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Biographies and Portraits of the Progressive Men of
Iowa F FOUSE, Rev. DEWALT S., D. D. submitted by Dick Barton
FOUSE, Rev. DEWALT S., D. D., of Lisbon , is a native of Huntingdon county, Penn. He was born near Marklesburg, in that county, November 15, 1840 . His father, Dewalt Fouse, was born December 26, 1802 , in Blair county, Penn. , and was a minister in the Reformed church in the United States . His grandfather was a native of Bavaria , Germany , and came to America in 1784. Dewalt Fouse was married March 25, 1823 , to Nancy Shontz, who was born in Huntingdon county. Her father, Christian Shontz, and her mother, Margaret Huber Shontz, were both natives of Lancaster county, Penn. , although of Swiss descent. Young Mr. Fouse received his early education in the common schools of his county and at Marklesburg academy. The young man was naturally studious and made full use of his opportunities for acquiring knowledge. He entered Franklin Marshall college at Lancaster , Penn. , in 1859. His college course was interrupted by the rebellion, and September 16, 1861 ,he enlisted as a private in Company C, Fifty-third Pennsylvania volunteers, commanded by Col. John R. Brooke, now active in the service at Havana , Cuba , as military governor. Mr. Fouse was soon made orderly sergeant, and December 14, 1862 , was promoted to first lieutenant of his company. During much of the time he acted as adjutant of the regiment, and when mustered out, October 9, 1864 , he was acting assistant adjutant-general of the Fourth brigade, First division, Second army corps. Gen. W. S. Hancock was commander of the corps. Lieutenant Fouse participated in the battles of Fair Oaks , Gains Mills, Peach Orchard, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Second Bull Run, Antietam , Fredericksburg , Chancellorsville , Gettysburg , Mine Run, and in the battles of the Wilderness campaign from the Rapidan river to Petersburg in 1864. Through all the hardships and privations of three years he passed without being seriously affected, but the poisoned air of the swamps brought on malarial fever at last, and his health being shattered and the term of enlistment having expired, he returned home in October, 1864. Six of his brothers were in the army and of these two died in service, one lost an eye, and another has a crippled leg and arm. After resting and recovering his health, Mr. Fouse entered the Theological Seminary of the Reformed church, at Mercersburg , Penn. , from which he graduated in May, 1867. He was soon after sent by the board of home missions of his church to do mission work in Iowa , and settled near Central City, Linn county, in July, 1867. While living there he preached at Boulder , Linn county, and at Brandon, Buchanan county, for several years. In 1872 he moved to Lisbon , where he preached for a number of years, and still resides. In October, 1889, he became general superintendent of the board of home missions of the Reformed church in the United States . This gives him general oversight and supervision of all the home missions of his church in the United States , and requires him to spend much of his time traveling among the churches. Mr. Fouse was married January 30, 1868 , to Sarah A. Geissinger, of Huntingdon county, Penn. They have four children: David Henry, born July 1, 1869 , and now a minister in the Reformed church; Samuel G., born February 27, 1871 , now a merchant in Lisbon ; John D., born June 1, 1873 , now a commercial traveler, and Mary Naomi, born April 18, 1879 , now attending Cornell college, at Mt. Vernon , Iowa .
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