George S. Rust

George Smith Rust: Pioneer

George was approx.3 years old when he rode in a gig with his father (Dr. Wm. Walker Rust)'s hired man, Josh. They drove to Grandpa John Rust's grist mill on Joe's Brook, where Grandpa John would boost the young lad to his shoulders and carry him up the mill steps.

George also remembered visiting his maternal grandparents, the Rand's, who lived in a big colonial house built of logs, where he was put to bed in a trundle bed, while Grandpa Rand smoked his pipe by the fire.

When George was 5 (1839), his mother, Mary Thurston Rand Rust, died of typhus fever. Other siblings followed in death. Before he was 6, George had lost his mother, 2 brothers, and a 4 mo. old baby sister, leaving just him and his younger brother Horace.

George's father, Dr. Wm., went away to Missouri, leaving him and Horace in a poor house conducted by a Mr. and Mrs. Day. Horace and George were separated, and George was sent to stay with a Mr. Sweat, where he worked making shoes.

Two years later (1841), the two boys were taken to stay with a widow, Mrs. Billings. A few months later, George's father returned and took both boys with him to Nauvoo (summer of 1841).

In the Fall, George lived with a blacksmith in town so he could go to school.

The next year (1842) George's father re-married, widow Laura Harson, who was good to the boys.

Joseph Smith was often in their home as a visitor, and in 1843 George was baptized by Joseph Smith in the Mississippe River.

Then, Dr. William Walker Rust went on a mission and took his wife to visit her parents, placing the 2 boys in a foster home for the year. When he returned, he told the boys his wife had died while away.

In 1844 the boys returned to live with their father, who had married again to Wealthy Merrill. This step-mother was cruel to the boys. She left Dr. William in 1844.

In June, 1844, when George was 10 years old, he was at the Smith farm and saw Joseph and Hyrum Smith when they went to give themselves up to the officers.

There were more marriages for George's father; see William Walker Rust.

In 1846 George crossed the state of Iowa with the Haight family, because his father William had enlisted in the Mormon Battalion, being discharged in 1847.

George went on a mission to St. Louis and the vicinity while his father was in England where a wife had gone. He came home to Mormon Grove near Atchinson Kansas where he met his father returning in the Fall of 1855 from England. His father introduced him to Eliza Brown.. George baptized Eliza in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and they married a week later. Isadore and Meredith were baptized at the same time. The wedding for George and Eliza was small, witnessed by Isadore, Meredith, Eliza's mother, and performed by Amas Gustin.

George and Eliza crossed the plains, starting at Florence Nebraska, and Eliza was pregnant. Daniel Spencer was the captain of Company he traveled with, and Isaac Haight was the Captain of his ten.

Eliza was very 'pregnant' sick all the way to Utah, and gave birth to a very small baby boy, George Brown Rust, in a dugout near Spanish Fork.

In 1848, while they were crossing the plains, George's brother Horace (14 yrs. old) died of cholera, leaving George the only surviving son of William Walker Rust and Mary Thurston Rand.

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Pioneer of 1847 Dies at His Home

Funeral services for George Smith Rust, Salt Lake Valley pioneer of 1847 and early settler of Manti were held in the North Ward Chapel Tuesday afternoon with interment in the city cemetery. Mr. Rust died Sunday morning at his home here.

Mr. Rust was as born January 23, 1834 at Lowell, Vt., the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Walker Rust. He was wall baptized in the Mississippi river near Nauvoo by the prophet Joseph Smith in 1843. He started in 1847 to cross the plains with his father, his mother having died several years previous. When the call came for the Mormon battalion the father volunteared and left George to make his way across the plains with the Halto family in Daniel Spencers company. He arrived in Salt Lake valley in September 1847. Since that time he has been on the front, pioneering and helping build up he the towns and cities in Utah. He filled two missions in the eastern states and labored 21 years in the Manti temple. Together with his wife he completed the temple work for more than 5000 of their kindred who are dead.

He is survived by his wife, five sons and two daughters.

The services Tuesday were conducted by Bishop R. N. Peterson. The speakers were President Lewis Anderson, P. H. Madsen, and Bishop Peterson. John Lowry offered the opening prayer. C. F. Cox Sr. said the benediction, the ward choir rendered the appropriate music. Mrs. Nephi L. Cottom sang, "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go Dear Lord."

Alma Johnson dedicated the grave.

Published in the Manti Messenger 1922-06-23