Amador County Biographies

RICHARD C. RUST

Submitted by Kathy Sedler

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“native son of the Golden West,” was born in Marysville, Yuba County, 
California, October 19, 1855.  His parents, Richard and Evaline (Church) Rust, 
natives of Vermont, emigrated from that State in an early day and settled in New 
Orleans, Louisiana, where they resided until 1849.  In the spring of this year, 
his father, having been appointed one of the Government Commission to establish 
the boundary line between the United States and Mexico, removed to San Diego, 
California, where he resided until 1851.  From 1849 to 1851 he held the position 
of Alcalde for San Diego County, which corresponds to the office of county clerk 
and recorder, of the present time.  Was elected County Clerk of San Diego County 
at the first election after admission of California as a State.  In 1851 he went 
to Marysville, and established the Marysville Express, a newspaper which he 
published and connected with till 1857.  During the same time he established the 
Placer Herald, which he sold in a short time.  The Herald is still published at 
Auburn, and is one of the leading papers of Placer County.  In 1857 he sold out 
his interest in Marysville and moved to Sacramento, where he was employed as 
editor on the State Journal till 1858.  At the time the Vigilance Committee of 
California was organized in 1856, Mr. Rust was strenuously opposed to this 
organization and used his influence for its dissolution, and the 
re-establishment of a government on democratic principles.  In 1859 he moved to 
Mokelumne Hill, becoming connected with the Calaveras Chronicle, which he 
conducted until 1861.  He then sold his interests in the Chronicle, and retired 
from the newspaper business; the paper is still being published at Mokelumne 
Hill.  Mr. Rust was engaged in several newspaper enterprises before he came to 
California.
   In 1861 he purchased a homestead about ten miles above Mokelumne Hill, and 
engaged in domestic pursuits, until the time of his death, which occurred August 
15, 1872.  Mr. Rust never entirely gave up his literary pursuits, having 
continually acted as correspondent for a number of the leading newspapers of the 
State, to the time of his death.  He died at the age of sixty-three years.  His 
wife is still living, and is seventy-four years old.
   Richard C. Rust, the subject of this sketch, was married November 30, 1887, to 
Miss Lizzie G. Hosmer, a daughter of H. B. and M. V. (Tagart) Hosmer.  They have 
one child, Richard Whitney, born December 3, 1889.  Mr. Rust is a stanch 
Democrat, and received his early education in the public schools of Calaveras 
County, after which he attended D. C. Stone’s  preparatory school for the State 
University.  In March, 1876, he commenced the study of law with O’Connor & 
Pardow in San Francisco, after which he was with Hon. A. C. Adams.  He was 
admitted to the bar, November 10, 1879, and March 19, 1885, was admitted to the 
United States District Court, and November 11, 1887, to the United States 
Circuit Court, and from 1879 to 1883, practiced law in San Francisco.  In 1883 
he came to Jackson, Amador County, and formed a partnership with Hon. A. 
Caminetti, with whom he remained until January 1, 1887.  He then formed a 
partnership with Hon. John A. Eagon, under the firm name of Eagon & Rust, with 
whom he is still associated.  They have an extensive law practice, and are one 
of the leading law firms of the foothills of Northern California.
 
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing 
Co., 1891