History

Famous Sons

Visitors often recognize the county seat, Rushville, as the headquarters of Republican presidential candidate Wendell Willkie's campaign during the 1940 election. Rushville is also known as NASCAR champion Tony Stewart's racing hometown. But few realize that the county's legacy began as early as 1820.

For many years, the Delaware tribe of Native Americans made their home a few miles east of Rushville. The Treaty of St. Mary's, Ohio, in 1818 opened the territory to westward-bound pioneers. By July 20, 1822, the first lots went up for sale.

William B. Laughlin, an early settler, provided the first acreage for the town of Rushville . He asked the first Board of County Commissioners to name the county in honor of his teacher, Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Dr. Rush was a politician, lecturer and writer, as well as physician. Many suggest that it was his research that helped control yellow fever, making it possible years later for the United States to construct the Panama Canal .

Before Rush County was even a quarter of a century old, it could boast a governor among its citizens. Samuel Bigger served in Indiana 's highest office from 1840-1843. During this time, Archibald Kennedy was raising his family in the county, farming and making a living as a carpenter. By 1870, he and his sons would begin their notable careers as bridge builders, constructing distinctive covered bridges