For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 159
PETER MILLER MUSSER. Peter Miller Musser was born in Whitehall, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, April 3 1841. His parents were John and Casiah ( Miller ) Musser, whose family numbered three children, Kate, Peter and Lizzie. The parents were natives of Adamstown, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and of original Pennsylvania Dutch stock, and the whole community in which they lived used the language of that people in all of the ordinary transactions with each other. The father was a merchant throughout his business life, first at Whitehall and afterward in Adamstown, to which place he removed in 1848, there opening a general store, which he conducted until he retired from business in 1875.Peter M. Musser had only a common-school education and when out of school and during vacations he was in the store, assisting his father, who handled all kinds of merchandise and bought and sold all kinds of produce, so that the training proved a splended school of business for the son. The father was a very methodical man and it was while with him that P. M. Musser learned many things which were a great help to him all of his business life. One of the points that his father insisted on was that everything should have its regular place so that if he wanted something even in the dark he could put his hands upon it. The training of the son was therefore one that qualified him for systematic management, methodical work and thoroughness in all that he did. He continued with his father until twenty-two years of age, then left his home and came to Muscatine, Iowa, in March, 1863. Here he worked with his uncles, Richard and Peter Musser, in their lumber business and after spending about a year in Muscatine removed to Iowa City in 1864. His uncle, Peter Musser, who had charge of the yard there decided to sell out on account of poor health and P. M. Musser at that time bought an interest in the yard and was in charge of the business there as long as he lived in Iowa City. The sales of this yard amounted to from sixty-five thousand to one hundred and forty-three thousand dollars per annum and the business was very successful. There were few railroad lines in Iowa at that day and trade extended in all directions from twenty- five to fifty miles or more.
On the 19th of December, 1865, Mr. Musser was united in marriage to Miss Julia Elizabeth Hutchinson, a daughter of Robert and Julia M. Hutchinson, of Iowa City. Four children were born unto them, Cliff, Laura, Helen and John, but the second named died in infancy. The last two, both bright and beautiful children, were stricken with diphtheria at the same time in the winter of 1888 and died, the one a day after the other, Helen being thirteen and John six years of age. The loss of these children left a blank in the homes and lives of the parents which time has not been able to fill.
In 1869 Mr. Musser became interested as a solid partner with John W. Porter in the lumber business at Iowa City and in 1873 they purchased the yard of R. Musser & Company and assumed the firm name of Musser & Porter, which was continued until the death of Mr. Porter in 1883. In 1871 the firm of R. Musser & Company built their sawmill on the bank of the Mississippi river in South Muscatine, Iowa, and from the establishment of the enterprise P. M. Musser was one of the stockholders. About 1873 he left the business in Iowa City largely in charge of Mr. Porter, spending most of the week at the mill in Muscatine and his Sundays at home. In 1875 he removed to Muscatine, residing at first on East Front street and in 1886 removed to West Second street, where he now resides in a lovely home on the bluff overlooking a beautiful view of the Muscatine river and the surrounding country.
In management of the business at Muscatine his uncles, Richard and Peter Musser, took care of the manufacturing department, while P. M. Musser had general charge of the office and the sale of the products of the sawmill. The business of the Mussers in Muscatine was established in 1855 under the firm name of Hoch, Musser & Company, but Mr. Hoch withdrew in 1858 and the firm name was changed to R. Musser & Company and again in 1873 to P. M. Musser & Company on account of the withdrawal of Richard Musser. Then again in 1876 Richard Musser once more took an interest in the business and the firm name of Musser & Company was adopted. The Musser Lumber Company was organized in 1881, taking over all the assets of Musser & Company. The officers of the new company were: Peter Musser, president; Richard Musser, vice president; P. M. Musser, secretary and treasurer; and C. R. Fox, yard superintendent, while John Musser of Adamstown, Pennsylvania, was the only other stockholder. Each of these parties held his office as long as he lived. Richard and John Musser both died in 1896, Charles R. Fox, in 1904, and Peter Musser in 1910, so that at the present time P. M. Musser is the only surviving member of the original company. The supply of logs for the sawmill having been exhausted, the mill was shut down in 1905, dismantled and the business has been practically closed up except that the company still owns the real estate, consisting of the grounds and office. Mr. Musser is also president of the Muscatine State Bank, formerly the Cook, Musser & Company State Bank,which was established under the name of Silverman, Cook & Company, on the 1st of February, 1870. The Musser State Bank is now occupying its beautiful new building on the corner of Iowa avenue and Second street, where business has been carried on from the beginning.
By nature Mr. Musser is very generous and he is known as one of the most liberal of the citizens of Muscatine, giving largely to all the religious and benevolent work which appeals to him as worthy and also contributing freely to any individual movement. He was a liberal contributor to the Old Ladies Home and built the fine and commodious public library of the city. He also built a beautiful chapel as a memorial to his mother and father at the old home in Adamstown, Pennsylvania. One of his strongly marked characteristics is that he cannot bear to see anything go to waste. He can lose a large sum of money in some investment and preserve his usual equanimity but if he sees a board broken without good cause or a shingle or lath thrown out in the wood pile, which should have been utilized, his patience is sorely tried. He loves a good horse and also thoroughly enjoys his automobile, making many trips to the surrounding towns and cities. He enjoys travel and in the fall anf winter of 1909-10, accompanied by his wife, made a delightful trip around the world on the steamer Cleveland. For several years they have been spending the winter seasons at Coronado Beach, California. Mr. Musser is a Knights Templar and Scottish Rite Mason and also an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is now in the prime of life and, while he has never been a strong man physically, still he comes from a long lived ancestry and it is to be hoped that many years will yet be accorded him in which to enjoy his well earned fortune.
Back to Biographical Index Page