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John Alphonsus Frederick Rush, 1868-1942

This page lists the first child of John Henry Rush and Sarah Ruth Grennan.

Born on 30th March 1868 in the Hutt Valley, John Alphonsus Frederick was the first of nine children of John Henry Rush and Sarah Ruth Grennan. He would have been just three years old when he moved with his parents and grandparents to the newly settled Palmerston North.

For most of his life John was active in public affairs and in athletics, and in his younger days he won a number of championships as a runner.

In 1889, on 24th September, John married Cecilia Mary Josephine Weston at St Patrick's Church, Palmerston North, in the presence of Alphonsus Rodgers and Rose Cecilia Rush, and members of the family. This union was to produce eleven children between 1891 and 1914, resulting in the largest of all the families of the children of John Henry and Sarah Rush.

John Alphonsus (or "Jack" as he was usually known) and Cecilia eventually moved north and settled in the Rotorua area, where many of their descendants still reside.

Jack was a tall dark "tough" man who worked in sawmills. He smoked a pipe, and apparently had all his own teeth when he died. There is a story that he wouldn't have any anaesthetic when he needed a tooth pulling out!

Cecilia was a well-known pianist with a life-long interest in music.

On the occasion of John and Cecilia's golden wedding anniversary, held in Palmerston North, a large number of family members were present, having travelled from all over New Zealand. John and Cecilia were &qout;the recipients of many gifts, while tributes and good wishes were received from all parts of the Dominion".

On 10th October 1942, John passed away in Rotorua aged 74 years, and was joined by his wife of 53 years, Cecilia, the following year. They are buried in Rotorua.

FAMILY OF JOHN ALPHONSUS FREDERICK RUSH
(Palmerston North, 1902)

BACK: L to R: John Alphonsus Frederick (1868-1942); John Joseph Herbert (1891-1936); wife Cecilia Mary Josephine (nee Weston) (1870-1943) nursing baby Alphonsus Frederick (1902-1964)

FRONT: L to R: Maud Josephine (1895-1964); Rose Kathleen (1897-1953); Ruth Mary (1899-1955) and Sarah Cecilia (1893-1918).

(Not yet born: Walter Woodland 1904, Albert 1907, William Augustine 1910, Frederick Ormond 1912, Eileen Doreen 1914)

The next generation

John Alphonsus Frederick's first son John Joseph Herbert Rush (1891-1936) produced 5 children: Cecilia Mary 1912, John William Charles, 1913, Hilda Valerie, 1914, Ruth Gwendoline 1916, and Florence May 1918.

Death Notice

This is the death notice for Hilda Valerie Rush, who never married from a local Dannevirke newspaper. "RUSH, Hilda Valerie, peacefully at Waireka Home, Pahiatua, on September 20, 2011. In her 97th year. Daughter of the late John Joseph Herbert and Florence Emma Rush. In keeping with Hilda's wishes, a private cremation has been held. A special thanks to the staff at Waireka who cared for Hilda for many years. Messages c/- PO Box 185, Carterton 5743."

Hilda attended the 1998 Rush Reunion and a photo of her and her two cousins is in the book "A Humble Beginning".

Contact details

If you have any information or photos to add to this page, or any corrections, please contact Dale Hartle in Levin, New Zealand, by phone +64 021 45 34 24.