Thursday, September 27, 2007

Maish Houseworth(1846-1944)


Maish Houseworth, at least that's what his gravestone( previous post) in the Waldo Town Cemetery says.....we have come to know his as George, Solomon B., Salmaches, Frosty, and maybe a few others.....he was the son of George and Elizabeth.


Maish tried to join the OVI during the early days of the Civil War....he was found to be only 15 and was sent packing home....he later joined at the ripe old and legal age of 18.

From the History of Waldo 1976..........

"Everett B. Grisby recalls some of the following Civil War veterans: Abijah W. Sweetbond, Jerry Elmaker, Maish Houseworth(Frosty), and a Mr. Hayes, who told of many interesting stories of his experiences, movements, and actions in the war.

Leo F. Groll recalls a little short fellow by the name of Maish Houseworth, who was nicknamed "Frosty" . He claimed he lied about his age to join up. When asked if he got to carry a gun in any battles or skirmishes, he said the he did not because about the first time he marched after he was furnished a rifle, he almost shot the soldier's ear off behind him. He said they made a Drummer Boy out of him after that and he didn't get to carry a guy again".

For more information on Maish and the other Waldo Houseworths in the 26th OVI go to the 26th OVI History site at:


Maish also was a witness at the trial of Enoch Young(a Houseworth brother-in-law by marriage) in the murder of Israel Bensley in 1880.
Maish lived in Waldo until his death in 1944....after the death of his wife, Maish it is told became quite the celebraity in the town, the women of the town would fix him cakes, pies, and meals....and Maish would tell his "war stories" whenever someone would ask....


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