BIO: HENRY D. MUSSER, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson OCRed by Judy Banja Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/cumberland/ _____________________________________________________________ >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 299-301 _____________________________________________________________ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/cumberland/zeamer/ HENRY D. MUSSER, a prominent resident of East Pennsboro township, Cumberland county, belongs to one of the old and honored German families of this section. His grandfather, Dr. John Musser, was born in Lancaster county, but no data have been preserved of the great-grandfather except that he was born in Germany, emigrated to the United States, and settled in Lancaster county, Pa. Like all the family he was a man of large means and local prominence, and left a family which, by marriage, has become kindred to many of the other old German families of the locality. Dr. John Musser became an eminent physician, and in the treatment of a number of diseases, such as white swelling, or, such as would, in these days, be diagnosed as some form of tuberculosis, he could find no superior in the adjacent counties. He removed to York county, near the Cumberland line, and there bought a tract of 200 acres, where he died and where his remains he buried. He married Elizabeth Neff, of Lancaster county, who died in York county, and they had children as follows: Benjamin, father of Henry D.; Henry, who died in Dauphin county; John, who died young; Elizabeth, who married Henry Snavely and died in Cumberland county; Nancy, who married 300 CUMBERLAND COUNTY. Harvey Bowman, of Lancaster county; Martha, Mrs. Houk; Mary, deceased, who married Joseph Whistler; and Susan, who married his brother, Henry Whistler, and died in Cumberland county. Benjamin Musser was born in 1801, in York county, and in early manhood devoted some time to the study of medicine, but later concluded to become a farmer, and with this end in view took charge of his father's farm and continued to operate it until he sold it to a Mr. Garver, whose name it still bears. In search of a suitable business situation, he went to Ohio in 1834, but found nothing he liked better than that afforded in Pennsylvania. Upon his return, in association with his brother Henry, he bought a mill property at Millersburg, having 150 acres of land, and he cultivated the latter while Henry ran the mill. He lived on that farm for seventeen years, and then came to East Pennsboro township, where he lived until his death, Jan. 18, 1854; he is buried at Camp Hill cemetery, in East Pennsboro township. He was a prominent man in political affairs, a stanch Republican, and in 1844 was elected to the House of Representatives, serving two terms. Benjamin Musser married Frances Snavely, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Eberly) Snavely, who cane from some of the best stock in Cumberland county. She died in 1865, and was buried by the side of her husband in the cemetery at Camp Hill. Their children were as follows: Elizabeth, born Jan. 8, 1826, died Aug. 13, 1889, at Millersburg, wife of Josiah Seal. John S., born May 27, 1827, died Nov. 25, 1901, at Millersburg, Dauphin county; he married Elmira Hoffman. Henry D. is mentioned below. Benjamin, Jr., born Dec. 21, 1830, died May 16, 1877, at Millersburg; he married Susan Minnich. Catherine, horn Oct. 1, 1831, married Beneville Boyer, and they live in Dauphin county. Annie L., born April 13, 1833, married Isaac Lloyd, of Harrisburg, a successful teacher for forty years. Jacob, born Nov. 5, 1835, died in infancy. Joseph R., born Feb. 7, 1837, took part in the Civil war; he married Amanda Lane. Levi, born March 18, 1838, died Aug. 2, 1838. David, born June 9, 1839, died July 9, 1871; he married Susan Coble. Daniel, born Sept. 3, 1840, died Oct. 12, 1840. Hiram, born Nov. 29, 1841, died Dec. 28, 1842. Jeremiah, born April 9, 1843, died in infancy. Sarah, born April. 14, 1847, died May 3, 1847. Josiah A., born July 27, 1849, died March 25, 1898; he married Annie Boughter. Henry D. Musser was born Nov. 20, 1828, in Fairview township, York Co., Pa. He first attended school in the township and later was a pupil in the graded schools of his locality. His application to his books made him enough of a scholar to enable him to secure a certificate, and he taught school for six sessions, one year in Fairview township and the rest of the time in Dauphin county. In 1852 he began farming in East Pennsboro township and continued thus until 1866, when he embarked in a mercantile business, but sold this eighteen months later. In 1873 he concluded to again become a merchant. Being appointed postmaster at Fairview, he opened up a good general store there and continued in business until 1894, since when he has been retired from all active business care, having amassed a comfortable competence. In 1854 Mr. Musser married Mary E. Rupley, daughter of George and Magdaline (Musser) Rupley, and they have had children as follows: George Wesley, born in January, 1856, died Jan. 16, 1857. Elmer A., born Jan. 10, 1858, died Sept. 4, 1858. CUMBERLAND COUNTY. 301 Charles Emery, born Nov. 30, 1859, married Clara Kanaby, and they live at Fairview, their children are Ellen, William, Warren, Virgie, Jennie, Margie, and Odessa, who lives with her grandfather and goes to school. Henry Clinton, born Aug. 14, 1861, has charge of the telephone business at Memphis, Tenn. Mr. and Mrs. Musser have seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, all fine, healthy specimens of a sturdy, temperate, industrious ancestral stock. Both Mr. and Mrs. Musser are leading members of the U. B. Church at Fairview, in which Mr. Musser has held office for the past fifty years, as class-leader, superintendent of the Sunday-school and treasurer of the latter. Mrs. Musser has always been deeply interested in this work and has a fine record, not having missed a single Sunday of attendance since 1886. She has trained her granddaughter, Odessa, to follow in her footsteps, ever since she was two and a half years old. Politically, Mr. Musser is a Republican of no uncertain type. He is township assessor and has served six terms on the school board, has been on the election board and has been supervisor. He is known all over the township and is highly respected and much esteemed.