Dexter Mussey
Encyclopedia
Dexter Mussey was a Republican
politician from the U.S. state
of Michigan
. He represented Macomb County
in the Michigan House of Representatives for many years and served as Speaker of the House, 1861-62.
Mussey was born in Rutland
, Worcester County, Massachusetts
, the son of Eli and Prontey Mussey, whose ancestors were among the first settlers in that county. He received a common school
education and spent five years in Lowell, Massachusetts
. He worked as a teacher, then a clerk, and then in business for himself. He settled in Romeo, Michigan
in 1837. He was in business as a merchant, blacksmith, wagon maker, farming, and a foundry. In 1836, he was married to Lydia Russell in Lowell.
When the village of Romeo incorporated in 1838, Mussey became a Trustee in the first election.
He became a Justice of the Peace of Macomb County in 1845. He served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1855 through 1862 and served as Speaker of the House in 1861-62. He was a delegate to the 1867 Michigan Constitution
al Convention.
In 1839 and 1844 Mussey ran as an unsuccessful Whig Party
candidate for Michigan House of Representatives. In 1850, he was an unsuccessful Whig candidate to the State Constitutional Convention of that year.
In 1854, Mussey ran as a candidate for the newly formed Republican Party, and won the election to the Michigan House of Representatives, and again in 1856, 1858, and 1860.
With the outbreak of the Civil War
, Mussey was appointed Commissioner to carry out the draft ordered by the War Department on July 9, 1861. He carried out another draft in February 1863.
In addition to serving in various civil offices in the village of Romeo and the state government, Mussey was a Deacon in the Congregational Church of Romeo.
Mussey Township
in St. Clair County
was named for Mussey.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician from the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. He represented Macomb County
Macomb County, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 788,149 people, 309,203 households, and 210,876 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,640 people per square mile . There were 320,276 housing units at an average density of 667 per square mile...
in the Michigan House of Representatives for many years and served as Speaker of the House, 1861-62.
Mussey was born in Rutland
Rutland, Massachusetts
Rutland is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 7,973 at the 2010 census. Worcester County's only buffalo herd is located in Rutland, at Alta Vista Farm...
, Worcester County, Massachusetts
Worcester County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:In 1990 Worcester County had a population of 709,705.As of the census of 2000, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 496 people per square mile . There were 298,159 housing units at an average density...
, the son of Eli and Prontey Mussey, whose ancestors were among the first settlers in that county. He received a common school
Common school
A common school was a public school in the United States or Canada in the nineteenth century. The term 'common school' was coined by Horace Mann, and refers to the fact that they were meant to serve individuals of all social classes and religions....
education and spent five years in Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
. He worked as a teacher, then a clerk, and then in business for himself. He settled in Romeo, Michigan
Romeo, Michigan
Romeo is a village in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,721 at the 2000 census. The village is situated at the southeast corner of Bruce Township, with a portion extending south into Washington Township. Armada Township is adjacent to the east and Ray Township to the...
in 1837. He was in business as a merchant, blacksmith, wagon maker, farming, and a foundry. In 1836, he was married to Lydia Russell in Lowell.
When the village of Romeo incorporated in 1838, Mussey became a Trustee in the first election.
He became a Justice of the Peace of Macomb County in 1845. He served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1855 through 1862 and served as Speaker of the House in 1861-62. He was a delegate to the 1867 Michigan Constitution
Michigan Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Michigan is the governing document of the U.S. state of Michigan. It describes the structure and function of the state's government....
al Convention.
In 1839 and 1844 Mussey ran as an unsuccessful Whig Party
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
candidate for Michigan House of Representatives. In 1850, he was an unsuccessful Whig candidate to the State Constitutional Convention of that year.
In 1854, Mussey ran as a candidate for the newly formed Republican Party, and won the election to the Michigan House of Representatives, and again in 1856, 1858, and 1860.
With the outbreak of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Mussey was appointed Commissioner to carry out the draft ordered by the War Department on July 9, 1861. He carried out another draft in February 1863.
In addition to serving in various civil offices in the village of Romeo and the state government, Mussey was a Deacon in the Congregational Church of Romeo.
Mussey Township
Mussey Township, Michigan
Mussey Township is a civil township of St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 3,740 at the 2000 census.The village of Capac is located within the township....
in St. Clair County
St. Clair County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69 enters the county from the west, coming from Lansing and Flint, terminating at the approach to the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron....
was named for Mussey.