JACOB MUSSELMAN, township trustee of Newton Township, and a stockholder in the Pleasant Hill Banking Company and the Stillwater Bank of Covington, now lives retired on his excellent farm of eighty acres, which is situated in Section 22, Range 5, near the Troy and Pleasant Hill Turnpike Road. He was born in Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, December 3, 1852, and is a son of John and Sarah (Smith) Musselman.

John Musselman was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and came from there to Ohio in early manhood. He settled nine miles south of Dayton in Montgomery County, and from there came to Miami County in 1871, buying a farm of 142 acres on the Troy and Covington Turnpike, of the Williams heirs. He cleared a part of this farm and repaired the buildings and did a large amount of draining, putting his land in good condition, and with other products, grew about four acres of tobacco a year. He was a large, robust man, weighing about 250 pounds, and for years prior to his death had been more of less afflicted with heart trouble. His death occurred December 21, 1907 and his burial was in the Covington Cemetery. He was a member of the German Reformed Church. In Montgomery County he married Sarah Smith, a daughter of Philip Smith, and they had five children: Jacob, Eliza Ann, Ellen, Emma Idella, and John F. Of these, Ellen is deceased. The mother of these children, still resides on the old homestead.

Jacob Musselman attended school near Woodburn, in Montgomery County. He helped his father after coming to Miami County and remained at home for about seven years after his own marriage. He then came to his present farm, erecting a new house, a number of other buildings, including tobacco and cattle sheds, and repaired the barn, putting everything into fine condition. He cleared about six acres of the place, and now and then has done a little draining, but his land has required a very small amount of special attention. Mr. Musselman now lives retired, having turned the active operation of the farm over to his capable son-in-law.

Mr. Musselman was married January 25, 1877, to Miss Missouri F. Whitman, a daughter of Edward and Mary Whitman, and they have one daughter, Emma Idella, who married Mack Hawn. Mr. and Mrs. Hawn have two sons, Ralph E. and Paul M. Although no longer actively working his farm, Mr. Musselman finds plenty of occupation. His fellow citizens have frequently elected him to township offices, and he gives close and careful attention to his official duties. Since 1908 he has been a trustee of the townships formerly served with the greatest efficiency as superintendent of the turnpike. A long life spent mainly in the open has given him health and vigor, and Mr. Musselman could easily pass for a man many years younger than the age he acknowledges.