William Muffley was one of the early settlers in Butler Co., Iowa. He settled there in 1856, and lived there until 1862, when he enlisted in Company G, 32nd Iowa Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. He, with his regiment, was in the battles of Fort De Russey, Pleasant Hill, Tupelo and Nashville. In the battle of Fort Blakely he was wounded in the shoulder. After his discharge he returned to Waverly, Iowa and has since made his home with his son.

Mr. Muffley was born in North Hampton Co., Penn., in 1810. When quite young he went to Danville, Livingston Co., N. Y. where he learned the trade of shoemaker, and afterwards lived in Ontario, Monroe, Erie and Niagara counties. In Niagara county he learned the trade of tanner, and followed that trade for several years. Going to Stueben county he there, in 1833, married Nancy Madison, a native of New York State. They went to Allegany Co., N. Y., lived there a few years, then returned to Steuben county and remained there until 1856, when they removed and settled in Butler Co., Iowa.

His son, William H., was born in Steuben Co., N. Y., Dec. 18, 1836. He made his home with his parents until 1862 when he went south with the 21st Massachusetts Volunteers, as a sutler. Six months afterwards he returned and located at Waverly, He bought the Waverly House and kept hotel six years. He was married Dec. 4, 1869, to Fannie Lashbrook, a native of McHenry Co., Illinois. They located at Osage, Mitchell Co., Iowa, where Mr. Muffley built the first elevator in that city and engaged in the grain business. They lived in Osage until 1881, when he purchased a farm on sections 12 and 13 in Rock township, and moved there with his family. He is still in grain trade at Osage, In 1878 he bought 680 acres of wild land which is located in Wisner and Morgan townships, Franklin county. He has put the most of this land under cultivation.

Mr. and Mrs. William H. Muffley are the parents of three children -- Henry Water, Mabel and Myrtle Estella. Mrs. Muffley's sister Lina made her home with them until 1883, when she was married to Herbert Mendell, of Franklin Co., Iowa.

 

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From: History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, Iowa, 1883; pages 467 & 468

Transcribed by Gordon Felland, March 2005.