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 became the Hampton Building (and many years later the Shelby Pharmacy location).  That building burned March 27, 1970.

    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; 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 1909 they were operating a hospital across from the present city hall in what had been 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 lived 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 1903.

Julia Streety Rush in her wedding gown,

This photo is believed to be the interior of the Rush Drug store.  It came from the Streety family however, notice the stairs on the right.  The Hampton building had the stairs in between what was then Wilson-Whaley and Rush Drug.  Thus the stairs should be on the opposite side.

Dr. Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence

Doctors Rush and Rush

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