A Guide to the John B. Rushing Papers, 1874-1913

Historical Note

John B. Rushing (b. 1845), born in Decatur County, Tennessee, was the youngest of ten children to Asa Rushing and Nancy Hendricks of North Carolina. On January 28, 1862, Rushing joined the Confederate Army, and fought in several battles during the Civil War in the territory west of the Mississippi. After the war, he retuned home and worked as a farmer. On December 4, 1867, he married Sallie Stack in Nacogdoches County, Texas, with whom he had seven children. Rushing donated this collection on August 3, 1930.

The Grange, also called The National Grange of the Orders of Patrons of Husbandry, is an American farmers’ organization promoting economic and political security. The Grand State Farmers’ Alliance of Texas, also known as the Farmers’ Alliance, protected farmers from horse thieves, bandits, and land sharks. The United Friends of Temperance was an organization founded around 1870 in favor of prohibition.

Source:

Rushing, John B. “Autobiography of John B. Rushing.” US Gen Web Archives. Accessed August 31, 2011. http://files.usgwarchives.org/la/sabine/bios/rush.txt.

Scope and Contents

A ledger, account book, a book of fashion plates, newspaper clippings, and speeches comprise the John B. Rushing Papers, 1874-1913, relating to the business activities of John W. H. Davis, the Grange, the Grand State Farmers’ Alliance of Texas, and the United Friends of Temperance. An account book records the sale of clothing and other goods. Two speeches document Davis’ advocacy of free silver (a U. S. political policy issue in the early 19th to late 20th century), nativism, white supremacy, and spiritualism. Newspaper clippings concern legislative, financial, sociological, and religious issues. A book of fashion plates contains descriptions and illustrations of clothing for men, women, and children. The collection also includes a blank ledger.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

John B. Rushing Papers, 1874-1913, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.

Processing Information

Basic processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with funds from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) for the Briscoe Center’s “History Revealed: Bringing Collections to Light project,” 2009-2011.

Detailed Description of the Papers