Henry Rust Mighels

Who was Henry Rust Mighels?

Henry Rust Mighels was a US journalist and politician. A writer of the Sagebrush School, he was the editor and publisher of Carson City, Nevada's Nevada Appeal. He was born in Norway, Maine. He served in the Union Army during the American Civil War as assistant adjutant general, with the rank of captain, and was wounded in action. In 1868, he was elected State Printer and served a two-year term. In 1876, he was elected to the Nevada Assembly, serving as Speaker in 1877. The following year, he ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor of Nevada. He was also an artist, painting still life and landscapes. His one book, Sage Brush Leaves, consists of literary essays. He died of cancer in 1879 in Carson City and is buried at Lone Mountain Cemetery next to his wife Nellie Verrill Mighels Davis. The Mighels had three sons, including Henry R. Mighels Jr. and Philip Verrill Mighels; and two daughters. Henry J. Mighels Jr. took over as editor of the Appeal in 1898. Philip's ex-wife, Ella Sterling Mighels, was the "First Literary Historian of California".