Dr. R.H. Rush

     At the beginning of the twentieth century, Dr. R.H. Rush was perhaps the leading physician in De Leon.  He had come to De Leon in 1895 opening a drug store and office in what was later called the Hampton Building (and many years later the Shelby Pharmacy location).  That building burned March 27, 1970.  The location had previously been the drug store of Dr. A.H. Neal.

    Dr. R.H. Rush was a fifth generation descendent of Dr. Benjamin Lyman Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence from Pennsylvania.  He was born in Mississippi in 1852 and married at age 18 (wife’s name unknown).  He had two sons, Henry P. Rush and Phil Rush; and four daughters Claire Ferguson, Winnie Schlegle, Maud Gray and Macie Hughes.   

     The store’s name changed to Rush and Rush when he brought in his son Dr. H.P. Rush.  By 1905 they were operating a hospital across from the present city hall in what later became the Bragg Hotel.

     His son, Dr. Henry Powell Rush was born in Mississippi on January 23, 1883 coming to  De Leon with his family in 1895.  He graduated from De Leon schools and Tulane University. He did graduate work in Chicago and New York.  He  married Julia Streety, daughter of W. C. Streety on October 9, 1907. 

    Dr. Henry Rush practiced in Stamford, and Corpus Christi before moving to San Angelo.  He founded Shannon Memorial Hospital in San angelo eventually selling it to the Baptist Church.  He was the Chief Physician for the Santa Fe Railroad and the Methodist Church for the Medical Corp. at Camp Oglethorpe, Georgia during World War I. The Rush home in San Angelo was next door to that of Admiral Chester Nimitz. 

     R.H. Rush lived for a short time in Stamford and then Gorman.  He died there on January 23, 1926 and is buried there.  Dr. Henry Rush died on November 11, 1938.  Both he and Julia are buried in De Leon.

Rush Drug on the right in a photo taken around 1905.

Julia Streety Rush in her wedding gown,

This photo came from the Streety collection of family photos and is believed to be the interior of the Rush Drug store. 

Dr. Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence

Doctors Rush and Rush

Dr. Henry and Julia Rush’s home in San Angelo.