Allen Eugene Rusk (February 6, 1825March 12, 1904) was an American farmer, Republican politician, and

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

pioneer. He was a member of the

Wisconsin State Assembly The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The Assembly is controlled by the Republican ...

for two terms, representing Vernon County during the

1878 Events January * January 5 – Russo-Turkish War: Battle of Shipka Pass IV – Russian and Bulgarian forces defeat the Ottoman Empire. * January 9 – Umberto I becomes King of Italy. * January 17 – Russo-Turkish War: ...

and

1881 Events January * January 1– 24 – Siege of Geok Tepe: Russian troops under General Mikhail Skobelev defeat the Turkomans. * January 13 – War of the Pacific – Battle of San Juan and Chorrillos: The Chilean army ...

terms. He was an older brother of

Jeremiah McLain Rusk Jeremiah McLain Rusk (June 17, 1830November 21, 1893) was an American Republican politician. He was the second United States secretary of agriculture (1889–1893) and the 15th governor of Wisconsin (1882–1889), and served three terms ...

, who was

governor of Wisconsin The governor of Wisconsin is the head of government of Wisconsin and the commander-in-chief of the state's Wisconsin Army National Guard, army and Wisconsin Air National Guard, air forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the ...

and U.S. secretary of agriculture.

Early life

Allen Rusk was born on February 6, 1825, in

Clayton Township, Perry County, Ohio Clayton Township is one of the fourteen townships of Perry County, Ohio, United States. The 2020 census found 1,432 people in the township. Geography Located in the north central part of the county, it borders the following townships: * Madis ...

. When he was a child, he moved with his family to

Morgan County, Ohio Morgan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2023, the population was 13,646, making it the third-least populous county in Ohio. Its county seat is McConnelsville. The county was created in 1817 and later organized in ...

, where he was raised on his father's farm and educated in the common schools. He also apprenticed in plastering. In 1852, he moved came to

, settling originally at

Lancaster Lancaster may refer to: Lands and titles *The County Palatine of Lancaster, a synonym for Lancashire *Duchy of Lancaster, one of only two British royal duchies *Duke of Lancaster *Earl of Lancaster *House of Lancaster, a British royal dynasty ...

Grant County Grant County may refer to: Places ;Australia * County of Grant, Victoria ;United States * Grant County, Arkansas * Grant County, Indiana * Grant County, Kansas *Grant County, Kentucky Grant County is a county located in the northern pa ...

. In December 1852, he hauled a load of merchandise to Vernon County for Henry McAulley, who operated a store there. While in Vernon County, Rusk began to look for land to make a permanent home for his family. He brought his family to

Viroqua, Wisconsin Viroqua is the county seat of Vernon County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,504 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The city is in the Viroqua (town), Wisconsin, town of Viroqua. Etymology The town was originally name ...

, in October 1853, and in the spring of 1854, he selected a large plot of land in what is now Liberty, Vernon County, Wisconsin. He settled on the land in April 1855. At the time, that area was still part of a larger township of Viroqua, and Rusk is credited for getting the town of Liberty established as a separate entity. Rusk was elected the first chairman of the Liberty town board, and served at least seven years in that role.

Civil War service

Rusk volunteered for duty in the Union Army in the fourth year of the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. He was enrolled as a private in Company I of the 42nd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. The 42nd Infantry mustered into federal service on September 7, 1864, and spent their entire service on provost duty in southern Illinois. They mustered out of federal service on June 20, 1865.

Political career

Rusk was elected to the

on the Republican Party ticket in 1877 and 1880. He served in the

and

legislative terms. During the 1881 term, he was serving in the Legislature while his brother was Governor.

Personal life and legacy

Rusk was the sixth of 7 children born to Daniel Rusk and his wife Jane (' Faulkner). Allen Rusk's younger brother was

, who had distinguished Union Army service in the Civil War and went on to become a U.S. congressman,

Governor of Wisconsin The governor of Wisconsin is the head of government of Wisconsin and the commander-in-chief of the state's Wisconsin Army National Guard, army and Wisconsin Air National Guard, air forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the ...

United States Secretary of Agriculture The United States secretary of agriculture is the head of the United States Department of Agriculture. The position carries similar responsibilities to those of agriculture ministers in other governments The department includes several organi ...

, and namesake of

Rusk County, Wisconsin Rusk County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,188. Its county seat is Ladysmith. The Chippewa and Flambeau rivers and their tributaries flow through the county. The land ranges from co ...

. Jeremiah's son Lycurgus J. Rusk also served in the

. Allen Rusk married Mary Newton, of Harrison County, Virginia, in 1843. They had six children together but one daughter died young. They were ultimately married for over 60 years, dying within days of each other in March 1904. The town of Liberty, Wisconsin, was formerly named "Rusk Corners" after Rusk.

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (1878)

, colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;", General Election, November 6, 1877

Wisconsin Assembly (1881)

, colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;", General Election, November 2, 1880

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Rusk, Allen People from Perry County, Ohio Politicians from Vernon County, Wisconsin Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly Wisconsin city council members People of Wisconsin in the American Civil War Union army soldiers 1825 births 1904 deaths Wisconsin pioneers 19th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature