George R. Brush papers, 1885-1919

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: SC-58

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This is a small collection provided by the family of George Robert Brush comprised of materials from 1885 to 1919. Items include high school report cards, a scrapbook including events and newspaper clippings, programs from events from his time at Hobart College such as class banquets, and religious events, such as the missionary conference for Rev. and Mrs. George Robert Brush.

Dates

1885-1919

Creator

Brush, George Robert (Person)

Biographical Note

The Reverend George Robert Brush was born 23 March 1871 in North Cornwall, Connecticut. The Rev. Brush was the third child of the Rev. Jesse Brush and Ellen Newcomb Brush. Jesse Brush was a Congregational, Presbyterian and Episcopal minister during his life and he had two other sons, Edward Hale Brush born 6 October 1865 and Henry Wells Brush born 12 November 1869.

George Robert Brush graduated from Morgan High School, Clinton, New York in 1887 and enrolled in Columbia College, Columbia University in New York City. In 1888, he enrolled in Hobart College, Geneva, N.Y., from which he was graduated in 1892. While a student at Hobart he was a member of the Theta Delta Chi Fraternity. Upon graduation he began working for the Buffalo Courier newspaper in Buffalo, N.Y., where he reported upon the events held at the Chautauqua Institute, Chautauqua, N.Y.

In 1893, he became a student of General Theological Seminary in New York City, where he graduated in 1896. After graduation he was ordained as an Episcopal priest on 31 May 1896 at St. PaulΓÇÖs Cathedral, Buffalo, N.Y. The summer before his graduation, he served as a lay reader for Grace Church, Randolph, N.Y. After his ordination he ministered churches in East Randolph, Salamanca, Rochester, and Newark, New York. From New York he served as a minister for churches in Vergennes, Shelburne, Hardwick and Arlington, Vermont. His last church was St. James Church, Arlington, Vermont, where he served as rector from 1926 until his retirement in 1939.

The Rev. Brush was first married to Josephine Maria Taylor (1871 ΓÇô 1905) and then to Anna Harriett Hale (1876 ΓÇô 1936). Josephine died from diphtheria in 1905 leaving two children John and Anna (Pease) Brush. With Anna Hale, Rev. Brush would have six sons: George Robert, Jr., Lawrence, Edward, twins Frederick and Lester, and Charles Harry Brush. Two of Rev. BrushΓÇÖs sons, Lawrence and Lester, were subjects in paintings by the artist Norman Rockwell, who also resided in Arlington, Vt. Five of his sons served in the military during World War Two. The Rev. Brush died in Arlington, Vt., 10 October 1962 and is buried in St. James Church Cemetery.

As an author, Rev. Brush published two books: St. James Parish Arlington, Vermont and the Diocese of Vermont, (1941) and A Companion to the Prayer Book, (1951).

Compiled by: Mary Green Brush, Columbia, S.C. December 2016.