Frank P. Rusher
Frank P. Rusher, of the Frank P. Rusher Lumber Company, of Lima, is one of the city's active business men. He was born in Hardin County, Ohio, January 1, 1858, and is a son of George Rusher, who was a native of Germany and later became a successful farmer in Hardin County, where he died in 1894.
After completing the work in the common schools, Frank P. Rusher at the age of 17 entered the employ of his uncle, Nicholas High. He remained with him three years, working his way up from the bottom to a good position. He then took a course in the Ohio Normal University at Ada, which included civil engineering, sciences and the classics. After this he taught for a time in Hardin and Putnam counties. He was then elected superintendent of the Leipsic schools; but the arduous work and close confinement affected his health, and after one year, during which he established a reputation for great ability, he resigned this position. He then accepted the position of deputy postmaster at Ada, Ohio, but impaired health made it necessary for him to resign this position also after one year and to accipt a position offered him by the Ada Lumber Company. He remained with that corporation for about two years. Later he managed a lumber yard at another point in Ohio, resigning his position there in order to come to Lima to associate himself in the retail lumber business with John Rossfeld. They established the firm of Rusher & Rossfeld. After two years G. V. Guyton was admitted to partnership and the firm name became the Rusher-Rossfeld Lumber Company, which continued until it was succeeded by the F. P. Rusher Lumber Company, wholesale and retail dealers in lumber, lath, shingles, etc. This company was incorporated with a capital stock of $15,000, with F. C. Jocelyn, of Chicago, president, and F. P. Rusher as manager. The business is on a sound basis and is one of Lima's large and flourishing industries.
Mr. Rusher was married October 28, 1886, to Ida Shuster, who is a daughter of Daniel Shuster, deceased, who was a farmer and mechanic of Hardin County. They have three children: Paul W., Ross W. and Virgil. Mr. Rusher takes a good citizen's interest in politics and devotes attention to the forwarding of the various enterprises calculated to build up the city.
From History of Allen County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Edited by Charles C. Miller. Richmond & Arnold, Publishers, Chicago, 1906