Monroe County, Ohio

Henry A. Muhlenberg Obituary

From The Jefferson Democrat—Extra

Reading, Sunday Afternoon

Aug. 11, 1844, 5 o’clock p.m.

The Death Of Mr. Muhlenberg

By an inscrutable dispensation of Divine providence, our friend and fellow citizen, Henry A. Muhlenberg, has suddenly been removed from this life. But yesterday he was mixing among the busy things of men, full of vigor, and in a state of health promising long years of honor and happiness to himself and of usefulness to society: today is laid low in earth, and the places that have known him shall know him no more. We cannot speak of him now as we could wish. Our mind distracted with the grief which pervades this whole community is incapable of addressing the people more than the simple announcement of their loss.

The circumstances which attended this melancholy bereavement are these: several gentlemen from abroad had been passing the last evening with Mr. Muhlenberg, at his house, where they staid until probably about ten o’clock. When they left, he accompanied them to the front door, at which, after which they were gone, he seated himself upon a chair, as was his custom, to enjoy the coolness of the night breeze.—Several gentle men who passed between that and half past ten or later, saw him sitting there. At about eleven he was found prostrate and insensible upon the step, with his head down—stricken with apoplexy. Every effort that medical skill could suggest was made—but in vain. He never spoke after he was discovered, but remained insensible until he expired, which was at 4 o’clock this afternoon.

It is almost superfluous, at the present moment, to dwell upon the loss which Pennsylvania has sustained in this afflicting event. The position in which Mr. Muhlenberg stood at the moment of his unexpected death, was such as had brought both his public services and private virtues to the view of every citizen; and at no time has he been more fully understood, or appreciated. His long continued services, and tried integrity as a statesman, combined with a knowledge of his goodness of heart & excellence in all his domestic relations, had secured to him the respect and the affection of the community; and had it been his fortune to have remained among us for a few short weeks, such an evidence of popular estimation would have been given as would have shown that Henry A. Muhlenberg enjoyed a degree of regard among the people of Pennsylvania which has never been surpassed. Of the many distinguished men who have graced the Commonwealth, no one was ever more universally esteemed. Even detraction hesitated to strike at him, who was only known to be beloved; and when calumny did venture to rear its head, it awakened no other feeling than that of scorn and disgust. But while considerations like this increase the poignancy of sorrow, and give greater cause to deplore the sad dispensation which has deprived us of a man from whom so much was to be expected, still, however, there is something of consolation in the thought that our departed friend had been permitted to reach the full meridian of his fame., and will be followed to the tomb by a General acknowledgement of his worth. It is rather for ourselves than for him, that we are called upon to grieve. He has escaped from arduous cares and perhaps thankless duties; while his fellow-citizens remain to regret that his aid cannot be extended to them. It is a proud epitaph thus to be lamented; and it is not to much to say that the memory of Muhlenberg will long be enshrined in the heart of his fellow citizens as that of a great and good man, who was called away at the moment of his brightest reputation and of his highest usefulness.

Mr. Muhlenberg, at the time of his death, was sixty-two years of age, having been born in Lancaster, 1782; and his excellent health, and apparently unimpaired constitution, gave every reason to anticipate that years of undiminished efficiency and zeal in the public service remained to him.

Source: Spirit of Democracy, Woodsfield, Ohio, August 23, 1844