BIO: John J. MUSSER, Centre County, PA

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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.
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  JOHN J. MUSSER. The representatives of the farming interests of 
Centre county acknowledge this gentleman as one of the most progressive 
and energetic agriculturists of Spring township.  He is a man of more 
than ordinary business capacity, intelligent and well-informed, and has 
identified himself with all enterprises which have for their object the 
advancement of the community.
  Our subject was born in Brush Valley, Penn., March 31, 1829, a son of 
John and Susan (Fiedler) Musser, who were natives of Penn's Valley, 
Centre county.  The latter was a daughter of Jacob Fiedler, a farmer by 
occupation, who was born in Pennsylvania of German lineage.  The 
paternal grandfather of our subject, Philip Musser, was a farmer of 
Penn's Valley.  In his family were nine children: Philip (now 
deceased), who married, and reared a family; David, who died on the old 
homestead in Centre county; Catharine, wife of Michael Musser; Barbara, 
wife of John Harter; Sarah, wife of George Schwartz; Pollie, who 
married George Elgin, and died in Stephenson county, Ill.; Elizabeth, 
who married John Housman, and died in Ohio; Mary, deceased; and John, 
the father of our subject.
  The last named was reared upon a farm at Spring Mills, Centre county, 
and followed the carpenter's trade until 1830, when he located upon his 
maternal grandfather's farm, a mile above Coburn, Centre county, and 
engaged in its operation.  He was born in 1794, and departed this life 
at the age of eighty-seven years and six months.  Ten children 
constituted his family, namely: Philip, now a resident of Stephenson 
county, Ill.; Catharine, wife of Jo Keller, of Iowa; Mollie, wife of 
George Breen, of Lena, Ill.; Rebecca, wife of W. Kerlin; John J., of 
this review; Mrs. Susan Wetzel, of Spring township, Centre county; 
Samuel, who was quartermaster in the 148th P. V. I. during the 
Rebellion, and is now a resident of Scranton, Penn.; Michael,

382  COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

who was a member of Anderson's Cavalry in the same war, and is now 
living in Aaronsburg, Centre county; Israel, who belonged to Company D, 
148th P. V. I., and died in the service; and Mary, wife of William 
Schuch, a Lutheran minister.
  Mr. Musser, whose name introduces this sketch, secured a good 
education in the public schools of Centre county, attending school 
where now is located the city of Bellefonte.  In 1857 he was joined in 
wedlock with Miss Nancy Jane Baird, a native of this section of the 
State, who died at the age of forty-two years.  Three children were 
born to them: Frank W., who married Minnie Rhinesmith (now deceased), 
by whom he had one child - John Baird; Eva, wife of Dr. Kirk, by whom 
she has three children - Harold, Norman and Lois; and Carrie, wife of 
Daniel Rhinesmith, of Clearfield, Penn., by whom she has two children - 
Mary and Nannie.  For his second wife, Mr. Musser wedded Sarah J. 
Miller, and they have one daughter, Katie S., living at home.
  Mr. Musser never left the parental roof, but as soon as he had 
obtained sufficient capital purchased most of the old homestead farm in 
Spring township, where he still resides, having 103 acres of valuable 
and productive land near the city of Bellefonte.  Its neat and thrifty 
appearance plainly shows its careful supervision, and the cultivated 
taste and ample means of the owner.  On casting his first Presidential 
vote, Mr. Musser supported Henry Clay, and continued to affiliate with 
the Whig party until its dissolution, since which time he has been an 
ardent Republican.  He is a Presbyterian in religious belief, and a 
member of the Grange.  Public-spirited and enterprising, he aids all 
worthy enterprises tending to promote the welfare of the community, and 
is assuredly deserving of a place among the prominent citizens of 
Spring township.