Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 240

GEORGE A. MISCHE, United States Express Agent and Station Agent of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, at Fulton, Iowa, was born July 3, 1833, Lippe-Detmold, Germany, and is a son of Ferdinand and Louisa ( Sunderman ) Mische. When eighteen years of age he left his native land and emigrated to America, landing in New York City two weeks previous to the arrival of Kossuth, the great Hungarian statesman. After his arrival he worked at any occupation in which laborers were needed until June 19, 1854, when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, in which he served eight years. Boarding the United States frigate "Independence" at Brooklyn, he sailed for Rio Janeiro, from there around Cape Horn, and then to Valparaiso. The vessel next anchored at San Francisco, Cal., later sailing to Mary's Island, off the coast of that State, where Mr. Mische remained some time, while the vessel was being repaired. From there they sailed to Hilo, Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, then on to Navigator's Island, whence their course led back to Valparaiso, Chili, going by way of the Island of Juan Fernandez. The vessel then sailed to Coquimbo, Chili, and from there they sailed to the Chincha Islands, stopping at Copiapo,Chili, then on to Panama, where the crew remained for some time, being delayed on account of the invasion of Costa Rica by Gen. Walker. Our subject was one of a company who excorted that gentleman and Gen. Henderson safely across the Isthmus from Panama to Aspinwall, after which the escort returned to the ship, which was anchored in Panama Bay. The vessel then sailed on to San Francisco, Cal., after which it was stationed as a receiving vessel at St. Mary's Island in the Sacramento River. Boarding the mail steamer "Golden Age," the crew then proceeded on their homeward way, going by way of Acapulco and Panama, and from thence across the Isthmus to Aspinwall, where they boarded the steamer "St. Louis," which carried them safely to Brooklyn. In that city Mr. Mische served out his time, receiving his discharge on the 19th day of June, 1858.

Re-enlisting in the service our subject was sent as a Corporal on board the United States steamer "Niagara," from Brooklyn to Charleston, S. C., where they took on board 375 negro slaves, who had been captured off the coast of Cuba from the slave ship "Aco," that had brought them from Africa, the capture being made by a United States man-of-war. From Charleston the vessel bore the slaves to Monrovia, Liberia, in Africa. On the way the vessel stopped at Porto Praya and Porto Grande of the Cape Verd Island, returning to the United States after an absence of three months. The next voyage which Mr. Mische made was in the United States frigate " Congress," which sailed from Philadelphia to Bahia, Brazil, where the men were permitted to spend a few days on shore. At that place two of the crew were stricken with yellow fever, and there died, and were buried in the ocean. Returning to the ship they then proceeded onward to Rio Janeiro, Brazil, then on to St. Catherine, thence to Montevideo,Uraguay, where Mr. Mische, forming one of the Commodore's guard, boarded the United States steamer "Pulaski," and sailed up the Rio de la Platte to Buenos Ayres, after which he proceeded to Rosario and Corrientes, in the Argentine Republic. Returning to the ship, which was anchored at Montevideo, he then returned to Rio Janeiro, but shortly afterward, at the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861, the ship was ordered to Boston, where it was refitted and the crew reorganized. Our subject was one of the new crew which was sent by way of Hampden Roads to the mouth of the James River. Twenty of the marine guards having seen so much sea service they petitioned Col. Harrison to relieve them from further duty in that direction, and about two weeks after sending in their application a relief arrived, and they returned to Baltimore Md., going from there by rail to Washington. Only about two weeks after Mr. Mische had left the "Congress" it was sunk by the iron-clad vesssel "Merrimac." Arriving at the capital city he served for a time as Sergeant in the marine barracks, and later received a two-weeks furlough, with orders to report for duty at Brooklyn at the expiration of that time. On the 19th day of June, 1863, his term of enlistment expired, he was discharged and later passed an examination before Col. Tompkins to become a commissioned officer in the volunteer service. On the 1st day of July following he opened a recruiting office, organizing a company with Lieut. Eugene DeBerry, and with his men joined the 136th New York Infantry, commanded by Col. P. G. Claussen. He was commissioned Third Senior Captain of that regiment, and with his company, on a Sunday afternoon in the fall of 1862, marched from Brooklyn through New York and New Jersey, and by rail to Washington D.C., where the regiment was mustered into the United States service. It was then ordered to Norfolk, and later was stationed at Suffolk for several months. The regiment then proceeded by steam to New Berne, N. C., arriving on the 1st day of January, 1863, and there remained for some time, after which it was sent to Bachelor's Creek, where it remained one year and nine months. Uniting with the army under Gens. Cox and Schoffield, the command was given to march to Goldsboro, a hard battle was fought at Kingston, the rebel forces being commanded by Gen. Bragg. Arriving at Goldsboro a few days previous to Sherman's arrival, the army then advanced on Raleigh, and were finally stationed at Salisbury, N. C., for several months. At the close of the war the regiment was ordered home, going by way of Norfolk and New York, and was discharged July 5, 1865. During six months of his service Capt. Mische acted as Major, and throughout the entire war was always found at his post of duty.

At the close of hostilities Capt. Mische went to North Carolina, where he engaged in cotton raising for two years, after which he became a resident of Freeport, Ill. On the 2d day of July, 1863, he was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Mengedohd, a daughter of A. and Sophia Mengedohd, who were natives of Germany, and emigrated to America in 1846. She was one of a family of ten children, only six of whom are now living: Mrs. Mische; Elizabeth, who is the wife of C. L. Grassley, of St. Louis, Mo; Charles, a resident of Freeport, Ill.; Rosa became the wife of of C. McEvers, and lives at Jacksonville, Ill.; Bertha is now Mrs. Henry B. Witte of Aurora, Neb.; and Georgiana who wedded William E. Schwartze, of Freeport, Ill. Mr. and Mrs Mische celebrated their silver wedding on the 2d of July, 1888.

On the 1st day of January, 1868, Capt. Mische emigrated to Muscatine County, settling at Fulton, where he has served as Station Agent on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, and Agent for the United States Express Company continuously since. Long service of twenty years in one company is a high testimonial of his ability, and he has not only won the confidence of his employers, but has the good will and respect of all who know him. Politically, he is a supporter of the Democratic party, and has served as a Justice of the Peace for eight years. No children have been born to our subject and wife, but they have an adopted daughter Sadie, whom they took from the Girl's Industrial Home, located at St. Louis, she being now about thirteen years of age.


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