The death of Evan B. Rushing leaves a vacancy in the office of Master in Chancery, to be filled by appointment of one of the judges of the Circuit Court. In our county, we suppose Judge Wall will make the appointment, when the proper time comes.
As the office pays from four to six hundred dollars annually in this county it is not surprising that several of our Pinckneyville members of the bar -- and if we are correctly informed, some who are not lawyers are having an eye out for the place.
Prominent among those reported as applicants for the place are Hon. John Boyd, ex-Sheriff R. G. Williams, Charles D. Kane, J. K. P. Ragland and J. J. Penny.
As to the fitness of the gentlemen spoken of, there is no question but that any of the parties named are fully adequate to the duties of the office.

Death of Evan B. Rushing, Pinckneyville, Dec. 20, 1887

"There is a reaper whose name is death,
And with his sickle keen,
He reaps the bearded grain at a breath,
And the flowers that grow between."

Perhaps there is no man so long and intimately known by all of our people as Evan B. Rushing. For upwards of thirty years his official positions and business has kept him at our county seat. Indeed, one would almost as much expect to visit Pinckneyville and fail to see the court house on the square as to fail to meet E. B. Rushing at his accustomed post in and about the court house building and offices. Possessed of a commanding presence, once seen he was not easily forgotten. Pleasant, courteous and kind in his manner and address, he readily drew all persons with whom he came in contact, whether in business or social life, toward him with kindest feelings. His frank demeanor, candor of expression, and directness of motive, rendered it wholly unnecessary to inform even a stranger that he was a man of strictest integrity and honorable impulses. It was the stamp of his nature, the language of his soul. He was not an ambitious man, as the world measures ambition, but he aspired to those things, which when his hands were folded in death, and his tongue silent forever, his fellow-citizens, neighbors and friends, with one accord, rich and poor, high and low, one and all gathered, unbidden, to pay him the last, sad rites, drop the silent tear, and take a last farewell of him whom they had known so long. Who would ask a nobler tribute to the deeds of this life?

As a public officer for almost thirty years, eight years as Circuit Clerk and the remainder of that time as Master in Chancery, his official career is without a blot or a stain. As a citizen, he was ever ready to encourage all enterprises calculated to build up the town and community. Next to H. O. Ozburn, deceased, our County Fair owes more to the gratuiltous, untiring labors of E. B. Rushing for its present development and high standard than to any other citizen of our county.

Having been admitted to the bar, and being well versed in our statutes, and the common law concerning real estate, and the settlement of estates, he did considerable practice in both our circuit and county court. He was a safe adviser to all who applied to him for counsel when in trouble. He also did an extensive business in the way of conveyancing, preparing abstracts of title and caring for and over-seeing the lands of non-residents, in all of which he was careful, correct and reliable; so much so that those who patronized him once, patronized him ever afterward.

In politics, he was one of the founders and most faithful adherents of the Democratic party in the county, whether in or out of power. As a leader, he was cautious and discreet, dealing hard blows at his antagonists, yet never condescending to low and petty personalities, in order to defeat the opposition or an opponent. He contended for his principles on principle, and when the contest had ended, it mattered not as to the result, the partisan was forgotten and merged in the friendship that belonged to his nature as a neighbor and a citizen. As husband and father he was indulgent, kind and affectionate, to a fault. After the death of his wife in 1864, leaving two daughters, Susan E. and Mary, and a son R. J., he made his home with his children until they were grown up and married, before he re-remarried.

Such an example of kindness and devotion to the lives of one's children is the exception, and not the rule.
We failed to state that at various times he had served in the capacity of president and trustee of the Town Board, and president, secretary and treasurer of the Agricultural Board. He was a member of the A. F. & A. M. order, and belonged to Mitchell Lodge, No. 85, and Du Quoin Chap., No. 44.

Evan B. Rushing was born in Bedford Co. Tenn., June 17, 1827. Was raised on a farm in our county and educated in our common schools. Was elected Circuit Clerk in 1868, and in the same year was appointed Master in Chancery, which he has held ever since, with the exception of one or two years.

On the 20th of March 1849, he married a Miss Letitia Kelly, who died Sept. 28, 1864, leaving three children -- Susan E., wife of T. S. Campbell, and Mary A., wife of Deputy Circuit Clerk F. M. Roe, both of this place, and Reuben J. Rushing, with whom he resided at his death. Sept. 3d, 1878, R. Rushing married Mrs. Margaret Hoge, who died May 18th, 1885. Mr. Rushing was taken down quite violently, while at his office, whith neuralgia of the heart, on Friday, the 9th day of December, from whence he was carried to his house, where, despite every effort of his physicians, he continued steadily to grow worse until midnight of the night of the 17th, when his death followed.

The funeral services were conducted at his residence by Rev. W. S. D. Smith, assisted by Rev. J. Cole. Business was entirely suspended in our city for the services which took place on Monday afternoon -- everybody attending the funeral services. He was buried in our village cemetery under the auspices of the lodge, to which he had so long been a faithful and efficient member.

Below we append the proceedings which took place at a meeting of the members of the bar of this place, including the county officers, held at the office of R. M. Davis, States Attorney, at 10 o'clock A.M., of Dec. 19th for the purpose of offering appropriate resolutions of respect to the memory of E. B. Rushing, late of said village, deceased.