,
She bowed her head in reverence as her hands together clasped.
The meal was not the finest, but was eaten with great delight
By the lady who had fixed it, and the beggar at the right.

She began to talk of Jesus and His love for everyone,
How He died upon the cross, and her heart to Him was won.
The beggar sat in silence and listened to her words
His heart beat fast and heavy; that Name somewhere he’d heard.

“The name again,” he asked her, “Jesus, did you say?”
I thank you for your kindness, I must now be on my way.”
“Just a minute, Mister beggar, I’ve a Book here on the stand.
Take it with you, please sir, and read it when you can.

“Here’s a coat I’ll give you; it will help to keep you warm.
Then I want you to pray, sir, for God to keep you from all harm.”
He bowed his head and thanked her, his eyes were filled with tears;
He thought: “I’m just a beggar, I wonder why she cares?”

The door was closed behind him, the lady knelt in prayer;
“Father, I’ve done my best, Save him out there somewhere.”
The beggar walked in haste, no one did he see,
His eyes toward the ground, his thoughts—eternity.

His mind began to wonder, the sun was sinking low;
He turned into the park, no other place to go.
He slept upon a bench and shivered from the cold;
“God keep you from all harm” rang out so clear and bold.

The nights were spent in misery, the days were sadder still;
He roamed the streets and highways and climbed the rugged hills.
He opened up his bundle he’d carried for many miles,
And found his mother’s picture with the happiest little smile.

He looked into her face, then clasped it to his breast;
“I’ll open up the Book and read it while I rest.”
He scanned through its pages, read how Christ had died,
How they spat upon His face and stabbed Him in the side.

He read within its pages, He died for all mankind;
“I’ll prepare for you a home and will come for you some time.”
His heart was oh, so hungry, as he went upon his way.
He heard the sweetest music and listened while they prayed.

He looked his trousers over, he felt his bearded face,
His hair was long and stringy, he seemed quite out of place.
The preacher took his text, and talked on Love Divine,
How everyone must meet the Christ out there some time.

The beggar sat and listened, he knew it was for him.
He staggered to the altar, God saved him from all sin.
The beggar rose with victory, his hands were lifted high,
His heart was overflowing, his face was toward the sky.

The people grouped around him and listened while he told,
How for years he’d been a beggar and slept out in the cold.
His mother’s name was mentioned, how she prayed and talked to God,
How his heart was hungry to walk the path she’d trod.

Today he is a preacher, he never knows defeat,
Because of God and mother and the lady down the street.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
A Lovely Couple
By Zerelda Ruth Rush.

There's the sweetest little couple
A' living on the hill.
To everyone, she's Aunt Cora,
And he is Uncle Bill.

When you near that little cottage
Where this humble couple dwells;
And you view their smiling faces,
Your heart begins to swell.

They make you feel so welcome
From the richest to the poor;
The stranger on the highway,
Or the beggar at the door.

To each it is a pleasure
To lay aside their hat;
And sit for hours and hours
Together with them chat.

We think it is a treat
When he gets you by the arm;
And shows you all his pets
That he has there on the farm.

He has them trained most perfect
They understand somehow;
The hen knows when to cackle
And the cat when to meow.

Old Boss, she knows the minute
When feeding time is near;
But keeps right on a grazing
As if she didn't hear. . .

Bill coming down the path.
The buckets swinging high;
Or hear him gently calling
As he comes passing by.

She hears him say, "Come on, Boss,
Or I'll not feed you now;
If you don't mind, I'll trade you off
And get another cow."

She smiles and switched her tail
And continues with her chew;
She isn't worried a bit.
She knew he would come to . . .

Drive her to the stall,
And pet her on the head
And say, "Now, Boss, you know,
I haven't meant a word I said."

The old red rooster looking on,
Was standing by the barn;
Bill's loving on all his pets, 
He waits patiently to be fed corn.

Nearby, you hear Cora laugh a little bit,
Then she gives a little sigh.
Her mother-love shines like gold.
For those who just came by.

She hasn't time for all the pets
Just one to her is a thrill;
The one she married years ago
And that is Uncle Bill. 

Ishmael L. & N. Marie Rush

Ishmael Lawrence Rush (1906-1999). Farmer. Ishmael was born April 8, 1906 to Ephraim David "Ephie" Rush and Alice Isabelle "Belle" Bittle, the seventh child of twelve children. Ishmael married Nanny Marie Rush (1909-1996), the second child of William Thornton Rush and Cora Lee Sullens, on October 19, 1929 at the St. Louis County Courthouse by Joe L. Schuler, J.P. Marie was born on February 5, 1909. They had four boys.

They attended the Mt. Herman Baptist church nearby after the Jim Henry Methodist church closed in the 1960s when one of their boys attended Vacation Bible School there. Eventually the whole family began to worship at Mt. Herman and Marie taught the senior adult women’s Sunday School class.

Ishmael cared for a kitchen garden with a small vineyard. He picked up the black walnuts that grew wild on their farm, kept some and sold the rest for pocket money. He also raised cattle, pigs, chickens, and horses. He had a coon-dog, hunted, trapped, and fished. Our son says his favorite memory of "grandpa with the tractor"  is playing checkers with him.

Marie taught herself to cook and can. She made homemade bread and the best pumpkin butter, grape jelly, and pies. She also sewed for her family, quilted and crocheted. She was in a ladies homemakers club many years. Marie loved to read, not only Capper's Weekly, the Grit, and good books but also her Scofield Bible.

They loved visiting their family, especially during Decoration Day and at the family reunion.

Marie graduated to heaven on November 12, 1996. Ishmael and his sister, Ruth, were killed in a car accident on October 11, 1999. All of them were laid to rest in the Rush Chapel Cemetery.

More to Read:
1. St. Louis, MO. Courthouse Picture Postcard (where they married)
2. 1976 Miller County, MO Land Directory.  Published by Directory Service Company. Provided by Farm and Home Publishers.  Landowners Index 015, p. 32.  Retrieved from website: Historic Map Works.
 3. 1976 Plat Map of Saline Twp. T42N-R14W, Miller County, MO. Published by Directory Service Company. Provided by Farm and Home Publishers.  Section 16, Retrieved from website: Historic Map Works.
4. Findagrave #14087669


Places to Visit:
1. Mt. Herman Baptist (org. December 12, 1872) located at the cross-roads of Spring Garden Road and FF Hwy outside of Olean, MO.
2. the communities of Eldon, Etterville,  Mt. Pleasant, Olean, and Spring Garden in Saline Twp., Miller County, MO.
3. Rush Chapel cemetery, on Jim Henry road, between Mary's Home and Tuscumbia, MO.

Biography written by: Dolores J. Rush. Updated: 10/6/2019.