Meet Treasurer Lillard

History of Tennessee Treasurers

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James E. Rust

James E. Rust

10th Treasurer; Years Served: 1869–1871

Tennessee County of Residence: Davidson

Place of Birth: Washington, New York

Date of Birth: December 24, 1826

Date of Death: July 16, 1894

Political Affiliation: Republican

History

On December 24, 1826, James E. Rust was born in Duchess County, New York in the community of Washington. He was the son of David Rust and Rhoda Bell. Treasurer Rust was married twice, wed to his first wife Abigail White September 1, 1850. His second wife was Susan Wright and they married on December 13, 1861 in Nashville, Tennessee. Treasurer Rust and Susan Wright had seven children, named Charles Edwin, William Ellison, Walter C., Anna Bell, Lillie, Jessie, and Susie.

In 1869, Treasurer Rust was appointed as the 10th State Treasurer of Tennessee. He served during the administration of Governor Dewitt Clinton Senter and was the State Treasurer from 1869 to 1871. After his service as State Treasurer, Treasurer Rust was employed as a Book Keeper in Nashville.

On July 16, 1894, Treasurer Rust died in Nashville at the age of 67. According to his death record, he died of uremia, a type of kidney failure. He is buried in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Davidson County.

Reference: “James Edwin Rust,” Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi; “J.E. Rust, 1870 United States Census; Record of the Rust Family: Embracing the Descendants of Henry Rust, Who Came from England and Settled in Hingham, Mass., 1634 -1635; “Tennessee Death and Burials Index, 1874 -1955”; Tennessee City Death Records, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis, 1848-1907. Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee State Library and Archives.

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Heather Sczepczenski, Treasurer's History Project

(615) 741-2956

Heather.Sczepczenski@tn.gov

Mailing Address


Tennessee State Treasurer
Tennessee State Capitol, 1st Floor
600 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Nashville, TN 37243-0225