My Genealogy Hound

JOHN MUSCOVALLEY was born in 1810, on the Island of Mytelene, Greece, where he resided until the age of nine, and emigrated to the Ionian Isles, stopping there for ten years. He returned to Greece for a few months, then embarked for the United States, from Smyrna, on board the ship “Marmette,” which was on its way to Africa for a cargo of wool, and was under the command of Capt. William Phelps, and was owned by a Mr. Bradshaw. Upon leaving Africa, the “Marmette” retouched Smyrna, then setting sail for the west, arrived at Boston in 1831. There he shipped on board the “Forrester,” Capt. Brown, as a sailor, and went to the Brazils, but on the return of the ship to Boston, he left her and went to New York, there entering a grocery store kept by a Mr. Moffatt, and stayed there for nearly a year. After this he went to work in a foundry, and worked for six years. Mr. Muscovalley also sailed to Charleston, S. C., on the steamship “Columbia,” the packet plying between New York and South Carolina. He next went to New Orleans on the steamship “New York,” then engaged in carrying soldiers to Black Creek, Fla., to fight the Indians, also making a trip to South Carolina and Savannah on the same business, returning to New Orleans after a period of two or three months. He next attended store for more than two years in New Orleans. At the end of this time he commenced trading for himself up and down the Mississippi, buying goods at one place and selling them at another, doing an extensive business in chickens. In this he was engaged for a term of twenty-two years. In 1839 he came to this county, and purchased a farm one-half mile south of where he now resides, and in 1843, he purchased another farm of 200 acres four miles below Columbus, on the river front, he himself, being at that time still engaged in the river trade. In 1862 Mr. Muscovalley left the river and settled on his farm, and since that time has gone on farming and purchasing land, until he now owns the enormous acreage of 3,300. In 1833 he married Miss Jane Anderson, a native of Ireland, and a resident of New York. Of this union there were eight children born, three of whom are living, two boys and one girl. Miss Muscovalley was married to Thomas Davis, of Arlington, Ballard Co., Ky. Mr. Muscovalley is a Master Mason and was possessed of an apron and scarf, which were manufactured in Jerusalem, but during the fire which occurred on his farm on April 10, 1884, his house and all the contents, including the apron and scarf, were burnt. In politics he is a Democrat, and is also a member of the Greek Church. Mrs. Muscovalley is an Episcopalian.