BIO: C. Sumner MUSSER, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by MFS Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ C. SUMNER MUSSER, M.D., of Aaronsburg, Centre county, is one of the leading physicians of Penn's Valley, and in the thoroughness of his preparation for the profession far outranks the practitioners usually found in a small town. To an extended course of study in different institutions in this country there has been added the advantage of observation in the hospitals of Europe, thus developing native talents which had already shown themselves in an early choice of this arduous profession. Dr. Musser was born at Millheim, Centre county, November 19, 1856, and is a descendant COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 377 of one of the pioneer families of Pennsylvania, his ancestors having come from Germany during the Colonial period to settle in Linn township, Northampton county. The first of this branch of the family to locate in Penn's Valley were Philip Musser (the great-grandfather of our subject) and a brother, Sebastian, to whom numerous descendants trace their lineage. According to the best authority, in the year 1789 Philip Musser located upon a farm in Gregg township, Centre county, where he remained until his death, July 19, 1804. He left eight children - five daughters and three sons - the names of the latter being: Philip, Jr., David and John. Philip Musser, Jr., the grandfather of our subject, was the eldest child, and, like his father, became a tiller of the soil, locating in Gregg township, Centre county, two miles east of Spring Mills, where he died in 1834. He was twice married, the first time to a Miss Kreamer, daughter of Daniel Kreamer, the founder of the old family of that name in Penn's Valley. She bore three children, one son, Samuel, and two daughters. His second wife, to whom he was married in November, 1827, was Mrs. Catherine Stover, a widow, daughter of Joseph Reichard, who had settled near Millheim. Among the children of this union were Philip T., who is mentioned below; and Rachel, who married John Lord, and died November 6, 1863, without issue. Dr. Philip T. Musser, our subject's father, was the eldest son of his parents, and as he was only six years old when his father died, he, during his boyhood, made his home with his half-brother, Samuel. Reared upon a farm, his early education was limited to the subscription schools of the day, and it was not until 1847 that he began to attend school at Mifflinburg, where he spent two years. Having been thrown upon his own resources, he had a hard battle to fight, but he made his way manfully to the goal of his ambition. His acute and active intellect enabled him to secure a good elementary education, notwithstanding his disadvantages, and then, under an excellent preceptor, Dr. Robert VanValzah, of Millheim, he in 1850 began to qualify himself for the laborious and exacting duties of the medical profession, and in 1853 he was graduated from Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia. Until 1861 he practiced with his preceptor, and in 1866 he located in Aaronsburg, where he built up an extensive practice, which continued until his death, December 31, 1889. While he stood high in his profession, he was no less prominent as a citizen. An ardent Abolitionist, he became a steadfast supporter of the Republican party, but he never sought political office for himself. During the war his influence was felt upon the loyal side, and it was not through a lack of patriotism that he did not go to the front in person, but although he volunteered his services as a surgeon, and was commissioned by Gov. Curtin, he was finally rejected on account of his frail physique. On November 30, 1854, Dr. Philip T. Musser was married, in Millheim, to Miss Mary J. Mumbauer, who was born in Penn township, Centre county, January 2, 1832, the only child of Peter and Mary (Krumrine) Mumbauer, who both died at Aaronsburg and were buried there. Her father came from Bucks county, Penn., to this section in early life, and became an extensive farmer and a representative citizen. Mrs. Musser is still living at the family residence at Aaronsburg, a comfortable home, and is one of the most highly respected residents of that place. Three children also survive, to whom were given every educational advantage which could be obtained, the father thinking no sacrifice too great which would secure for them the opportunities which he had vainly desired for himself. His efforts in their behalf were not wasted, and all occupy honorable and useful positions in society. The eldest, Ella, was graduated from the female seminary at Lewisburg, Penn.; she married Rev. A. J. Irey, a Baptist minister of Warren, Penn. The youngest of the trio, Harvey, is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College, and of the law department of Michigan University; he is now a practicing attorney at Akron, Ohio. Dr. Musser was the second child and first son of his parents. His education was begun in Millheim, one of his early teachers being Israel Musser. When a lad of ten he accompanied the family to Aaronsburg, where he grew to manhood, and the rudimentary education received in the common schools of that town was supplemented with a course in the Aaronsburg Academy, an excellent institution. He also attended Penn Hall Academy, also a popular school. In the fall of 1873, he attended Dickinson Seminary, at Williamsport, Penn., for two years, and in the fall of 1875 he entered Franklin and Marshall College, at Lancaster, Penn., and was graduated in 1878. In the fall of the same year he began his professional studies in the Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, and in 1880 received his degree of M.D. from that school. Under the firm name of P. T. Musser & Son he began his practice with his father at Aaronsburg, and their partnership lasted until the latter's death. In 1882 our subject took a post-graduate course at Jefferson Medical College, and in 1884 availed 378 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. himself of the opportunity for further study in advanced lines at the Philadelphia Polyclinic. As will be inferred, Dr. Musser is an untiring student of his chosen science. In May, 1885, he sailed from New York on the Red Star liner "Westerland," and on landing at Antwerp he proceeded to Vienna, where he spent a year in the "Vienna General Hospital" and the Polyclinic. Before his return to the United States he visited, as a tourist, other parts of Europe, including England, seeing the leading cities and most noted scenery. The voyage home was taken on the "Germanic," of the White Star line. Dr. Musser's progressive spirit is recognized among his professional brethren, and he is a welcome member of various societies - the Centre County Medical Society; the Pennsylvania Medical Society; the West Branch Medical Society; the Northwestern Medical Society of Philadelphia; the American Medical Association; and the American Academy of Medicine. He was a member of the Ninth International Medical Congress, which convened in Washington in 1887, and of the Pan- American Medical Congress in 1893. He also belongs to the American Academy of Social and Political Science, the headquarters of which are at Philadelphia, and at present he is one of the consulting staff of the Philipsburg Hospital, a State Institution at Philipsburg, Penn., and now U. S. Examining Surgeon for Pensions at Bellefonte, Penn. Socially he is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Centre Hall, of the Commandery at Bellefonte, and of the well-known college fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi. So far he has not donned the Hymeneal yoke. The Doctor is no politician, but he takes keen interest in the success of the Republican principles, and has represented his township at conventions and in the central committee of his county, while his advice is sought and heeded in every emergency.