George W. Holshouser

HOLSHOUSER, STEWART, HOGAN

Posted By: Alice Daniels (email)
Date: 9/7/2013 at 09:33:11

Semi Weekly Iowegian
April 2, 1917

G. W. HOLSHOUSER AN
OLD SOLDIER GONE

George W. Holshouser, one of the best known and most popular of the old soldiers of the vicinity, died at his home, 717 E. State street at 12:15 Sunday morning, April 1, at the advanced
age of 71 years, 3 months and 4 days.
He had been ill for the past five months with Bright's disease and hardening of the arteries. Funeral services are being held this afternoon at four o'clock from the Methodist church in this city with Rev. C. L. Tennant officiating. Interment will be in Oakland cemetery.
Mr. Holshouser was born in Greencastle. Ind., on Dec. 27,1845, and came to Appanoose county, Iowa, with his parents at the age of 9 years, settling at Numa. Since that time he made this county his home with the exception of the two years spent in the army. He enlisted for the Union on August 22, 1863, serving in Co. H, 8th Iowa Infantry, under Captain Walden. While in the service he was taken prisoner by the Confederates and as confined for 8 months and 11 days in the famous Andersonville prison, in Georgia. While in that prison he suffered with small-pox, measles and mumps, and these illnesses, combined with the horrors of the prison, of which so much has been written
and said, so emaciated him that when he came out he was a veritable skeleton, weighing just 48 pounds. Here joined his company; however, and served with it until the close of the war. He was mustered out of service at St. Louis on Aug. 22, 1865. While in the army, Mr. Holshouser secured a furlough and came home. While on this furlough, he was married, but Mrs. Holshouser lived for only a short time. Mr. Holshouser
was married again to Miss Catherine Stewart at Seymour on Jan. 11, 1880, the family later coming to Centerville to make its home. Mrs. Holshouser and one daughter, Mrs. Thomas Hogan of Belvidere, Kans., survive him. One other daughter, Katie died, at the age of 11 years.
Mr. Holshouser became a member of the Methodist church at Numa, thirty years or more ago. He was Sunday school superintendent and a teacher in the Methodist church there for many years. He was also active in G.A.R. work and was a valuable member of that organization.
Mr. Holshouser was taken ill on the Monday following the election last fall and since that time he was hardly able to get out of his chair or bed at anytime. He grew steadily weaker and finally passed away, he asserted that he was ready to go and remarked that he would like to have the people in the community know he was not afraid to die. He died willingly and happily surrounded by the members of his family. He will be greatly missed in the business and social circles of the city and leaves a great many friends to mourn his loss and to grieve with the family in its and reavement.