Muse, Robert W. P. (1821-1896)

Newton Kansan obituary: 1896 Nov 26 p. 1

Birth date: 1821 Apr 22

text of obituary:

DEATH OF JUDGE MUSE.

A Pioneer of Newton Passes Away After an Eventful Life.

The community was greatly shocked Saturday evening to learn that Judge R. W. P. Muse had passed away at his home on East Fifth street at 5 o'clock after a short illness. The Judge was not feeling well prior to the election, but went to the polls and voted, and insisted almost to the last that he was not a very sick man and that he would be around in a short time. Blood poisoning was the immediate cause of his death.

The funeral was held from the family home Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, the Masonic fraternity of the city having charge of the services. He was a member of Magnolia lodge A. F. & A. M., Newton commandery No. 9. Arkansas valley chapter No. 27 R. A. M. and Newton lodge No. 100, I. O. O F. The pallbearers were J. A. Randal, T. B. Atchison, John Reese, S. Lehman, J. C. Johnson and D. W. Wilcox. In accordance with request of the mayor, all business houses were closed during the funeral. The attendance at the funeral was very large, showing in a degree the universal feeling of regret at the demise of this old and respected citizen of Newton.

Judge Robert W. P. Muse was born in Harrison county, West Virginia, April 22, 1821. At the age of fourteen he was sent by his parents to White's academy at Savannah, Ga. He also attended Beard's High school at St. Mary's. Moving with his parents to Zanesville, O., he completed his education at Howe's academy, immediately taking up the study of law. He completed his legal education at McConnellsville, O., and was admitted to the bar at Newark, O., in 1845. He had practiced but two years at McConnellsville when he was elected prosecuting attorney for Morgan county, being reelected in 1850.

He removed to Zanesville in 1852 and went into the newspaper business, getting out a spicy daily called the "Aurora," for four years. Selling his paper, he resumed law in Zanesville and had practiced for four years when the war broke out. He immediately recruited a company for the three months' service and was given a place as company A Fifteenth Ohio volunteers. His regiment was sent to West Virginia and assisted in rebuilding the famous Baltimore & Ohio railroad partially destroyed by the Confederates. He fought at Phillipi, Rich Mountain, Carricksford and other places in West Virginia, winning many laurels.

Returning home after the three months' service, he immediately enlisted another company for the three years' service, and was made captain, his company being known as company A, Sixteenth Ohio volunteers. He was promoted to major and fought under that commission until 1863 when he resigned and returned to Zanesville and again took up the practice of law. He was almost immediately elected Probate Judge of the county, which position he held three years. Declining a renomination he moved to Kansas in 1869, locating at Abilene, at which place he purchased considerable property, all of which he has since disposed of.

In 1871 he moved to Newton and at once became identified with the town. As was instrumental in laying out the city upon its present site, and was an active participant in the stirring times of the early days. He was here during the notorious killings and saw some of the roughest western life that has ever been enacted on the plains of frontier Kansas. He at once evinced his faith in the town by investing in its real estate and in putting his money into business enterprises here. Even the young men will remember the old frame building bearing the legend "Muse, Spivey & Cratty," that stood on the site of the present handsome brick building that was built by Harry S. Dean during the boom.

Judge Muse was full of reminiscences of the old days in Newton and has contributed articles recently to the Kansan relative to them. A short time before his illness he had promised the editor of the Kansan to complete the series, that a record might be had of the early days in Newton from an eye witness. It is indeed to be regretted that the hope of the fulfillment of that promise has been forever cut off.

The Judge has watched the growth of Newton from its infancy, and has always been closely identified with all of its interests. Business man, lawyer, editor, politician and above all a promoter of the interests of the town in which he lived, he has become to be recognized as one of the oldest and most stalwart bulwarks of the place. He was mayor of the city in 1881 and has held other important positions of trust.

As a property owner and builder he has also been prominent. He built what was at that time one of the finest residences in Newton on East Broadway, just back of Bretch Bros. establishment. This he owned at the time of his death, together with the home he recently occupied on East Fifth street. The south half of the double store occupied by T. H. McManus also belonged to him, in addition to several fine farms. It is estimated that the estate, at the present very depreciated values, will amount to $30,000.

He was one of the prime movers in the building of the Arcade in 1880 and before that, of the stone opera block at numbers 517 and 519 Main street. One commendable peculiarity of Judge Muse in building was that he would not consent to anything but the best. The consequence has been that every building with which he was connected is as solid as a rock and will stand for ages if need be.

