Biographical Sketch (1917):30, v. 2, p. 722. "John F. and Mary E. (Ames) Musser. John F. Musser was born in California in 1849, and died in September, 1914. His wife was born in Hornellsville, New York, in 1853, and died in January, 1916. They married in Allen County, Ohio. John F. Musser was a machinist by trade, followed that for a number of years, and was a splendid type of man and citizen. He had considerable military experience, being for two years a volunteer soldier in the Civil War and afterwards being connected with the regular army and engaged in several Indian campaigns in the West. He and his wife were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and fraternally he was affiliated with the Maccabees. There were two children, J. H. and his sister Katherine B. Katherine is the wife of C. E. Wade, who is connected with the National Bank Book & Supply Company at Akron, Ohio."

Birth Date:
1848:17, p. 22. Birth date on tombstone.
1849:176 John Musser gives birth date as September 28, 1849 at Sutterville, California, in pension declaration signed October 7, 1911.
1849:176 John Musser gives birth date as September 20, 1849 at Sutterville, California, in pension declaration signed May 21, 1912.
1849:176 Sister Kate Conroy gives birth date as September 28, 1849, in affidavit signed August 14, 1915.
1850:315 Age at death information on death certificate indicates birthdate would be September 27, 1850.
1850:171, v. 2, bk. 1, p. 118. Cemetery list gives birth as September 28, 1850 in Sacramento, California.
1851:315 Death certificate, issued Sept. 22, 1914, lists birth as Sept. 30, 1851 in Sacramento, California.

Birth Place:2518, p. 565. Sutterville: 2.25 miles south-southwest of downtown Sacramento along Southern Pacific Railroad. "The name recalls the town of Suttersville, later Sutterville, that John A. Sutter had laid out in 1844 on high ground about 2 miles south of his embarcadero; when the city of Sacramento developed at the embarcadero, Sutterville declined (Hoover, Rensch, and Rensch, p. 302). The original town is called Sutter on Derby’s (1849b) map, called Sutterville on Ringgold’s (1850b) map, and called Sutter City on Williamson’s (1849) map. Postal authorities established Sutter post office in 1855 and discontinued it in 1860 (Frickstad, p. 135). Camp Union was at the site during Civil War (Whiting and Whiting, p. 84)."

1850 U.S. Census:764 John is not enumerated with his father Christian Musser; Christian enumerated with a group of 10 miners.

1852 California State Census:126, p. 255. John enumerated in the household of Christian Musser as white male, age 3, born in California, last residence Sacramento.

1860 U.S. Census:765 John enumerated in household of his father Chris Musser as male, age 11, born in California.

1863/65 California Volunteer Infantry:8, p. 736.,767 6th Regiment, Co. C: John Musser. Rank: Bugler. Place of Enrollment: Marysville, Ca. Date of Enlistment: April 30, 1863. Date of Muster: June 10, 1863. Remarks: Discharged at Presidio, S.F., Dec. 15, 1865, with Co.

1863 Muster-In Roll:1055 John Musser, Bugler, Co. C, 6th Regiment California Infantry, age 14 years, appears on Company Muster-In Roll of the organization named above. Roll dated Benicia Barracks, California, 20 October 1863; muster-in to date 10 June 1863. Joined for duty and enrolled: when, 13 April 1863; where, Marysville; period, 3 years. Bounty due, $25.00; remarks: mustered in at Benicia Barracks, California by Maj. D. Woodruff, 12th Infantry, 10 June 1863.

1863 Company Descriptive Book:1055 John Musser, Co. C., 6th Regiment California Infantry, appears on Company Descriptive Book of the organization named above. Description: age, 14 years; height, 5 feet, 0 inches; complexion, light; eyes, dark; hair, dark; where born, Sutter County, California; occupation, farmer. Enlistment: when, 30 April 1863; where, Marysville, California; by whom, Capt. Buckley; term, 3 years.

1863/65 Muster Roll:1055 John Musser marked as present on all company muster rolls from May / June 1863 through Sept. / Oct. 1865.

1865 Muster-Out Roll:1055 John Musser, Bugler, Co. C, 6th Regiment California Infantry, age 14 years, appears on Company Muster-Out Roll, dated Benicia Barracks, 15 December 1865, muster-out to date 15 December 1865, last paid to 31 August 1865. Clothing account: last settled, 31 October 1864; due solider $37.15; bounty due $75.00; remarks: enlisted as bugler.

1865/67 Family:1051 George W. Musser brother of John F. Musser, affirms that during this approximate time period he associated with John F. Musser.

1867 Declaration of Recruit:189 "I, John Musser, desiring to enlist in the Army of the United States, for the term of five years, do declare, that I am eighteen years and — months of age; that I have neither wife nor child; that I have never been discharged from the United States service on account of disability or by sentence of a court-martial, or by order before the expiration of the term of enlistment; and I know of no impediment to my serving honestly and faithfully as a soldier for three years." Given at Benicia Barracks, Cal., the 27th day of May 1867. Witness: W. DuThierry. Signed: John Musser.

1867 Father’s Consent:189 "I, Christian Musser, do certify, that I am the father of said John Musser; that the said John Musser is eighteen year of age; and I do hereby freely give my consent to his enlisting as a soldier in the Army of the United States for the period of five years." Given at Benicia Barracks, Cal., the 27th day of May 1867. Witness: W. DuThierry. Signed: Christian Musser.

