Meeker County MN Archives Biographies.....Mousley, John M. 1827 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 16, 2014, 9:57 pm

Source: See Below
Author: Alden, Ogle & Co.

JOHN M. MOUSLEY, one of the earliest settlers of Meeker county, and an honored
and respected citizen of Ellsworth, has his residence upon section 22 of that
town, where he first settled in 1858. He is a native of England, born in
Manchester December 6, 1827, and is the son of Samuel and Nancy (Mason) Mousley,
natives, also, of "Albion." The family came to Canada in 1851, and settled in
Elgin county, where Samuel died of lung disease in 1864. He was born in 1792.
His wife, who first saw the light in 1795, died in England in November, 1849.
The father of our subject was a cotton dyer by trade, having learned the trade
when a boy. He was an excellent citizen, a good Christian man and a kind
neighbor. Both he and his estimable wife were members of the Church of England,
or Episcopal Church. They were the parents of five children – James, Alfred,
Jane, John and Alice.

The subject of this narrative continued to make his home beneath the parental
roof until the spring of 1842, when, although but fourteen years of age, he
crossed the briny deep to Canada, where he had an uncle living, with whom he
made his home for some eight years. During this time he assisted in the work
upon the farm and attended the common schools, receiving therefrom the elements
of a fair education.

Most of this was obtained under difficulties, as hard and persistent work was
the order of the day. He finally commenced to learn the blacksmith's trade with
McPherson, Glasgow & Co., but after the expiration of his three years'
apprenticeship returned to his uncle's, working for him in the summer. He then
took up his trade in the employ of several parties, and continued thus employed
until he came to this county, in 1858, as detailed above. After taking his claim
of 160 acres of land, the next spring he went to St. Paul and went to work for
one Frank Gilman in a foundry. With what he earned he purchased a yoke of oxen
and the various tools he would need, and returned here and commenced the
development of his farm, and has seen it grow from pristine wildness to its
present condition. He has since that, once or twice, worked at his trade, but
only for short periods.

Mr. Mousley was married in April, 1864, to Miss Catherine Doane, a native of
Canada, born in 1841, who died in January, 1872, leaving four children – James
Alfred, Hattie Jane, Frank M. and Alice Ann. Hattie died in the spring of 1881,
when some fifteen years old; and Alice died August 26, 1886. Mr. M. has held the
offices of town supervisor, town clerk and school clerk for years.

Additional Comments:
Extracted from 
Illustrated Album of Biography
Meeker and McLeod Counties, Minnesota
1888


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mn/meeker/bios/mousley338gbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mnfiles/

File size: 3.3 Kb