Jacob E. Maus. One of the early settlers of Shawnee County as well as one of its prosperous farmers is Jacob E. Maus, who has additional claims to consideration, for he is a veteran of the great Civil war, a survivor of a struggle that brought peace and prosperity, almost uninterrupted for a half century.
Jacob E. Maus was born in Carroll County, Maryland, June 11, 1844. His parents were John and Louisa (Erb) Maus; his grandfather was Jacob Maus, and his great-grandfather was George Maus, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. John Maus followed the family avocation of farming and spent his entire life near the Village of Silver Run, Maryland, where he died in 1882. Of his family of children, Jacob E. was the only one to reach maturity.
Jacob E. Maus was afforded far better educational opportunities than many of his young comrades, attending the Silver Run High School after completing his course in the district schools, and after satisfactorily passing examination for a teacher’s certificate, taught school acceptably for some time. In search of a wider field of effort, in 1863 Mr. Maus went to LaFayette, Indiana, and in that city, on January 15, 1864, enlisted for service in the Union army, becoming a member of Company L. Fifth Indiana Cavalry, which numerically became the Ninetieth. Mr. Maus’ regiment reached the front in time to join General Sherman’s army on its campaign to Atlanta, the first battle in which he participated being Resaca, following which he was almost continually under fire until the fall of Atlanta. After the capture of that city his command was ordered back to Nashville, under Gen. George H. Thomas, and from that time until his discharge Mr. Maus was engaged in what may be called constabulary duty–suppressing lawlessness and arresting guerillas. His honorable discharge and mustering out took place September 25, 1865, at Indianapolis, Indiana.
After his military life was over, Mr. Maus returned to his old home in Maryland and resided there until April, 1869, when he came to Kansas. He bought a small place containing thirty acres, in Mission Township, Shawnee County, on which he built a stone dwelling and a barn and lived there with his family until 1885, when he purchased his present place in Mission Township and has continued here ever since. He has prospered during the many years that he has been a resident of the county and has done his part in assisting in the substantial development of this section.
In Maryland, August 30, 1868, Mr. Maus was united in marriage with Emma E. Clark, who died in 1883. They became the parents of the following children: Cora, Frank, James, Charles, George, William, John and Chester Arthur, of whom Cora and George are now deceased.
In politics Mr. Maus is a republican but the earlier generations were democrats. One of his uncles, Jacob Maus, was a slaveowner. He lost his life through accident, in 1860. Although Mr. Maus has never been a seeker for political honors, he has accepted the responsibilities of office when his fellow citizens have called upon him and has served in many local positions with efficiency and good results. He has always been willing to co-operate with his neighbors in the furthering of practical local improvements and personally has been a generous and benevolent man. He has long been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
When Mr. Maus first came to Shawnee County, the whole country was one vast prairie, an oasis here and there indicating where a courageous pioneer like himself had made a settlement.