General Notes

Custom Field:<_FA#> He was discharged from the CSA for disability 7/4/1862 at Okolona, MS@@S726784@@Date of Import: Jul 31, 2003
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His mother died when he was seven years old and his father died a few
years later.
When Francis Marion was twelve years old, being an orphan, he and a
brother went to Pike County where he lived with an uncle until he was
sixteen years old. He worked on the farm and attended school in the
winter.
Becoming dissatisfied with his lot, he began life for himself,
working on a farm and attending school as he had means. He succeeded in
obtaining a fair education and taught school for a while. In 1855 he
became clerk in the office of Probate Judge, P. D. Costello, continuing
in this place until 1857, when be came clerk in a store and at the same
time read medicine with Doctors J. P. Blue and J. G. Moore.
In 1859 he married Fannie V. Yelverton, born Wednesday, 19 April
1843, daughter of Judge Gappa T. Yelverton and Martha B. Yelverton, who
came from George to Alabama, finally locating in Elba.
In 1861 Francis Marion graduated from the Medical Department of the
University of Louisiana, and he practiced at Elba until 1862. He enlisted
as a Private on Tuesday, 8 April 1862 and was made surgeon of the 25th
Alabama, Company K, and spent some months at Corinth, MS. He re-enlisted
in September 1863 at Elba, AL in Captain Brown’s Company of Home Guards
and continued service until May 1863, when his health forced him to
resign. He was given an honorable discharge. He then returned to Bullock,
Geneva County, AL, and practiced his profession until 1863.
His health improving, he joined the home guard and served at Pollard;
Pensacola, FL and other places, taking part in several battles and
skirmishes in that area. He was tendered a surgeon’s position but
refused, preferring to serve as a soldier. After the war, Doctor Rushing
returned to Elba to continue his practice.
While a practicing physician, Judge Rushing was a member of the State
Medical Association. He was one of the counselors for six years and
president for some time of the Coffee County Medical Society.
Dr. Rushing was active in the county affairs and was elected to the
Legislature in1878, and in 1880 to the State Senate from Coffee, Henry,
Dale, and Geneva Counties, during which time he introduced several
measures that became law.
In August 1892, he was elected Probate Judge of Coffee County and
re-elected in 1898, serving all twelve years.
When Judge Rushing and his County Commissioners took charge of the
court affairs, the total county taxes were around $8000.00.  The Tax
Assessor’s Abstract for 1893 showed a total of $7,685.90.  On 15 May
1895, a committee was appointed to examine the books of the treasurer. J.
M. Sanders reported the sum of $1,666.78 in the treasury.  Judge Rushing
began to make some improvements during this first term in office and in
1895, a contract was made with the Converse Bridge Company to build two
steel bridges in Elba, across the Pea River and White Water Creek. During
his first and second terms, seven bridges were constructed over these
streams.  Improvements were made on the county jail and courthouse.  A
special tax of 1/20th on one per cent was levied for this purpose in July
1895.  In August 1895, the Commissioners Court contracted with the Pauley
Jail Company for the price of $3000. 00 payable in five years, giving
notes of $600.00, each bearing eight per cent interest.
Judge Rushing’s administration will stand out prominently for years
to come on account of three things:  first the construction of several
steel bridges; second, the building of a new courthouse; and third, for
the establishment of a home for county paupers.
Dr. Rushing was president of the Board of the Board of Censors of the
Medical Society of Coffee County in 1885. Composing this Board of Censors
were doctors, F. M. Rushing, W. H. Chapman, J