BIO:  Henry R. Mosser, York County, PA

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, Fairview Township, Pg 100

HENRY R. MOSSER was born in Fairview Township, York County, July 14, 1828, to 
Benjamin H. and Elizabeth (Rupley) Mosser.  Dr. Benjamin Mosser, subject’s great-
grandfather, was a native of Berne, Switzerland.  Henry Mosser, subject’s 
grandfather, a blacksmith, farmer and preacher for the Dunkard Society, settled 
in Fairview Township in 1800; he married Susanna Neff, whose father owned the 
Columbia Ferry which Washington crossed when congress was convened at York; and 
on one occasion, this lady, when a child of ten years, had the honor of sitting 
on Washington’s knee while her mother was preparing breakfast.  One of her 
children, Dr. Daniel Mosser, became Bishop of the Mennonite Reformed Church of 
Lancaster County; another son, Rev. Joseph Mosser, is in Salem, Ill.  The father 
of our subject was born in 1862, was a farmer, owning 200 acres of land, also a 
lumber merchant; he was a prominent Whig, and was a member of the convention 
which nominated Gen. Scott for the presidency.  He died in 1859, aged fifty-
seven; his widow died in 1877, aged seventy-five years.  Henry R. Mosser was 
reared on the home farm, and at the age of twenty-one joined his father in the 
lumber business; his father withdrew in 1857, and from 1864 to 1868 the firm was 
known as Mosser & Coover, at New Cumberland.  In 1852 Mr. Mosser married Margaret 
A., daughter of Jacob Yocum, of York; her mother was a daughter of Gen. A. 
Duncan.  To this union were born two children:  Mettie and Rev. Benjamin H.  In 
1859 Mrs. M. died, and in 1863 Mr. Mosser married Jennie, daughter of John G. 
Miller, and to this union also two children have been born, Annie and John C.  
The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.