WALSTON, RUFUS

WALSTON, THOMAS, MCDOUGAL

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/16/2004 at 14:48:22

Biography reproduced from page 425 of the History of Kossuth and Humboldt Counties, Iowa published in 1884:

Rufus Walston was born Aug. 31, 1841, in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. In 1861 he enlisted in the two years service in company H, 16th New York Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the battles of Fredericksburg, where he was wounded, being shot through the arm; Antietam, also was in the seven days battle before Richmond. In May, 1863, he was discharged. In the fall of 1865 he came to Algona, the county at that time being very sparsely settled. He carried the mail between Algona and Fort Dodge, when it took a man’s nerve to cross the wild prairies in the winter. In September, 1866, he married Margaret E. Thomas, a daughter of Walter and Mary (McDougal) Thomas. They had four children, three of whom are living—James R., Frank C. and Minnie M. Mr. Walston is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.