My Genealogy Hound

Rufus K. Justus has long been connected with the milling and farming interests of Hempstead County, although his birth occurred in Howard County, Ark., in 1852. His parents, John and Amanda (Aycock) Justus, were born in Terre Haute, Ind., and North Carolina, respectively, the former’s birth occurring in 1811. He learned the carpenter’s trade when young, and in 1833 went on foot to Chicago, which was then a small Indian trading post, but only remained there a short time, journeying to different places in the South and West. In an early day he went to Little Rock, Ark., and in the thirties came to Hempstead County, and settled at Washington, where he worked at his trade for sixteen years. He then began operating a water, saw and grist-mill in Howard County, which is still known as the Justus Mill, and here he remained until 1866 when he returned to Washington, and erected a mill two miles east of the town. This mill he moved to the town in 1875, added a cotton gin to it, and continued to successfully operate it until his death, on May 30, 1880. He was an industrious and ambitious gentleman, possessing admirable qualities and unswerving honesty, and the familiar name by which he was known was “Honest John.” Being a Northerner by birth, he was naturally opposed to secession, but remained neutral during the war. Soon after the cessation of hostilities, he was elected to the position of treasurer and tax collector of Hempstead County. He was married four times, his second wife being the mother of Rufus K., her death occurring when he was a small lad, and he was a member of the A. F. & A. M. and was an earnest believer in Spiritualism. Rufus K. Justus is the eldest of two sons and three daughters, and in his youth he received a common school education, and afterward remained with his father until the latter’s death, upon which he took the management of affairs into his own hands. He was married in May, 1883. to Anna J., a daughter of Ephraim D. and Phoebe J. Turner, natives of York State, where they lived until 1877, when they came to Hempstead County, Ark., where they are now living. Mr. Turner is a farmer, and is now filling the office of justice of the peace. He was a soldier in the United States army during the Rebellion, but was principally on hospital duty at Washington, D. C. Mrs. Justus was born in Ulster County, N. Y., and has borne Mr. Justus three children, two of whom are living. Mr. Justus has a fine farm of 523 acres near Washington, of which 150 acres are under cultivation, one-half being inherited from his father’s estate. He is a Democrat (his first presidential vote being for Tilden in 1876), a member of the A. F. & A. M., and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.