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Rusk Collection
Thomas Jefferson Rusk (1803 - 1857)

U. S. Senator from Texas, was born December 5, 1803 in Pendleton District, South Carolina, the son of John Rusk and Mary Sterritt. Self taught, Thomas studied law and was admitted to the bar in Georgia where he began his law practice. He moved to Nacogdoches, Texas in 1835. He was a delegate to the convention which declared for the independence of Texas in 1836, the first Secretary of War for the new Republic, and fought at the Battle of San Jacinto and took control of the forces commanding them until October 1836. He was a Democrat to the United States Senate when Texas was admitted into the Union in 1845 until his death (reelected in 1851 and 1857).

Thomas married Mary F Cleveland, the daughter of John Cleveland in 1827. They had a total of seven children. Mary died on April 23, 1856 from tuberculosis.


Thomas Jefferson Rusk
(U.S. Senate Historical Office)

Rusk, despondent over the death of his wife and ill from a tumor on his neck, took his own life on July 29, 1857. Thomas and Mary are interned at Oak Grove Cemetery in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Rusk's Commission to  Major General Militia of the Republic of Texas, December 19, 1837
Rusk's Commission to  Major General Militia of the Republic of Texas, December 19, 1837

PRESIDENT, IN THE NAME AND BY THE AUTHORITY OF
THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS


TO ALL WHO SHALL SEE THESE PRESENTS, GREETING:

Know ye. That reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity, and abilities of Thomas J Rusk I do commission him Major General in the militia of the Republic of Texas, to bear date from December 19th 1837.

He is therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duties of Major General by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging. And I do strictly charge and require all officers, soldiers, and others under his command, to be obedient to his orders, as Major General of the Militia of the Republic of Texas.

And he is to observe and follow such orders and direction from time to time, as he shall receive from me, or the future President of the Republic of Texas, or his superior officer set over him, according to the rules and discipline of the Army. This commission to continue in force during the pleasure of the President of the Republic of Texas, for the time being.

Given under my hand, at Houston this Twenty First day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven and in the Second year of the Independence of the Republic of Texas.
Barnard E Bee BY THE PRESIDENT,
Sec of War Sam H Houston
 
Rusk's Commission to  Major General Militia of the Republic of Texas, January 16, 1843
Rusk's Commission to  Major General Militia of the Republic of Texas, December 19, 1837

Sam Houston
In the name and by the authority of the
Republic of Texas:

Tell to whom these presents shall come or may concern – Greetings:

Know ye: That reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valor, fidelity, and ability of Thomas J Rusk Esquire, I do hereby Commission him a Major General of the Militia of the Republic of Texas, in accordance with the 1st Section of “an Act for the protection of the Western and South Western Frontier, and for other purposes” passed the 16th day of January 1843.

He is therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duties of Major General, by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging. And I do strictly charge and require all under his command to be obedient to his orders as such

Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the Republic at Washington, this twenty eighth day of March, in the year of Our Lord, One Thousand, eight hundred and forty three and in the eighth year of the Independence of the Republic
By the President

M C Hamilton

Actg Secretary of War and Marine
Sam H Houston

Historical Collection

Title Year(s)
Early Religious Architecture of America 1898
El Paso Boys in Uniform During the World's War 1914-18
El Paso - Chamber of Commerce 1917
El Paso Photographic History - Volume One 1909
El Paso Photographic History - Volume Two 1909
El Paso Police Department Souvenir 1918 1918
El Paso, Texas - Metropolis of the Great Southwest and Main Gateway to Mexico ca. 1920's
El Paso's Missions and Indians ca. 1920's
Jockey Club Juarez and El Paso 1912-13
Otis A Aultman Collection Early 1900's
Public Schools of El Paso Texas 1928
Toltec Club ca. 1902 - 1930's
Rusk Collection  
Treaty of Velasco  
Trost Architects 1907
Twelve Travelers  
Who's Who in El Paso and the Great Southwest: 
Portraits for the El Paso Public Library by Stout-Feldman Studio
ca. 1940's
   
   
 
 
Page updated October 18, 2013


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