Indiana Pioneers

BLM Records, Land patent for John Muck, Gibson County, Indiana. 1835.

Following from yesterday's post, I am continuing with a recap on the life of my 4th-great-grandfather, John Muck. He was born in Indiana on 18 June 1812, a son of George Muck and Mary Gander. John married my 4th-great-grandmother Ursula Fellme (also spelled Felmey, Foelmey and Foelmy) on 31 December 1835 in Harrison County. She was born on 1 May 1816, the daughter of Swiss immigrants John Felmey and Ursula Imhoff.

Indiana Marriages, 1810-2001.

John and Ursula first lived in Harrison County, and then later moved to neighboring Gibson County. They appear in the 1850 US Census living near Ursula's mother (also named Ursula).

1850 US Census, Gibson County, Indiana.

John and Ursula had at least the following children:
- Rebecca Muck (my 3rd-great-grandmother), 1837-1901
- Julia Ann Muck, 1838-1933
- Esther E. Muck, 1840-1873
- Mary Elizabeth Muck, 1843-1923
- George E. Muck, 1846-1931
- Sarah C. Muck, 1850-1926

In the 1860 US Census, the family was living in Montgomery Township, Gibson County, Indiana.

1860 US Census. Gibson County, Indiana.

Ursula passed away on 17 January 1868. Many of the online trees have this date as 1888, but I cannot find her in the US Census after 1860, and I think the error is a misreading of her headstone (photo below from Findagrave). The 1880 Census lists him as widowed.

Source: Findagrave. Headstone for Ursula Fellme Muck.

In the 1870 US Census, John was living in the household of his daughter Esther and her husband James Epperson. Esther died on 3 May 1873. John then moved into the home of his daughter Sarah and her husband Lee Tomlin, as seen in the 1880 US Census.

1880 US Census. Gibson County, Indiana.

In 1885, John moved to Crawford County, Kansas, where he was living with the family of his daughter Julia Ann. He appears in several of the Kansas newspapers during the time. By 1900, he was back in the household of Sarah and Lee Tomlin, who was superintendent of the schools in Grundy County, Missouri.

El Dorado Daily Republican (KS), 7 Mar 1896.

John died on 23 December 1902. He is buried in Columbia Church Cemetery in Princeton, Gibson County, Indiana.

Source: Findagrave.

Princeton Daily Clarion, 27 Dec 1902.