BIO: William H. 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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  WILLIAM H. MUSSER, agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at 
Spring Mills, Centre county, is a descendant of one of the oldest and 
most numerous families of Penn's Valley.  This family may be said to be 
divided into two factions, the Republican and Democrat.  Our subject 
comes of the former, who are as devout in their support of the 
doctrines of that party as the other faction is in support of 
Democratic principles.
  Mr. Musser was born on a farm near Spring Mills, Gregg township, July 
20, 1866, and is the eldest son and child of his parents, M. M. and 
Kate (Fisher) Musser, who moved to Haines township, Centre county, when 
he was quite young, and there he first attended school near Fiedler.  
He did not wish to take the collegiate course which his parents had 
decided upon but attended school in Bellefonte and Gettysburg.  In 1883 
he returned home, and being desirous of obtaining a good business 
education, he borrowed $200 of his uncle, Nicholas Harper, giving only 
his word for its return, but it has long since been paid in full.  With 
the money he thus obtained he paid his tuition in the Eastman Business 
College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he completed the prescribed 
course and received a diploma.
  In December 1884, Mr. Musser entered the office of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad Company at Spring Mills, as a student under Stephen Soars, the 
agent at that time and June 20, 1885 became extra agent and operator on 
a branch of that road.  He next, in April, 1866, took charge of the 
office at Nesbit, Penn., where he remained until the following 
February, when he was made weigh master at Williamsport, Penn., later 
serving as clerk in the freight office of that place.  In July, 1888, 
he was transferred to the office at Spring Mills, where he has since 
acted as agent and operator, and also agent for the Adams Express 
Company.
  In Centre Hall, July 21, 1890, Mr. Musser 

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  199

was married to Miss Clara S. Hettinger, of Spring Mills, daughter of 
Michael and Amelia (Grove) Hettinger, and they have one child, Marion 
K., born June 9, 1891.  Although a young man, Mr. Musser is recognized 
as one of the best and most enterprising citizens of Spring Mills, and 
is a credit to the excellent family to which he belongs.  He is a 
prominent and active member of the Lutheran Church, where at present he 
is serving as trustee, and socially is a Master Mason, affiliating with 
the lodge at Centre Hall.