MUSSELMAN, James Polk

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Polk Mussleman [sic] was born July 6, 1854 [sic] and died May 2nd 1898. His father and one sister preceded him to the spirit world, his mother and one sister, Mrs. Bridges of near Trafalgar remain to mourn. Polk was his mother’s pride, yet stricken early in life by that fell destroyer consumption, his suffering was long and wearisome. The terrors of death passed from him before [he] calmly yielded to the inevitable. He called to his bedside all persons whom he owed, making final settlement with each thus showing his honesty to his fellow man. He was not a professor of Christianity, but several weeks before his death he became greatly interested in the sal­vation of his soul, asking his friends who were Christians to instruct and pray for him. He also sent for Rev. S. W. Troyer and asked for instruction concerning his future state. Becoming reconciled to God he expressed a great desire to meet his father and sister in the beautiful beyond. On May 2nd at 12:30 a.m. he quietly and peacefully passed to rest on the other side of the river of life. The funeral took place at the Christian church at Trafalgar May 4th, the sermon was preached by the Rev. S. W. Troyer of the M. E. church of Nineveh. Burial at Mt. Pleasant four miles east of Trafalgar.

S. W. T.    

Link to James Polk Musselman’s grave

Note:  The Johnson County Indiana WPA Death Index, 1882–1920, page 135, referencing Book H-18, page 31, records that Polk Musselman, a twenty-four-year-old white male, died 2 May 1898 in Johnson County.

Submitted by Mark McCrady and Cathea Curry