George Rushton

GEORGE RUSHTON, of The George Rushton Baking Company, Rosedale, Kansas, is the son of a baker and all of his three sons are bakers. Thus the Rushtons come rightfully by the appelation, "the family of bakers," by which they are known.

George Rushton was born in Manchester, England, in 1861, a son of George F. and Martha Rushton, natives of that place, both having died in England many years ago. At an early age George F. Rushton learned the bakery business, and was engaged in it all his life. And it was in his father's shop that George, the subject of this sketch, when a boy of eight years, began to work at the trade which he has since followed. Having been put to work at this youthful age, he grew up without schooling so far as books and teachers are concerned, but in the broad school of experience he has learned life's lessons, and today ranks with the self made men of the community in which he lives.

In 1880, at Bolton, England, Mr. Rushton and Miss Jane Wheatley, of Manchester, were united in marriage, and the following year they came to this country. He engaged in the bakery business in New York city until 1883, when he came west as far as Kansas City, Missouri. In 1888 he moved out to Rosedale and opened a small bakery, which has grown until at this writing it is the largest incorporated bakery in Greater Kansas City, and the largest bakery in the state of Kansas. The business is conducted under the name of The George Rushton Baking Company, of which George Rushton is president; Frank Rushton, his son, vice president; and Mrs. Jane Rushton, his wife, secretary and treasurer. They own and occupy a two story brick building, having a floor space of fifty-two thousand, two hundred sq. feet, and require as many as fifteen wagons to handle their output. It is the present intention of the father to retire from business in 1912, and at that time to turn the entire business over to his three sons, all of whom are now interested with him. They are: Frank, who married Miss Lurah Smith; George, Jr., who married Frances Guyrtte; and Richard W., who married Miss Daisy Craine - all of Rosedale.

From the time he became a resident of Rosedale Mr. Rushton has taken an active interest in its welfare. He was one of the promoters who secured the paving of Southwest Boulevard, which is the main entrance to Rosedale from Kansas City, Kansas. Politically he has always affiliated with the Democratic party, and has been a conscientious voter, but when approached on the subject of office holding, his answer has been that, with him business is before politics. He maintains fraternal relation with numerous organizations, including the Fraternal Aid Association, National Union, Degree of Honor, Ancient Order United Workmen, Odd Fellows and Masons, and his religious creed is that of the Baptist church, he being a worthy member of this denomination.