Muhs, Henry

MUHS, WISE, MCCLOSKY, SMITH

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/31/2003 at 02:19:09

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

CAPTAIN HENRY MUHS

Captain Henry Muhs, an honored veteran of the Civil war, who is now living a retired life after an active, honorable and successful business career covering many years, was born in Holstein, Germany, July 31, 1838, his parents being James and Margaret (Wise) Muhs, both of whom were natives of the fatherland. On coming to America in 1849 they located at Davenport, Iowa. The father was a tailor by trade and followed that pursuit in order to provide for his family. His death occurred in 1899, at the age of eighty-five years, but his widow still survives and is now living in Camanche, at the age of eighty-two.

The captain is the eldest of their twelve children, of whom four are yet living. He was a lad of eleven summers when he came with his parents to the new world, and in the schools of Davenport he continued his education, which had been begun in Germany. In 1853 the family removed to Camanche township, Clinton county, where Captain Muhs has since made his home. In 1861, at the country’s need, he offered his services to the government, enlisting in the eighth Iowa volunteer Infantry. He was elected lieutenant of Company A, and with his regiment was in much active service, including the battle of Shiloh on the 6th of April, 1862. He was there captured, and about six months later was paroled. In the spring of 1863 he participated in the Vicksburg campaign, and was also in the Jackson campaign, and took part in a number of important battles in the Mississippi valley. His brother Peter was wounded in the battle at Mobile, one of the last engagements of the war. Captain Muhs was mustered out April 20, 1866, but the regiment did not disband until May 6, 1866.

Captain Muhs at once returned to Clinton county, and on the 20th of February, 1868, was united in marriage to Miss Georgiania Mary McClosky, a daughter of Robert and Margarette (Smith) McClosky, who were natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Muhs was born in Davenport in 1848, and is the only child of her father’s second marriage. Her parents are now both deceased.

After his marriage Captain Muhs became interested in farming and purchased eighty acres of land in Eden township. To this he added from time to time until he now owns a valuable tract of two hundred acres, which he placed under a high state of cultivation and which he continued to improve until 1880, when he came to Camanche. Here he engaged in the grocery business for five years, and on the expiration of that period he retired from business life and has since enjoyed a well-earned rest from the cares and responsibilities connected with the conduct of any enterprise.

Unto Captain and Mrs. Muhs have been born eight children: Margareth, who is now teaching school and was principal of the school of Camanche for some time, but is now located in Fairfield, Illinois; Mary Louisa, who for the past three years has engaged in teaching at Nevada, Iowa; Frederick Ross, who is vice-president of the Croton Iron Works in St. Louis, Missouri, and is a civil engineer by profession; Henry Clare; Louis R., who is studying civil engineering in the state College at Ames, Iowa; Dora W. E. and Edith Loretta, at home. The fourth member of the family was Agnes Josephine, who died in infancy. Captain Muhs is a valued resident of the community and of the county in which he has so long made his home. From 1869 until 1871 he served as township supervisor, and for seven years was county supervisor. He was also elected on the Democratic ticket to the fifteenth general assembly in 1873, and served on the judiciary, military and railroad committees. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, to the Iowa Workmen and to the Baker Post, G. A. R., at Clinton, while his wife is a member of the Catholic church. His record is that of one who is true to duty in every relation of life, (sic) As a public official he was as true and loyal as when he followed the starry banner on the battlefields of the south, and in business he sustained an irreproachable reputation.