Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Page 979 

JOHN S. MUZZY, who was formerly engaged in the grocery, flour and feed trade, located in Wichita, came to this city in the year 1884, and being by trade a plasterer, was engaged as a contractor in this business for three years, then abandoned it and invested a part of his capital in the above commodities. Ashtabula County, Ohio, was the early tramping ground of our subject, and where his birth took place on the 2d of July, 1832. His parents, John G. and Ruth A. (Sweet) Muzzy, were natives of New York State, the father well educated, and engaged as a teacher and a lecturer on temperance for many years. In the latter work he was deeply interested, and published several books treating upon this subject. He left the Empire State before his marriage, and taught in the public schools of Ashtabula County, Ohio, many years. Upon his removal from there he settled in Marion County, Ill., where he occupied himself as before, and where his death took place in 1882. The mother followed her husband two years later, in 1884.

            To John G. and Ruth A. Muzzy, the parents of our subject, there were born five children, of whom only three are living, namely: Susan S., Mrs. Houts, of Effingham, Ill.; Nancy M., who also married a Mr. Houts, of Olney, Ill., and John S., of our sketch. The younger years of the latter, until he reached the age of thirteen, were spent mostly in school, and he then went to learn the trade of plasterer at Cincinnati, Ohio. After serving an apprenticeship of three years, during which he gained a thorough knowledge of the business, he began making contracts, and at some seasons gave employment to sixty men. He went to Illinois in 1850, settling in Marion County, whence he removed across the Mississippi in 1869. He first located at Topeka, this State, of which he became a resident on the 10th of June of the year mentioned, and where he remained until changing his residence to the city of Wichita. Since establishing himself in business here, on the 18th of October, 1887, he has been prosperous, and is the owner of considerable real estate. In this line also he has effected various transfers, and upon his own land in the city put up several houses.

            The marriage of our subject with Miss Selah Oglesby was celebrated at the home of the bride in 1853. This lady became the mother of one child, a daughter, whom they named Sarah A., and departed this life three years after her wedding, the child following a week after the death of the mother. Mr. Muzzy was subsequently married, Oct. 14, 1857, to Miss Jane Moore, who was born Oct. 8, 1837, in Baltimore, Md. This union resulted in the birth of four children, three living, namely: Sarah A., Edward S. and Nellie J. Mr. Muzzy, politically, is a solid Republican; socially, belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and as a business man and a citizen, represents the well-to-do element of the community. One important episode in the life of Mr. Muzzy should by no means be omitted. The second year of the war, and while a resident of Marion County, Ill., he enlisted in Company E, 111th Illinois Infantry, as a private, in which capacity he served eighteen months with great credit, and was then promoted to Second Lieutenant, and assigned to the 2d Tennessee Heavy Artillery. Eight months later he was commissioned First Lieutenant, and assigned to the 7th United States Colored Infantry, and remained in the service until the 12th of January, 1866, being stationed during the latter part of the war at Memphis, Tenn. He was mustered out at that place, and returned to his home. His subsequent course we have already indicated.

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