Colonel John Thomas Lusk (1784-1857)
Edwardsville Pioneer
Veteran of War of 1812 and Black Hawk War
Built the First Hotel in Edwardsville
One of the Founders of Edwardsville Library
John
Thomas Lusk was born November 7, 1784, in Spartanburg County, South
Carolina. He was the son of James Vance Lusk (1754-1803) and Lettice
Thomas Lusk (1760-1793). James and Lettice Lusk immigrated to
Kentucky and established a ferry on the Ohio River, where the town
of Golconda is now. This was known as Lusk’s Ferry. Their son, John,
was engaged for some time in its operation.
John Lusk settled in what was later to become Edwardsville in about
1805. In 1809, he married Lucretia Gillham (daughter of Charles
Gillham), and they were the parents of eight children: Milton James
Lusk (1812-1812); Alfred Jackson Lusk (1814-1869); Marquis De
Lafayette Lusk (1816-1838); Charles Marion Lusk (1821-1863); George
Campbell Lusk (1824-1892); Sarah Jane Lusk Torrence (1828-1897);
Mary Louisa Lusk Sloss (1831-1915); and Julia Lucretia Lusk
(1833-1835). John and Lucretia settled two miles south of
Edwardsville, and lived in a tent until he constructed a double log
cabin, which stood for many years, and in which was born Alfred
Lusk, said to have been the first white child born in the township.
John Lusk served as a Ranger during the War of 1812-14. While the
men were absent, the women sought refuge in the nearby fort, and Mr.
Lusk’s wife, Lucretia, was appointed their Captain. She was an
excellent rifle shot, and had plenty of spirit and bravery. Mr. Lusk
also served as a Lieutenant in the Black Hawk War.
In 1816, Lusk erected a story and a half building of heavy logs,
with three rooms on the ground floor, where he opened the first
hotel in Edwardsville. It was located at Main and J Streets (where
Rusty’s Restaurant was located), diagonally across from the first
county seat buildings on the future Lincoln School site. A few years
after its construction, Lusk framed the logs. In 1959, the building
still stood. After Lusk closed the hotel, the center room was used
for the post office. One end was rented to Mrs. Howard, who kept a
pie and cake shop. The other end was a saloon.
Lusk erected a second hotel building, also made of logs, at the
northwest corner of Main and West Union Streets. This building was
destroyed by fire in 1839. This property was later home to another
hotel, first named the Edwardsville Hotel and then renamed the
Wabash Hotel. This building still stands.
Lusk erected a mill in 1854-5. The mill changed hands several times,
and was later owned by Brown & McCorkell (1861); George W. Phillips;
and John A. Prickett (1865). The mill was destroyed by fire in
December 1873. Lusk was also one of the founders of the original
1819 Edwardsville Library, and was elected school commissioner
(1837).
John Thomas Lusk died December 22, 1857, in Edwardsville, and was
buried in the Lusk Cemetery at Randle Street and Oak Lane, where
many of Edwardsville’s early pioneers rest.
Quote From Hon. Robert Aldrich in His Reminiscence
Source: Alton Weekly Telegraph, March 11, 1875
“After resting a few days at Kaskaskia, Henry Keley, my brother and
I [Robert Aldrich], each mounted a horse and rode up to
Edwardsville, leaving George Keley, the women and children in a
house temporarily rented. We crossed over and took a look at the
French village of St. Louis as we came up. We reached Edwardsville
about the 6th or 7th of November, A. D., 1817, and put up at a
public house, just built of logs by the late Colonel John T. Lusk.
It stood where Colonel Lusk afterwards built a large frame for a
store. His new log hotel was not quite finished when we arrived.
Some chinking and daubling were still to be done. The cracks between
the logs were wide, and during our first night quite a blustering
storm arose, and so furious was the blast that our bed clothing was
swept off us.”
Sources:
Edwardsville Intelligencer, April 03, 1943; Sept. 8, 1959; June 21,
1963; History of Madison County, 1882; Find A Grave; Alton Weekly
Telegraph, March 11, 1875