Labette County Biographies
From the "Portrait and Biographical Record of Southeastern Kansas"
Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, 1894
HARRY H. LUSK, editor and proprietor of
the daily and weekly Sun, at Parsons, was
born in Edinburgh, Ind., on the 14th of
April, 1852. His father, David W. Lusk,
was a native of Kentucky, and removed from
there to Indiana, where, in the village of Edinburgh, he established the first paper published In
Johnson County. Later be went to Madison, Ind.,
and from that place removed to Charleston, the
same state, whence he proceeded to southern Illinois. He was a man upon whom high honors
were bestowed, and for some time he occupied the
officer of Collector of Internal Revenue, and also
held the position of State Printer for two years.
A Republican in his political belief, David W.
Lusk was one of the most influential men of his
party in southern Illinois, and was also prominent
in literary and journalistic circles. He published
a book called "Politics and Politicians of Illinois,"
which has had a wide circulation, not only in Illinois, but throughout many other states of the
Union. As a writer, he was versatile and pungent,
quick to discern and prompt to execute, keen in
thought and forceful in expression. By inherent
qualifications, no less than cultivated tastes, he
was admirably adapted to the profession of a journalist.
In the public schools of Shawneetown, Ill., the
subject of this sketch conducted his studies for
some time. There, also, he served an apprenticeship to the newspaper business under the efficient
direction of his father. At the age of about fifteen years, he removed to Olney, Ill., and there
purchased a paper, the Olney Ledger, which he
conducted for seven years. From that place he
went to Springfield, Ill., and aided his father in
the publication of the Illinois State Gazette, which
he managed for two years.
Coming to Kansas in 1878, Mr. Lusk purchased
the Sun, a struggling paper published at irregular
intervals. Then a practical failure, he has made
of it a splendid success and a popular journal
with many friends in both parties. He publishes
both a daily and a weekly issue, and has made of
his paper one of the most influential organs of the
Republican party in Labette County. The Sun
takes the lead in advocating whatever may be for
the highest good of the community, and is conducted strictly upon
business principles.
In all matters pertaining to the advancement of
society, education and politics, Mr. Lusk takes a
keen and discriminating interest, and through the
columns of his paper, which has a wide circulation
both in this and surrounding counties, he has
many times been instrumental in securing for this
locality various advantages of a nature more or
less important. Mr. Lusk is an able editor, and
has made a marked success in the conduct of his
paper, devoting his energies to making it one
which will be a potent factor in the upbuilding
of the city and county. In his social relations he
is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America. He was appointed Postmaster
of Parsons
April 27, 1889, and assumed the duties of the position on the
11th of May, 1889, serving until
January 9, 1894. He also served for one year as
Chairman of the Republican County Central Committee.
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This website created September 18, 2011 by Sheryl McClure.
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