By 1860, Thomas Muffley’s Cousin John R. Muffley, cabinet maker, was well established in his place of business, a furniture store adjoining at some point his funeral parlor in Boscobel, Wisconsin. J. R. Muffley’s biography is at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wigrant/bio218.htm It is of note that this biography states that J. R. Muffley’s grandfather John Muffley was a soldier in the Revolution for 6 years: My ancestor Johannes Muffley (d. Sept. 23, 1813), husband of Maria Barbara Yockey. I knew that Johannes’ family lived right on the frontier under frequent attack by the Indian allies of the British, but I had not previously heard the 6 years figure mentioned.
John R. Muffley’s sister Barbara Ann Muffley Houghtalling was an ancestor of my Illinois cousins with whom I correspond. There was also a brother Lebbeus. Brothers Simon P. Muffley and Franklin C. Muffley fought in the Civil War. Altogether there were 10 siblings. Don Anderson, great-grandson of John R. Muffley, resides now (2010) in the old family home in Boscobel, has photos of J.R. and Lebbeus, and has Civil War memorabilia, including two sabers and a tintype photo.
On March 2, 1862, Gary’s great-great-grandfather Thomas Muffley died of cholera in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. Later that year, Thomas’ first cousin Simon P. Muffley enlisted in Company I of the 25th Wisconsin Infantry. On January 16, 1863, Simon’s brother Franklin C. Muffley joined the same unit. At times, the 25th Wisconsin served in close proximity to Illinois regiments in which served Gary Muffley’s kinsmen John Chancey Weidenhamer and Albert Straub. See http://jaggerline.blogspot.com/
In March, 1865, Weidenhamer, Straub, and the two Muffleys would have been at the Battle of Bentonville, N.C. All of them presumably would have also been in the vicinity of the Confederate surrender to Gen. Sherman at Bennett Place (just west of Durham), on April 26, 1865. The Union army then moved north via Richmond toward Washington, D.C. However, before leaving North Carolina, Franklin C. Muffley transferred (May 15) from the 25th to Company G of the 12th Wisconsin Infantry. At some point, Franklin reportedly picked up two sabers as souvenirs, and these exist today in Boscobel.
These Illinois and Wisconsin units were involved in the Grand Review in Washington, D.C., May 24, 1865. However, it is not known if Simon Muffley was able to march in the parade, as he was mustered out two days later with wounds. The 25th Wisconsin lost 460 men during the war, more by disease than by combat. Franklin C. Muffley had a variety of health problems (records online at Ancestry.com) when admitted in 1908 to the U.S. Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Milwaukee. His next of kin was listed as Barbara Muffley Houghtalling.
The various Muffley people in Boscobel were quite prominent. Lebbeus was listed as a hotel keeper in the 1880 census. The brother Thomas was a cabinet maker, as was John R. Muffley. By the 1900 biography, John R. Muffley’s business had been in operation for 54 years. In that same year, Simon P. Muffley worked as a messenger in the House of Representatives, and later he lived in San Diego and Long Beach.
Don Anderson’s friend Joe Chamberlain had contacted me via Facebook, having run across some of my family history information on the Internet. I have mailed quite a bit of Muffley family data to Don. The photo below of the Muffley & Sons furniture and funeral business of Boscobel indicates the year 1912. John R. Muffley died in 1914. Gladys Muffley (pictured) was Don’s mother.
