HENRY ALBERT, PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.
Although he has passed the last thirty-three years in peace, plenty and quiet on his farm in the neighborhood of Griswold in this county, a tract of land which his industry and skilful husbandry have made into a model farm and rural home, Henry Albert has by no means in his career missed "war's dread alarms," but has witnessed all its horrors in an extended and active service in the Civil War.
Mr. Albert was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, on May 15, 1841, and is the son of William A. and Susan (Miller) Albert, also natives of Ohio. The father was a cooper and also followed farming for many years. Soon after the birth of his son Henry the family moved to Noble county, Ind., where they cleared a farm and lived about thirty years. In 1870 the parents came to Polk county in this State, and after a residence of some years in that section, took up their residence with their son in this county, where the father died in 1877 and the mother in 1881. Of their eight children five grew to maturity, but only Henry and one of his sisters are living. The latter is a resident of Brown county, South Dakota.
The paternal grandfather, John Albert, was a man of a valiant nature and rendered effective service to his country in the Indian wars fought by General William Henry Harrison. His death occurred in Ohio after he had reached a good old age.
Henry Albert reached his manhood in Noble county, Ind., attending the primitive country schools of his day when he had opportunity, and assisting his father in the laborious work of breaking up the farm and reducing it to cultivation. He remained at home until August 7, 1862, when he enlisted in defense of the Union in Company B, Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry. At first his regiment became a part of the Western army under General Buell, then under Rosecranz, and later under Thomas. Mr. Albert saw much active service, participating in a large number of battles, among them being the engagements at Perryville, Ky., Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain (the battle above the clouds), Missionary Ridge, Resacca, Dallas, Peach Tree Creek, Buzzards' Roost, Ringgold, Kenesaw Mountain, and all the battles including the siege and capture of Atlanta. He also went with Sherman to the sea, and afterward, under that commander, fought Johnston in the Carolinas. He was the first to report the flag of truce which announced Johnston's surrender, and was also the sentinel who passed General Vallandigham through the lines at Murfreesboro, Tenn. He was present and took part in the Grand Review at Washington, and was mustered out of the service at Indianapolis in June, 1865. At the Battle of Stone River he was taken prisoner, and thereafter he was in Libby Prison one month.
After his honorable discharge Mr. Albert returned to his Noble county home, and in August, 1869, started with a team for Blackhawk county, Iowa, where he remained one year, when he moved to Cass county, and here he has ever since resided. In 1873 he changed his residence to his present home, and on this he has expanded to good purpose the time and energy of his subsequent years.
Henry Albert was married in 1866 to Mahala Sanders, a native of Canton, Ohio. Her parents, Benjamin and Elizabeth (Lautzenheizer) Sanders, were early settlers in DeKalb county, Ind., first locating where the thriving little city of Auburn now stands. Mr. Albert is a Republican in political faith and earnestly loyal to his party, but he has never sought or desired a political office. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, and he and his wife are members of the M. E. Church. It is one of the glories of American citizens, that while they are essentially a peaceful people and devoted to the industrial development of their country, when the occasion demands it they can speedily marshal an army of magnificent proportions and bear themselves on the battlefield with the sturdy bravery of veterans; and then, when the citizen soldiery are absorbed again into the body of the people, that they can turn with equal zeal and success to reaping once more the white harvests of peaceful enterprise. Mr Albert is an example of this spirit.
From "Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pg. 248-249.
