Solomon Rust

Solomon Rust was born in 1835 in Crawford, Pennsylvania, probably the son of John B. (1810-1864) and Barbara (Camp, 1809-1882).

Pennsylvania natives John and Barbara were married probably in Pennsylvania sometime before 1825. (It is possible that Barbara was related to the Camp family of Allendale, Ottawa County – both Samuel and his brother Aaron Camp Jr. would serve in the Third Michigan during the war.) They settled in Crawford County, Pennsylvania around 1830 and lived there for many years; they were living in Woodcock, Crawford County in 1850. Solomon’s family probably moved from Pennsylvania to Michigan sometime after 1850, and by 1860 Solomon, who could not read or write, was a farm laborer living with his mother and younger brother David in Jamestown, Ottawa County.

(It is possible that his mother was the same Barbara Rust living in Pittsburgh’s Seventh Ward, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania by 1870. Barbara is reportedly buried in Hanley cemetery, Ottawa County, however, along with one “John Rust,” who was most likely Solomon’s younger brother “John C.,” and who served in Company C, Second Michigan Cavalry.)

Solomon stood 5’8” with blue eyes, light hair and a light complexion and was 26 years old and residing in Kent County or Jamestown when he enlisted in Company B on May 13, 1861. He was absent sick in the hospital from August of 1862 through November, and discharged on January 13, 1863, at Camp Pitcher, Virginia, for “excessive irritability of the spine or spinal meningitis, occasioning pain in back and limbs, bloody urine.”

It is not known if Solomon returned to Michigan after his discharge.

(There was one Solomon Rust who enlisted for one year as a private in Company K, One hundred-ninety-ninth Pennsylvania infantry on September 17, 1864, probably in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where the regiment was organized in September and October of 1864, and was mustered the same day. The regiment joined the Army of the James in October at Deep Bottom Landing, Virginia, and was assigned to the First Brigade, First Division, Twenty-fourth Corps. It participated in the final assault on the works at Petersburg, Virginia and also joined in the pursuit of retreating confederate forces to Burkesville and then on to Appomattox where it arrived on April 9. After Lee surrendered the regiment moved into Richmond, Virginia where it was mustered out on June 28. Solomon was mustered out of service with the regiment on June 28, 1865 in Richmond, Virginia.)

He married Pennsylvania native Sarah E. Green (b. 1847-1899), and they had at least ten children: Matilda (1869-1881), William H. (1871), John E. (1872-1881), Charles E. (b. 1876-1881), Barbara E., Daisy (1880-1881), Benjamin T., Ray (1884-1884), Harrison M. (1889-1951), and Sarah E.

In 1863 he applied for and received a pension (no. 344997).

By 1870 Solomon was probably working as a farmer and living with his wife in Cambridge, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. (His mother Barbara was living in Jamestown, Ottawa County; also living with her was her son John who was working as a farm hand.) By 1880 he was working as a night watchman and living with his wife and children in Cambridge, Pennsylvania. His mother was living with her daughter Mary Clark in Jamestown, Ottawa County in 1880. That same year his younger brother David was living in Wyoming, Kent County. In 1890 Solomon was living in Richmond, Cambridge County, Pennsylvania.

Solomon died on September 15, 1902, presumably at his home in Crawford County and was reportedly buried in Cambridge Springs Cemetery (along with his father and wife).

After Solomon died a pension was filed on behalf of at least one child and granted (no. 581253).