JOE CLIFF RUSHTON

The following bio was taken from page 379 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Claudia Schuster

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

My name is Joe Cliff Rushton. I was named for my grandfather, Joseph Clifton Demurval Rushton. On my mother’s side, my great-grandparents were Daniel and Lacy Giles O’Quin. My grandparents were Josiah Murphy and Martha Elifair O’Quin Hunt. My parents, Claude (Buster) McGee and Mary (Mollie) Verner Hunt Rushton, were married January 21, 1892. I was born February 25, 1911 five miles southeast of Henderson, Texas and am still living in the same house I was born in however, it has been remodeled twice in my lifetime. The farm I am living on was given to my mother and father as a wedding present by my grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Hunt.

After graduating from high school, I attended Port Arthur Business College at Port Arthur, Texas. After graduation, I worked in Port Arthur and San Antonio, Texas for two years. The Great Depression that began in 1929 got my job, so I returned home to Mom and Dad’s house and have been here ever since.

I married Verda Myrl White, December 20, 1933. We celebrated our honeymoon that Christmas by visiting her parents in Apache, Oklahoma, after which we settled into the house we are presently living in. I met my wife during my senior year in high school. We "courted" four years before marrying. During this time neither of us was ever interested in any other person.

Verda Myrl and I have two children. Our oldest, Kay Ann, was born January 19, 1939. Our youngest, Claude Wayne, was born October 8, 1941. Our daughter married Roddy Marlin Dorsey, February 7, 1958, and they have three children. Their oldest is Debra Kay. Their next two are Marlin Harold and Keith Rushton. None of them are married. Our son married Barbara Nell Hammett, June 15, 1963. They have a son, Claude Wayne, Jr., who is sixteen and a junior in high school.

My grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Hunt, and my parents are buried in Crow Cemetery, one and one-half miles from where I now reside. Grandfather Hunt died in September, 1921. Grandmother Hunt did in March, 1933. She made her home with my parents from the time of Granddad’s death until her death; however, she was at the home of her son, Webb Hunt when she died. Dad died April 15, 1946. Mother died December 19, 1954.

My hobby has always been gospel singing which I have been involved in over fifty years. I was bass singer and announcer for a quartet "The Sunshine Melody Four" that sang five days per week from twelve noon to twelve thirty on Radio Station KGRI, Henderson, Texas for ten years and three months, from December, 1948 to March 1959.

I am now seventy years of age and my wife is sixty-six. We have enjoyed good health all our lives for which we thank our Heavenly Father each day.

Submitted by J.C. Rushton