~ Biographical Sketch ~

     Joseph Rush Lenhart was born on Monday, July 22, 1861 on the family farm which was 1 1/2 mile southwest of Zwingle in Zwingle, Jackson County, Iowa, son of Peter Lenhart and Salina Minervia Neff.¹ Joseph Rush Lenhart went by the name of Rush.^2,3

Joseph Rush Lenhart attended the Harmony Church in Zwingle.¹ He was a farmer.¹

Joseph married Elizabeth Willamenia Hachmann, daughter of Johann Niclaus Hachmann and Anna Katherina Madgalena Grefe, on March 28, 1893.¹

Joseph appeared in the Otter Creek Township, Jackson County, Iowa, US census of June 13, 1900 as head of household. He was 38 years old and was framing on his own farm which was under a mortgage. The farm was located on farm schedule 77 which was next to the Avery West Farm on which his sister Mary Jane and her family lived. His parents were shown to be born in Pennsylvania. The household also included Lizzie, his wife. She was 34 years old. She and Rush had been married for 7 years and she was the mother of 4 children all of whom were living at the time of this census. She had been born in. Germany as were both of her parents. She had been in the United States for 20 years having immigrated in 1880. The children were living in the household. They were Arthur was age 6, Ruby was age 4, Lester was age 3, Edna was age 1. All of the childrenn had been born in Iowa.¹

In 1908, they sold their farm and bought the "Cort" farm, which was a quarter mile west of the little town of Zwingle. Four years later, they remodeled the home, added two large rooms and put in a furnace, plumbing, etc. Previously, their kitchen was in the basement. It was an open-front basement. It was too damp for Elizabeth. She had severe arthritis so they moved the kitchen up to the 1st floor. The house was quite large. It had five bedrooms and a large living room, dining room, kitchen, and bathroom. They had a two-tub wooden washer, operated by gas engines and a belt. Their daughter Grace recalled, "There were no T.V.'s or clothes dryers. While I was in my 2nd year of high school, my father bought a radio. We thought that was great."⁴

On November 30, 1926, his daughter, Grace, married Emmet Willard Smith.^2,5

The April 12, 1930 census of Washington Township, Dubuque County, Iowa, shows Joseph as head of household. He was 69 years old and lived and worked on his own fram on farm schedule 55. His son Arthur age 36, was living with him. They owned a radio.⁶

Their daughter, Grace, recalled that her father was a quiet, easy-going man. He was very generous and a hardworking farmer. Her parents worked hard. They always went to Sunday school and church. J. Rush was treasurer of the church and president of the school board for many years. They were honest people and they were good to her.^7,4

Joseph died on Friday, January 23, 1931 at age 69 It is possible that the date may have been on the 22nd. More research is needed to make this determination. He was laid to rest in the Harmony United Reform Church Cemetery in Zwingle, Jackson County, Iowa.⁸

An unidentified and undated newspaper clipping read:

J. R. Lenhart Answers Summons

Passed Away At the Home Of His Daughter Friday Morning After A Lingering Illness

It is with sincere regret we are called upon to record the passing to each kernel rest another of our highly esteemed said this is an good neighbors, Mr. Rush Lenhart, who passed away at 3:40 Friday morning, January 23, in the home of his daughter Mrs. Harry Cueno, where he spent the past couple of weeks, and where his daughter and family and son Arthur, who spent a part of every day and night in assisting in the care of their father. All that loving children could do, competent Physicians, and nurses in the Bellevue hospital where Mr. Lenhart, was taken for treatment early in the autumn, was of no avail. His health began to fail last summer when he was overcome by the excessive heat and he gradually failed ever since.

Mr. Lenhart purchased the Cort farm on the west edge of town some few years ago and here he has since made his home and was one of our prosperous farmers and upright citizens of a quiet unassuming nature, but took an active part in any cause for the betterment of church, school or state, having served on the Zwingle school board for seventeen years. He was a faithful member of Harmony and Reformed church being an elder for some years. He was also a member of the M. W. A.

His funeral was held from his late home to Harmony church on Monday morning at 10 o’clock. Beautiful floral emblems from friends and societies of which Mr. Lenhart was a member, surrounded the casket which was borne by six nephews, John and Chas. Geber, John and Clarence Schenk, John Hachman and Earl West. Mr. Egelhoff was conductor of the funeral.⁹

On December 24, 1936, his son, Arthur, married Bertha Marie Kifer.¹⁰