CHARLES W. MOUNTAIN
Charles W. Mountain is a son of James and Esther Mountain, born in Virginia, September 29, 1846. His parents moved to Tennessee, and remained there until 1856, when they came to Warren county Iowa, where they were among the early settlers. In 1869 they removed to Kansas, where James Mountain died, March 3, 1880. His wife died in that State, December 25, 1876. Charles W. Mountain, in June, 1863, enlisted in company M, Eighth Iowa Cavalry, and served until July, 1865. His first experience of active service was during the campaign against Johnston's army, in 1864. He took part in all the engagements of his regiment up to the date of his capture by the rebels in the raid made by Generals Stoneman and McCook in the rear of Atlanta, in July, 1864. He was taken to Andersonville, and kept there one month. A brother of his, William Mountain, was also a prisoner there previous to this time. He (William) died at Annapolis, Maryland, shortly after being exchanged. Charles W. was removed from Andersonville to Florence, where he was kept a prisoner about five months, and was removed around the country several weeks, to avoid his rescue by the Union forces. He was finally given up, after the surrender of Lee, and Johnston's surrender, at Wilmington, North Carolina. His health was much impaired, and he soon after became sick from eating too much. He believes himself a sufferer to this day from the effects of prison life. He returned from the army to Warren county, Iowa, in July, 1865. In 1869 he came to Cass county, and purchased forty acres of land in Atlantic township, on which he lived two years, and then returned to Warren county. One year later he again came to this county, and bought the farm he now owns and occupies. It consists of one hundred and sixty acres on section 11, which at the time of his purchase, was unimproved, but is now in a high state of cultivation. Mr. Mountain was married, in September, 1865, to Almaretta Foust, who was born in September, 1848, in Ohio. They have five children--Ida May, William Scott, Benjamin Clayton, James Oscar and Charles Wesley.
Contributed by Lisa Varnes-Rex from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pg. 738-739.
