G. W. Musselman.—Among the successful farmers and businessmen of Hensley Township, few stand as high in the estimation of the public as the gentleman for whom this biographical sketch is prepared. The Musselman family was early represented in Johnson County, and the name appears frequently in connection with the early county legislation. Henry Musselman, father of G. W., was a native of Kentucky, and of German descent. He moved to Johnson County in 1822, before the organization went into effect, and for a number of years was prominently identified with the growth and development of the country. He died a number of years ago at a good old age, having outreached the allotted three score years and ten. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Dunn, was also a native of Kentucky. She faithfully discharged the duties of life throughout more years than usually fall to the lot of woman, and sleeps by the side of her husband in the old Lick Springs graveyard, Nineveh Township. Henry and Sarah Musselman had a family of ten children, seven sons and four daughters, only four of the number now living, all residents of this township. G. W. Musselman was born on the 30th day of October, 1826, and has been a resident of Johnson County all his life. His early educational training embraced a few months’ attendance in such schools as the country afforded, and amid the rugged duties of farm life, he early learned those lessons of industry and economy by which his later years have been characterized. On the 31st day of July, 1845, he married Miss Rebecca Smyser, of Oldham County, Ky., daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Deadman) Smyser, and shortly thereafter purchased a tract of land, consisting of eighty acres, from which he in time cleared and developed a farm. He disposed of the place in 1853, and purchased the farm upon which he now resides, consisting of 280 acres. This represents the fruits of his own industry, as he began life with little capital, save a well-formed purpose to succeed. He is now one of the representative farmers and stock-raisers of Johnson County, and is an intelligent and public-spirited citizen, and has been called from time to time to fill positions of trust by the people of Henley Township. He served as assessor several terms, and for sixteen years held the office of township trustee, to which he has again been elected, a fact which attests his great popularity with the people, independent of political affiliation. Mr. Musselman is essentially a self-made man, and as such ranks with the leading citizens of the county. He is a sociable gentleman, and numbers his friends by the score within his own neighborhood and elsewhere. He stands high in Masonry, and politically, has always been an earnest supporter of the democratic party. July 31, 1887, was the forty-seventh anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Musselman. They have had six children, whose names are as follows: Sarah A., wife of H. P. Durbin; Martha J., widow of J. Winchester; Ambrose F., Matilda K., Ira F. and William E., the last four living with their parents.

Transcribed by Cheryl Zufall Parker

Banta, D. D. History of Johnson County, Indiana. Chicago, IL: Brant & Fuller, 1888, page 710.