John H. Rust

JOHN H. RUST, a prosperous and progressive business man of Altamont, Labette county, Kansas, is extensively engaged in dealing in lumber, hay and grain, and owns a large elevator and feed-mill in the city. He is a native of Cambridgeshire, England, where he was born in 1851, and is a son of John H. and Eliza (Burgess) Rust.

John H. Rust, Sr., was born in Cambridgeshire, England, and there was reared and received his intellectual training. In 1852, after his marriage to Eliza Burgess, he came to America, and settled in Genesee county, New York, where he resided until 1864. He then settled on a farm in Jasper county, Missouri, where lie died at the age of sixty-four years. His widow resides at Altamont, Kansas. They reared the following children: Arthur J., a resident of Mount Pleasant township, Labette county, Kansas; Edith S. (Ryan), of Pettis county, Missouri; John H.; Eliza (Fowler), deceased; Elizabeth (Dalton), of Junction City, Kansas; and William, Hattie and Mattie, deceased.

John H. Rust received his school training in the district schools of Genesee county, New York, and jasper county, Missouri. He lived in the latter county until 1874, when he located in Labette county, Kansas, and settled in section 9, Mount Pleasant township, where he farmed until December, 1900. He was engaged solely in farming until 1891, when he also embarked in business at Altamont, and commenced dealing in lumber, hay and grain, having purchased the lumber yard of R. L. Sharp. In the fall of 1900, he decided to give up farming and to devote his entire attention to his other business interests, which resulted in his removal to Altamont. He still owns the farm but rents it. He built a new elevator and feed-mill, which was ready for operation in January, 1900. It has a capacity of 65,000 bushels of grain, and is thoroughly equipped in modern style. He handles an immense amount of grain, and is one of the largest dealers in Labette county. The aggregate of his transactions exceeds that of any other business man of Altamont. He is shrewd, energetic and enterprising, and his trade is constantly increasing.

In 1878 Mr. Rust was united in marriage with Stella Driggs, a daughter of William Driggs, of Clinton, Missouri, and they have three children, - Leonora, Milburn and Ralph. The subject of this sketch is a strong advocate of Populistic principles, but, although an active party worker, does not care to accept office. He served a term as township treasurer. Mr. Rust, in religious views, is a Methodist.