Untitled From the Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 584-585

JOSEPH UNOSH, one of the representative men of Muscoda, Grant county, and a veteran soldier, enjoys the distinction of having been a member of the famous 6th Wis. V.I. which formed a part of the Iron Brigade and rendered such efficient service in the great civil struggle between the North and the South.

Mr. UNOSH was born Jan. 6, 1844, in Bohemia, a son of Joseph and Catherine UNOSH, and in 1856 was brought to America by his parents. The family had originally consisted of six children, but four had died prior to the immigration to this country, so that Joseph and his sister Ellen were the only survivors; the latter, after attaining womanhood and marrying, also died. Upon coming to America Mr. and Mrs. UNOSH located on land in the town of Castle Rock, Grant county, and remained there for years. The mother died in Castle Rock; the father, surviving her, passed his last days at Muscoda, and died highly respected by all.

Joseph UNOSH, the subject of this sketch, enlisted in company B, 6th Wis. V.I., in October, 1864, and participated with his regiment in Gen. Grant's Richmond and Petersburg campaign, being badly wounded in the right leg at the battle of Hatcher's Run, Feb. 6, 1865. A musket ball struck his right ankle shattering the limb, and Mr. UNOSH lay where he fell until captured by the enemy, who had obtained possession of the part of the field in which he had fallen. Owing to poor facilities for caring for the wounded, and the large member of both Union and Confederate soldiers who needed attention, Mr. UNOSH suffered untold pain, and has never fully recovered from the effects of the neglect then experienced. Gangrene ensued, and the wound has never permanently healed, although after the close of the war, when he was released from captivity, Mr. UNOSH remained in a hospital at Madison, Wis., for some time, and was honorably discharged from the service in that city. For a number of years succeeding the war Mr. UNOSH resided on Blue river, and then removed to Muscoda, which has since been his home.

On Aug. 16, 1893, Mr. UNOSH was married to Miss Mary J. SEDIVY, a native of Bohemia, who was born Nov. 18, 1871, daughter of Frank and Veronika SEDIVY, and came to America with her parents in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. SEDIVY are well known and highly respected residents of Orion, Richland Co., Wis. Mr. and Mrs. UNOSH have three living children, Jennie, Freddie and Celie; their youngest, Frank J., died when an infant of a few days.

Mr. UNOSH and his family are pleasantly located at their comfortable home in Muscoda, and enjoy the esteem of a large circle of friends. In the G.A.R. Post of Muscoda Mr. UNOSH is a prominent member, and he is justly regarded as an estimable and representative citizen.




This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck