Birth Date: Census entries, particularly 1860 U.S.864 census in which Mary Elizabeth is 3 years old, seem to indicate a birthdate around 1857. 1880 census610 age of 21 would indicate a birth year of 1859; 1900 census936 age of 40 would indicate a birth year of 1860; and 1910 census951 age of 55 would indicate a year of 1855. Tombstone171, v. 2, bk. 1, p. 118. and obituary555 are consistent with birthdate of 1852, but are in conflict with 1860 U.S. census.

Birth Place: Cemetery records for Mary Elizabeth Ames Musser indicate a birthplace of "Larson, Michigan."171, v. 2, bk. 1, p. 118. Larson, Michigan, not located. However, sister Emma Helen Ames Harvey, born in December 1851, has birthplace of Bronson, Michigan according to Emma’s death certificate.1344 Contemporaneous articles mention that Emma Harvey was from "Coldwater, Michigan."1317 Both Bronson and Coldwater, Michigan are in Branch County. Assume that birthplace of both Mary Elizabeth and Emma Helen Ames was Bronson, Branch County, Michigan.

A 1917 biographical sketch of husband John F. Musser30, v. 2, p. 722. states, "His wife was born in Hornellsville, New York, in 1853, and died in January, 1916." Mary Elizabeth was born in Michigan, but her family have have originally come from the Hornellsville area.

1860 U.S. Census:864 Mary Elizabeth enumerated in the household of her father Cyrus Ames in Bronson, Branch County, Michigan as a female, age 3, born in Michigan.

1880 U.S. Census:610 Mary enumerated in household of her husband John F. Musser in Allen County, Ohio, as white female, age 21, wife, married, keeping house, born in Michigan, father born in Massachusetts, mother born in Pennsylvania.

1900 U.S. Census:936 Mary E. enumerated in the household of her husband John F. Musser in Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio, as 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.

1910 U.S. Census:951 Mary E. Ames enumerated in the household of her husband John Musser in Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio, as female, white, 55, married once for 31 years, 2 children, born in Michigan, father born in Michigan, mother born in Michigan.

1914 General Affidavit:1053 State of Indiana, County of Allen, in the matter of the widow, original claim no. 1,034,621 Mary E. Musser, widow of John Musser, Co. C, 6th Regiment, California Volunteer Infantry and Co. H, 8th Regiment, U.S. Cavalry, on this 5th day of December 1914 personally appeared before me, a Notary Public, in and for the aforesaid County, duly authorized to administer oaths, Timothy Livsky, aged 67 years, a resident of Fort Wayne in the County of Allen and State of Indiana, whose Post Office is 1305 Fisher Street, Fort Wayne Indiana, and Charles Karbaum, aged 59 years, a resident of Fort Wayne in the County of Allen and State of Indiana, whose Post Office is no. 432 Elizabeth Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana, well known to be reputable and entitled to credit and who, being duly sworn, declared in relation to aforesaid case as follows: That we are well and personally acquainted with the above named claimant, Mary E. Musser, widow of John Musser, with whom we were also well and personally acquainted; having known said claimant before she became of marriageable age; we knew her when she was known and recognized as a young and unmarried girl, Miss Mary E. Ames, and that we further testify that claimant was never married prior to her marriage to John Musser on or about December 3rd, 1878. The above statement is made from personal knowledge, acquaintance, and association to said claimant from the time above stated. We further declare that we have no interest in said case and are not concerned in its prosecution. Signed, Timothy Livsky, Charles Karbaum.

1914 Relocation to Akron, Ohio:176 Nathan Kerst, attorney for Mary E. Musser, notified Pension office that she changed her post office address to 378 Doyle Street, Akron, Ohio.

1916 Death Certificate:317 Mary E. Musser; female, white, married, date of birth unknown; died January 25, 1916; Toledo State Hospital; occupation housewife; born in New York; father Cyrus Ames, born in New York; mother Susan Zeiloff, born in New York; former place of residence Wapakoneta, Ohio; buried Wapakoneta, Ohio, Jan. 25, 1916.

1916 Obituary:555 Mary Elizabeth Musser. Mrs. Mary Musser, mother of Prosecuting Attorney John Musser, passed away at the Toledo State Hospital, Tuesday morning, Jan. 25, 1916. She had been suffering from a complication of diseases and it is thought that physical infirmities brought on her mental troubles. Mrs. Musser was born in Lima in 1852 and was 63 years old at the time of her death. She was married to John Musser in 1878, and the union was productive of two children: John Musser and Mrs. Katherine Wade of Akron. The husband died a year or more ago but the children survive. There is also one surviving sister, Mrs. Robt. Harvey, Lincoln, Nebraska. The body was brought to the Musser residence, 405 East Benton Street, where funeral services will take place this afternoon.

1916 Tombstone:171, v. 2, bk. 1, p. 118. Greenlawn Cemetery, Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio.
Musser, Mary E
b. 12-08-1852
d. 01-26-1916
63y 1m 17d