A. Milton Musser

Amos Milton Musser (May 20, 1830–September 24, 1909) was a Mormon pioneer who served in many church and community roles, including as an Assistant Church Historian of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1902 until his death. [Jenson, Andrew. "Encyclopedic History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1941) p. 140]

Early life

Musser was born at Donegal, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. [http://jared.pratt-family.org/parley_family_histories/amos_musser_history.html Amos Milton Musser History] .] Musser's father Samuel Musser died when he was two years old. The family moved to the vicinity of Quincy, Illinois in 1837. By this time his mother had gotten remarried to Abraham Bitner. [http://jared.pratt-family.org/parley_family_histories/amos_musser_obituary.html Obituaries of A. Milton Musser] .] When Musser was about 16 he was in the Battle of Nauvoo and then was driven with his mother and siblings into Iowa.Jenson. "LDS Biographical Encyclopedia". vol. 3, p. 765] After he left Nauvoo Musser worked as a store clerk in Eddyville, Iowa. Musser was not baptized until he arrived at Council Bluffs, Iowa in 1851.

Church service

On arriving in Utah Territory in 1851 as part of the Easton Kelsey Company, [ [http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/library/pioneercompanysources/0,16272,4019-1-175,00.html Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, 1847–1868] .] Musser became a clerk in the tithing office. [http://history.utah.gov/FindAids/B00096/B0096.XML The Musser Family Papers, 1852-1967] .] The following year Musser was among the early Latter-day Saint missionaries to travel to India. R. Lanier Britsch's book "Nothing More Heroic" [(ISBN 9781573455657)] on this early LDS Church mission in India was written as if narrated by Musser. After this mission he returned to Utah in the William G. Young Company of 1857.

From 1860 to 1876 Musser served as a traveling bishop in Utah. He was one of the most active traveling bishops and would visit all the major settlements in Utah at least twice a year. [D. Gene Pace, [http://byustudies.byu.edu/shop/pdfsrc/23.2Pace.pdf "Changing Patterns of Mormon Financial Administration: Traveling Bishops, Regional Bishops, and Bishop's Agents, 1851–88"] , "BYU Studies" 23:2 (1983).]

In 1876, he was appointed assistant trustee-in-trust of the church. Shortly after this he was sent on a mission to the eastern United States.

Musser had served for several years as a clerk in the Church Historians office prior to his appointment as Assistant Church Historian in 1902.

Community service in Utah

Musser held several positions with the Deseret Agricultural and Manufacturing society. He was connected with the Utah Bee Association and the Utah Silk Association. Musser was one of the incorporators of Zion's Bank and Trust company. He was also involved with promoting several plans to build railroads. Musser served for a time as a correspondent of the "Deseret Evening News". [Ronald W. Walker, [http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=87d1759235d0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 “‘We Must Keep One Another’,”] , "Ensign", June 2001, 44, n.26.] While serving as traveling bishop Musser served as the general superintendent of the Deseret Telegraph Company. Musser served as Fish and Game Commissioner of Utah Territory from the late 1870s through the early 1890s.

Personal life and legacy

Musser married his first wife Ann Leaver on January 31 1858. Musser also married Mary Elizabeth White in 1864, Belinda Marden Pratt in 1872 and Anna Seegmiller in 1874. Belinda was a daughter of Parley P. Pratt. Musser is the father of Joseph White Musser, who became a leader in the Mormon fundamentalist movement.

He wrote several pamphlets in defense of the faith of the Latter-day Saints. Musser died of "surgical shock" in Salt Lake City, Utah at age 79. [ [http://images.archives.utah.gov/data/81448/2229321/2229321_0001495.jpgState of Utah Death Certificate] ]

The community of Milton in Morgan County, Utah was named for A. Milton Musser. [http://images.uen.org/ucme/media/text/ta002560.txt]

References