The Portland daily press., 1886-05-22
.Inian MuSSeY.

Abigail, daughter of VIM. Weeks, in 1S45
He built two story house on Middle street,
facing Union street in 1S49, in which his ten
children were born. He was halter and
had shop near his house. In his journal
for 177O Parson Smith: says, 81 bought hat
of Mr. Mussey paid him 20 shillings for it,
which Mrs. Cotton sent me-" Although Mr.
Musseys buildings escaped Mowatt's burn
ing in 1875, he removed to Standish soon
after where he had children settled, and died
there in 1887, aged &C. Mr.. Mussey's son
John, born in 1851, was an energetic ship
master, and occupied the Falmouth home
stead. In 1899 he built two stores at the
eastern end of the Row which now bears his
name, and the next year he removed his
house to the Temple street side of the lot,
and built two more stores. Soon after, the
entire row was completed. In 1904 Capt.
Mussey built three story brick house near
the foot of Pleasant street. to which he re-
moved, and the old house was occupied by
different persons until it was burned in 1856,
in a fire which consumed four other houses
which escaped the bombardment of 1875.
Capt. Mussey left the sea and became a
merchant and director of the Portland
Bank, the first bank established here or in
Maine, which was organized in 1899. In
1917, for the small sum of 80, 720 he purchased
of the bank the spacious house and lot, 1T
feet ON Danforth, and 200 on High street.
This will show the depressed value of real
estate at the close of the war. This house
was built by Ebenezer Storer, merchant, in
1901. Here Capt. Mussey died in 1928, aged
Y, leaving large estate for that'time, to his
two sons John and Charles, who were his
only living children.
John Mussey, son of Capt. John, and
grand son of Benjamin, was born in the
paternal mansion on Middle street, Oct 10,
1890. When a boy he attended the South
school ON Free street, and was fitted for col
lege under the tuition of Edward Payson,
afterwards the celebrated doctor of divinity
while he was the preceptor of the Portland
Academy He entered Bowdoin College
from which he graduated in 1909, in the
fourth class that left that institution, num-
bering only five, one CT whom was President
Lord of Dartmouth College, and of whom
none. now remain. Nor is there living
graduate of the four following classes, which
proves that there is no one now living that
was in any way connected with the institu-
ton when he left it. He remarked to the
writer that he was like the Eddystone
lighthouse standing alone"
Mr.. Mussey read law with Ezekiel Whit
man, afterward Chief Justice of the SUI
preme Court of Maine, and was admitted to
the Cumberland Bar in October, 1912. AT
his decease he was much the oldest
member of that association. He was
appointed by Judge Paris to the
clerkship Of the District Court of the
United States in Maine, in January,
1919, and on the establishment of the Circuit
Court in Maine he was appointed clerk of
that court also, and held both offices until
1913, period of 30 years. He retired from
office with the respect of the courts whose
officer he was, having performed his duty to
their satisfaction. During the continuance
of the first United States bankrupt law, the
Office of clerk of the courtwas very lucrative.
Mr.. Mussey has held several offices of trust,
and has performed much labor for his native
town. In 1926, with Joshua Richardson and
Albert Newhall, he negotiated for part of
the lot and superintendent the building of the
Old City Hall, then called the New Market
House." The same year the First Parish
chose the same committee to remove their
old wooden church, and to erect the present
stone structure in its place. Mr.. Newhall
had been one of the county committee for
the erection of the brick court house in 1916,
which was removed to make room for the
present City Hall. Mr.. Mussey had the
principal management of the building of
the church. Granite was not then the man
ageable material that it now is, and such a
building constructed of it involved great
labor. The exterior of the market house
and church were both completed that season,
for what was considered very small cost,
and to the satisfaction of all concerned. He
was also one of the projectors of the Atlantic
& ST. Lawrence railroad in 1874, and was
long one Of its directors.
Mr.. Mussey inherited considerable prop
erty from his father, which by judicious
management he had much increased, so that
at his decease he leaves large estate. in
Guiding his grandfathcr's home lot, where
he settled 1876 years ago, which is now COW
cred by substantial and valuable brick build
ings. "Mussey's Row" has repeatedly
suffered by fire. 1t was burnt and rebuilt
by Capt John Mussey in 1916; partly burnt
and rebuilt by John Mussey the younger in
1852. 1t was burnt and wholly rebuilt in
1856 by the same. and lastly it was again
destroyed in that memorable conflagration
on the 4th of July, 1866, and again rebuilt,
losing some 10 feet to widen Temple street.
Mr.. Mussey's wife was Mrs. Rand of New
buryport, who has been dead some years.
The couple met with sad misfortune in the
loss of two promising sons, John F'itz Henry
Mussey, who graduated at Harvard College
in the class of 1885, having for classmates E..
lockwood Hoar and Amos A. Lawrence.
He was lawyer, and commenced practice at
Raymond, from whence he removed to Ban
gor He died of consumption in 1916, aged
3d. The second son, Edward, was
a member of lower class at Harvard, and
was drowned while bathing in Charles river
few weeks previous to his brothers gradu-
alton. President Willard had son drowned
at the same place in June, 1857. He had just
been examined and had his certificate of adj
mittance to the college in his pocket A
daughter of Mr.. Mussey is the wife of Mr..
W. P. Preble, who succeeded him as clerk of
the U. s. District Court. Another daughter
is the talented Mrs. Nj. j. M. Sweat the wife
of Hon. l.. ID. NJ. Sweat. Her writings OF
travels and romance are well known.
Mr. Mussey has made many liberal dona-
tions to religious and charitable societies.
The Aged Brotherhood, of which he long
was the president, received his special care.
He entertained them at his house, and en-
loved their meetings and excursions, al
though for some time he was the senior mem
Der. In 1873 he presented the association
$500 as a nucleus for a permanent fund, but
he was opposed to the establishing of an in
stitution for a home for aged men. He
thought they could be more happy by sepa-
rate assistance. He also presented like
sum for similar purpose to the Ladies
Mount Vernon Association.
Mr.. Mussey had very decided opinions on
most subjects, which he formed after inyes-
tigation and from which he did mot readily
recede. His manners were those of refine
ment, yet his likes and dlslikes were not to
or or and was always independent in thought
and action. His fine personal appearance at