John Moser
John Moser, a prominent farmer of Smith township, Laclede Co., Mo, was born in Campbell County, Tenn., April 15, 1816, being the son of Allen and Susannah Moser, natives of South Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. The father followed farming and blacksmithing for a lively hood and was a Democrat in his political opinions. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, was a member of the Baptist Church, and died during the late war, over eighty years of age. His father served in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Susannah Moser died in the year 1850. She was the mother of twelve children, all of whom lived to be grown; but seven are now living. John Moser was the fourth child in order of birth. He was reared on his father's farm in Campbell County, and when twenty-two years of age commenced business for himself. In 1841 he came to Missouri, by wagon, bringing with him his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Murry, and one child. He located in the fall of the same year where he has since lived. He had but $18.00 after locating on his place, and traded a wagon for his claim, which was 120 acres of bottom land. By hard work and good management he has increased this to 225 acres of good land, with 150 under cultivation. He remained at home during the war; was a Union man, and a Democrat in his political views, although now he is independent. His wife died in 1844, leaving one child, Henry, who died in the Federal army in the fall of 1861. Mr. Moser was married the second time to Miss Lucy Elizabeth Mayfield, daughter of James Mayfield. Mrs. Moser died in 1878, and left a family of three children: James, Margaret and John. Margaret died, leaving three children; James is living in Kansas City, and John lives on the old home place. John J. Moser and son farm their land. The latter was born on the home place in 1859, and has always been at home. He was married to Miss Emily J. May, a native of Kentucky, born in 1862, and the daughter of Robert and Ellen May. Ellen May died when her daughter was a small child, and the father is living in Dakota Territory. To John Moser, Jr. and wife, were born five children: Lucy A., Charley W., George A., Harrison and Ida L. Mr. Moser is a member of the Agricultural Wheel, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
J.N.E. Moser
From the book titled "History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries and Osage Counties, Missouri" 1889 Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Co. Page 985
J. N. E. Moser, a farmer, is a native of Saxony, Germany, his birth occurring in Hockeroda, Fuerstenthum Schwarzburg, Rudolstall, on the 23rd of March, 1832. His father, John C. E. Moser. was the a farmer and distiller in his native land, but thinking he could better his condition he, in 1836, sailed for America, and landed at New York City, but after remaining one year In that city he returned to Germany, and in 1838 came back to America, bringing with him his eldest son, John C. E., Jr. They came west to Missouri, and purchased land in Cooper County, near Boonville, in what is now Moniteau County, and also purchased a farm near Moniteau Creek. In 1846 he brought his family from Germany, and established them on his farm, and in 1850 he and his eldest son started for the State of California, taking the overland trip, but while on the plains the son was taken ill and died, and is buried there. The father continued his journey, and was engaged in mining in California until 1857, when he died, and was buried in that State. His wife, whose maiden name was Magdalena E. Reichenbacher, died in 1886, in her eighty-third year. She and Mr. Moser were the parents of four children, only two of whom are living.: J. N. E. and Christiana. The widow married again, and by her second husband became the mother of two children. J. N. E. Moser was about fourteen years of age when he left his native country, in 1846, and after remaining in Missouri until 1852, he followed his father to the State of California; in 1853 they both went to Oregon, and each took up a land claim of 160 acres in Umpqua valley; went back to California the same year, where he followed the occupation of mining until 1859. He then returned to his home in Moniteau County, and followed farming. In 1862 he enlisted in the Enrolled Missouri Militia as second lieutenant, being afterward commissioned Captain of Company E, Forty-third Regiment Enrolled Missouri Militia, and served until the fall of 1863. Since that time his attention has been spent in farming and liquor dealing, and also spent a considerable period in lead mining. He owns some real estate, and considerable town property in California, but is now living retired from the active duties of life, and enjoying the fruits of his early industry. In 1868 he was elected county treasurer, which office he held one term, and was also a member of the city council during 1872 and 1873. He is 5 member of the I 0.0. F. and the A. O. U. W. In the year 1859 he wedded Miss Caroline Kirschman, a native of Cooper County, by whom he has seven children, all living.
Adolphus Musser
, Jr. From the book titled " History of Johnson County Missouri" By Ewing Cockrell, illustrated. Historical Publishing Company, Topeka Cleveland, 1918. Pages 620-622.
Adolphus Musser, Jr., successful attorney-at-law and merchant of Holden, Missouri, is a native of Platte county, Missouri. Mr. Musser was born near Parkville ill 1874. He is a son of Adolphus, Sr. and Adeline (Wilkinson) Musser, the former of whom was a native of Harrison county, Kentucky, and the latter a native of Richmond, Ray county, Missouri. The Musser family is an old and prominent family in the annals of American history, especially that part of history which relates to the settlement and development of the Southland. The grandmother of Adolphus Musser was a member of the Jones family of Virginia, which family gave to the country America's first great sea-commander, John Paul Jones of Revolutionary fame. His paternal grand-father was a son of a Revolutionary soldier. The first settlement of the family was made in the state of Pennsylvania. A brother of Adolphus Musser, Sr. was Colonel Richard H. Musser, of Civil War fame, who served under Governor Jackson and General Price as colonel of the Ninth Missouri Infantry. He was judge advocate of the Third Division of the Confederate army and after the war practiced law in St. Louis with great success. He prosecuted several important cases before the International Joint Commission at Washington which had the settlement of the damage cases growing out of depredations committed by Mexicans against American citizens. The Mexican government was sued for the murder of General Parsons, Colonel Standish, and Colonel Conrow by Mexican citizens. Colonel Musser successfully prosecuted these cases and received as his fee the sum of $143,000. He died in St. Joseph, Missouri, at the age of sixty-nine years, in 1898. The parents of Adolphus Musser, Jr., located first near Plattsburg, Clinton county, Missouri, and the father engaged in the practice of law. He was also a newspaper man of note and founded the Cynthiana "Democrat" at Cynthiana, Kentucky; the Carrollton "Democrat," Carrollton, Missouri; and the "Brunswicker," at Brunswick, Missouri. He died at Plattsburg, Missouri, and there the widowed mother still resides. Three sons of Adolphus Musser, Sr., are now living; Adolphus Musser, Jr., subject of this review; Richard H., an attorney at Plattsburg, Missouri; Joshua James, a merchant at Durango, California.
Adolphus Musser, Jr., subject of this review, was reared at Plattsburg and graduated from Plattsburg College when but fourteen years of age. He was the youngest student to graduate from that institution in its entire history. After securing his classical education he entered the Kansas City School of Law and graduated therefrom in 1903 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He began the practice of the legal profession at Plattsburg and after remaining in his home city for a time he came to Holden in 1911. His success as a legal practitioner has been marked since taking up his residence in Johnson county. Mr. Musser has also been engaged in the mercantile business and conducts one of the leading stores of Holden, in which dry goods, mens', and ladies' furnishings are retailed.
Mr. Musser was married in 1903 to Virginia Smith, of Kansas City, Missouri, and to this union has been born one child ; Richard, who is ten years of age.
Mr. Musser is a Democrat, politically, and is one of the leaders of his party in Missouri. He is serving his second term as a member of the State Democratic Central Committee and during 1916 was a member of the State Executive Committee. He is religiously associated with the Presbyterian church of Holden and is fraternally affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Musser is one of the "live wires" of Johnson county, a man noted for his profound knowledge of law, foresight, acumen, and decided business ability. His geniality and accomodating disposition have won him many friends throughout this section of Missouri.
