General Jeremiah M. Rusk

“General Rusk, born in Morgan County, Ohio, June 17th, 1830; died in 1894. He divided his time between farm work and the acquisition of a common-school education till he attained his majority, and in 1853 removed to Wisconsin and engaged in agriculture in Vernon county. He entered the National Army in 1862, was commissioned major of the Twenty-fifth Wisconsin Regiment, rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel, and served with General William T. Sherman from the siege of Vicksburg till the close of the war. In 1865 he received the brevet of brigadier general of volunteers for meritorious services at the battle of Salkehatchie. Beginning with 1881, he was elected Governor of Wisconsin for three successive terms. During the threatened Milwuakee riots in May, 1886, he did good service by his prompt action in ordering the militia to fire on the dangerous mobs when they attempted to destroy life and property. In 1889 President Harrison appointed General Rusk Secretary of Agriculture."— Frank Leslie, 1896

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