Hon. Jacob Rush, of the Pennsylvania Judiciary.
53 HON. JACOB BUSH, OF THE PENNSYLVANIA JUDICIARY. By LOUIS RICHARDS, Esq., of Reading, Penna.
The name of Rush was long prominent in Pennsylvania in the annals of medicine, law and jurisprudence. Dr. Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence, eminent physician and philanthropist, filled a large place in the public affairs of his time. His younger brother, Jacob Rush, of whose life and official services it is proposed to speak, was one of the shining lights of the early Pennsylvania State Judiciary. Both were strong characters, zealous patriots during the stirring period in which they lived, tenacious of their convictions and of the high standard of individual duty which they set for others, and typified in themselves. Jacob Rush was born November 24,1747, in Byberry township, Philadelphia County, the family seat of his ancestors, who came from Oxfordshire, England, to America in 1683. John Rush, the immigrant, commanded a troop of horse in the army of Oliver Cromwell. Having embraced the principles of the Quakers, he was doubtless attracted hither by the inducements held out by Penn to the people of that faith for the founding of his newly acquired colony. He left numerous descendants, among whom, in the third generation, was John Rush, who married Susan Harvey, daughter of Joseph Hall, of Tacony, these being the parents of Dr. Rush and his brother Jacob. Losing their father at a very early age, their bringing up devolved upon the mother, who remarried, and, though of slender means and left with five children, procured for her two sons the benefits of a liberal education. The two youths were first sent to the school taught by Francis Alison.
