Dexter Mussey

Who is Dexter Mussey?

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 Muzzy and Persis Prouty. His mother was descended from Resolved White, who was a Mayflower passenger. 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. Dexter and Lydia had six children: Nathan, Maryette, George, Martha, Harvey Eli and Josephine. Family history has it that he changed his name from Muzzy to Mussey because writing the letter z was too cumbersome.

When the village of Romeo incorporated in 1838, Mussey became a Trustee in the first election. According to the 1840 US Census, he lived in Washington in Macomb County, Michigan

He became a Justice of the Peace of Macomb County in 1845.