1867 Military Service:176 "In the case of John Musser, Troop H, 8 Reg't U.S. Cavalry the records show personal description as follows: Age 18, height 5 feet, 7 inches, complexion dark, eyes dark, hair brown, place of birth Sutterville, California, occupation blacksmith."

1867 Military Service:189 State of California, Town of Benicia. "I, John Musser, born in Sutterville in the State of California, aged eighteen years, and by occupation a blacksmith, do hereby acknowledge to have voluntarily enlisted this twenty seventh day of May 18—, as a soldier in the Army of the United States of America, for the period of five years, unless sooner discharged by proper authority; Do also agree to accept such bounty, pay, rations, and clothing, as are, or may be, established by law. And I, John Musser, do solemnly swear, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America, and that I will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposers whomsoever; and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the Rules and Articles of War." Sworn and subscribed to, at Benicia, Cal., this 27th day of May, 18—, before S. P. Smith, Capt. 8th U.S. Cav. Signed: John Musser.

1867 Military Service:1056 Musser, John; May 1867; Sutterville, California, age 18; blacksmith; dark eyes; dark complexion; Troop H, 8th Regiment; Discharged Discharged May 27, 1872, expiration of service, a trumpeter.

1867/72 Military Service:1056 "War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D.C. June 25, 1891, Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions. It appears from the records of this office that John Musser was enlisted on the 27th day of May, 1867, at Benicia, Cal, and was assigned to Troop H, 8th Regiment of U.S. Cavalry. Discharged May 27, 1872, expiration of service, Fort Tularosa, New Mexico, trumpeter."

1873 Military Discharge:176 John Musser states he was discharged on the 27th day of May 1873 at Fort Tularosa, [New Mexico] in Declaration for Pension signed 21 May 1912.

1872/1911 Residences:176 "That his several places of residence since leaving the service have been as follows: Benicia, California until enlistment in the Regular Army; Decatur, Ind.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Lima, Ohio; Sidney, Ohio; and Wapakoneta, Ohio, of which now I am a resident. Signed: John Musser."

1878 Fort Wayne, Indiana City Directory:33 Musser, John, w[or]ks spoke factory, b[oar]ds W. M. Cutler.

1878 Marriage:1052 Marriage of John Musser and Mary E. Ames in Allen County, Ohio on 3 December 1878.

1880 U.S. Census:610
Allen County, Ohio (Lima, 4th Ward)
Enumerated 1 June 1880
John Musser •• white, male, 30, married, work in factory, born in California, father born in Germany, mother born in Ireland
Mary •• white, female, 21, wife, married, keeping house, born in Michigan, father born in Massachusetts, mother born in Pennsylvania
John H •• white, male, 2 months, born in March, son, single, born in Ohio, father born in California, mother born in Michigan

1900 U.S. Census:936
Auglaize County, Ohio (Duchouquet Township, Wapakoneta)
Enumerated 8 June 1900
Benton Street
John F. Musser •• head, white, male, born Sep. 1849, age 50, married 21 years, born in California, father born in Germany, mother born in Ireland, machinist, employed all year, can read, can write, can speak English, owned home, free of mortgage, house
Mary E. •• wife, white, female, born Dec. 1859, age 40, married 21 years, born in Michigan, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in New York, can read, can write, can speak English
John H. •• son, white, male, born Mar. 1880, age 20, single, born in Ohio, father born in California, mother born in Michigan, law student, can read, can write, can speak English
Catharine B •• daughter, white, female, born Sep. 1882, age 17, single, born in Ohio, father born in California, mother born in Michigan, at high school for 9 months, can read, can write, can speak English

1910 U.S. Census:951
Auglaize County, Ohio (Wapakoneta)
Enumerated 5 May 1910
John Musser •• head, male, white, 60, married once for 31 years, born in California, father born in California, mother born in California, native language English, machinist in machine shop, able to read, able to write, owns home free of mortgage
Mary E. •• wife, female, white, 55, married once for 31 years, 2 children born of this marriage, 2 children still living, born in Michigan, father born in Michigan, mother born in Michigan, native language English, able to read, able to write

1914 Death Certificate:315 Place of death: County of Auglaize, City of Wapakoneta. John Musser. Male; white; married; born Sep.30, 1857; 63 yrs, 11 months, 24 days; machinist. Birthplace: Sacramento, California; father: Christerfor Musser; birthplace of father: Europe; maiden name of mother: don't know. Informant: John Musser, Wapakoneta, Ohio. Date of death: Sept. 21, 1914.

1914 Obituary:789 The death of John Musser Sr., one of Wapakoneta's best known residents, occurred at the family home on East Benson Street Monday, September 27, 1914, at one o'clock. The deceased was born in Sacramento, California, September 28, 1850, and passed away at the age of 63 years, 11 months and 24 days. When he was a lad of 13 years old he, with his father, enlisted in the Civil War, the lad going as a bugler, and served with the boys in blue two years and seven months. He received an honorable discharge at the close of the war.

1914 Tombstone:17, p. 22. Greenlawn Cemetery, Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio.
Musser, John Sr.
1848-1914
Civil War Vet
Sept. 21, 1914
Co. C, 6th California Vol. Inf.