The news of the death of Gen. Jeremiah M. Rusk has been heard with unaffected sorrow dot only by the people of his own state, hut by the thousands who have learned to know and esteem him in all parts of the country. He was, in the true sense of the term, a man of the people who understood them and sympathized with them, while saved by his broad, clear common sense from sharing in those temporary whims and delusions which from time to time seize upon popular sentiment.—Sentinel.

***Jeremiah Rusk was born Jun 17, 1830 in Malta, Morgan County, OH, the son of Daniel Rusk (1786–1845) and  Jane Faulkner (1789–1876) and  he moved to Wisconsin in 1858 where he engaged in agriculture.  He became a United States Congressman, the Governor of Wisconsin and a Presidential Cabinet Secretary. 

He was commissioned a Major in the 25th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry at the start of the Civil War and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He served with Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman from the 1863 siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi until the end of the war. On March 13, 1865 he was brevetted Brigadier General. At the end of the war, he was elected as a Republican to represent first Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District.  He then served the 7th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives from 1871 to 1877.  He was later elected as a Republican Governor of Wisconsin and served from 1882 to 1889.  In 1889, President Benjamin Harrison appointed him to the cabinet post of Secretary of Agriculture and he served until his death.

Political party Republican

2nd United States Secretary of Agriculture
In office, March 6, 1889 – March 6, 1893
President Benjamin Harrison
Grover Cleveland
Preceded by Norman Coleman
Succeeded by Julius Morton

15th Governor of Wisconsin
In office, January 2, 1882 – January 7, 1889
Lieutenant Sam Fifield
George Ryland
Preceded by William E. Smith
Succeeded by William D. Hoard
 

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives--Wisconsin's 7th district
In office, March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1877
Preceded by Constituency established
Succeeded by Herman L. Humphrey

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Wisconsin's 6th district
In office, March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873
Preceded by Cadwallader C. Washburn
Succeeded by Philetus Sawyer