Judge Muse was married January 1, 1845 to Miss Julia A Hurd at Brookfield, Ohio, and six children were the fruits of the union, two of whom are now living. These are Mrs. Irene M. Dobson, and the other Mrs. Georgia M. Greene, both of Chicago. Both have lived in Newton and have many acquaintances here. Mrs. Greene will be remembered as Mrs. Applegate. The first Mrs. Muse died in Newton January 2, 1890. In December, 1891, the Judge was married to Mrs. Tena DeWitt at Eureka Springs, Ark. She survives him, and with the two daughters attended the funeral.

Blessed with a wonderfully robust and wiry constitution, the Judge has been able to withstand several severe attacks of erysipelas that have threatened to end his existence in the past. He has always had an erect and dignified bearing, presenting almost a soldierly appearance. He was a fluent speaker, an able debater and always took a deep interest in politics.

So far as known, he left no will, although he executed one several years ago during his illness at that time. The will was made before his marriage in 1891 and was probably destroyed. He spoke of drawing up a will recently but put it off too long.

Newton has indeed lost an old friend and staunch supporter in Judge Muse. His familiar presence on the streets of Newton, at his office and in political and other public meetings will be sadly missed. His life has been a long and eventful one and one that has at all times reflected great credit upon himself. There may indeed be written in flaming letters as a finis to his life's work the motto "Well done." To the bereaved family, the entire community express their unbounded sympathy.

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biographical sketch from History of the State of Kansas... (Chicago: A. T. Andreas, 1883), p. 779

(Note: The same image of Muse appears in this book.)

JUDGE ROBERT W. P. MUSE, was born in Harrison County, W. Va., April 22, 1821, and when fourteen years of age went to Savannah, Ga., where he attended school at White's Academy, and also at Beard's High School in St. Mary's; returning to Ohio, he completed his education at Howe's Academy, at Zanesville, at which place he commenced the study of law, completing his legal education in the office of the Hon. Isaac Parrish, at McConnellsville. He was admitted to the bar at Newark, Ohio, in 1845, and commenced practice at McConnellsville, the same year. In 1848, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Morgan County, to which office he was re-elected in 1850. He removed to Zanesville, in 1852, and purchased the Zanesville Aurora, which paper he edited and published as a daily and weekly journal for four years. Selling his paper he resumed the practice of law in that city, which he continued until the breaking out of the great Rebellion, when, with characteristic promptness he recruited a company for the three months' service, and tendered his services to Governor Dennison, who promptly accepted them and assigned his company to duty as Company A, Fifteenth Ohio Volunteers. His regiment was at once sent into West Virginia, where they assisted in re-building the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, from Wheeling to Grafton, the Rebels having destroyed it. His regiment was at Phillippi, and supported Heckman's Battery, which there fired the first shot of the campaign. Having surprised the enemy in camp they defeated them and drove them back to Rich Mountain, where they again routed them and followed them to Carricksford, where they again defeated them, killed their commander, Gen. Garnett, and so utterly demoralized the Rebel command that they disbanded. Returning home at the expiration of his term of enlistment (three months) the Judge at once raised another company for three years service, and again entered the army as Captain of Company A, Sixteenth Ohio Volunteers. Was promoted to Major, and served with his regiment in all the engagements in which it participated until 1863, when he resigned his commission and returned home and resumed the practice of law at Zanesville. He was elected Probate Judge on the Union ticket the same year, to which office he was re-elected in 1866. Declining a re-nomination, in 1869, he moved to Kansas, locating at Abilene, where he purchased considerable property. In 1871, he moved to Newton, (his present home) and took charge of the Land Department of the A. T. & S. F. R. R., at that place. He also engaged in the lumber business and began building up the city, and has done much to improve his city and county. He edited and published the Newton Republican for several years, and has occupied a prominent part in the politics of the State and County, having been elected presidential elector on the Hayes ticket, in 1876, and again on the Garfield ticket, in 1880, on which occasion he was also elected to bear the vote to Washington. He is the present Mayor of the city and is largely interested in the Harvey County Saving's Bank. The Judge has retired from active law practice, and is now engaged in building and improving his property in Newton. He has large property interests in Newton and Harvey County. Owns one-half of the Arcade Block, the finest building of the kind in the State, costing over $60,000, and has done much toward making Newton the beautiful and prosperous city which it now is. The town only ten years old now having a population of nearly 5,000. He is the author of the History of Harvey County, is an able writer, a fluent speaker and a man of untiring energy, is a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery, also of the I. O. O. F. Judge M. is emphatically a self-made man, having worked his way through his scholastic course, and in everything which he undertakes displays an unflagging zeal which insures success, is ever ready to aid any project which will benefit the people, and is independent and outspoken in advocating what he deems to be right, and denouncing that which he believes to be wrong.