Rusk, Jeremiah McLain

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Jeremiah McLain Rusk, 1830–93, American political leader, b. Malta, Ohio. He became a farmer in Wisconsin, where he entered politics and held numerous offices. After serving in the Civil War, he was a U.S. Representative (1871–77) and then served (1882–89) as Republican governor of Wisconsin. President Benjamin Harrison appointed (1889) Rusk to the newly created cabinet post of Secretary of Agriculture, and he served in this position until his death.