John R. Musick
Encyclopedia
John Roy Musick was an American historical author and poet best known for his Columbian Historical Novels.
on February 28, 1849, the son of Ephraim and Mary Musick. While a small boy his family moved to Adair County, Missouri
where he received his education in rural schools. After graduating the First District Normal School (now known as Truman State University
) in Kirksville, Missouri
in 1874 he spent the next two years as a rural school teacher while concurrently studying law. He passed the Missouri Bar in 1876 and became a practicing attorney. By 1882 however he gave up his law career to devote full time to literature. Mr. Musick was also very active in Republican Party politics from his college days onward. It was his involvement in the successful 1896 presidential campaign of William McKinley
that earned him the nomination to the post of Consul to Siam (present-day Thailand
). However he declined the honor, choosing to continue his writing career.
in April 1899. Although his home was spared, Mr. Musick was badly injured while attempting to rescue neighbors from the debris. He never fully recovered from the injuries and died in Omaha, Nebraska
on April 14, 1901. John Musick is buried in Forest-Llewellyn Cemetery in Kirksville.
Early life
Born in St. Louis County, MissouriSt. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
on February 28, 1849, the son of Ephraim and Mary Musick. While a small boy his family moved to Adair County, Missouri
Adair County, Missouri
Adair County is a county located in northeast Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 25,607. Its county seat is Kirksville. The county was organized in 1841 and is named in honor of Kentucky Governor John Adair....
where he received his education in rural schools. After graduating the First District Normal School (now known as Truman State University
Truman State University
Truman State University is a public liberal arts and sciences university in Missouri, United States and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. About 6,000 students attend Truman, pursuing degrees in 43 undergraduate and 9 Graduate programs. It is located in Kirksville in...
) in Kirksville, Missouri
Kirksville, Missouri
Kirksville is the county seat of Adair County, Missouri, United States. It is located in Benton Township. The population was 17,505 at the 2010 census. Kirksville also anchors a micropolitan area that comprises Adair and Schuyler counties. The city is perhaps best known as the location of Truman...
in 1874 he spent the next two years as a rural school teacher while concurrently studying law. He passed the Missouri Bar in 1876 and became a practicing attorney. By 1882 however he gave up his law career to devote full time to literature. Mr. Musick was also very active in Republican Party politics from his college days onward. It was his involvement in the successful 1896 presidential campaign of William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
that earned him the nomination to the post of Consul to Siam (present-day Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
). However he declined the honor, choosing to continue his writing career.
Writings
While still a teenager, John Musick had several poems and short stories published, some under humorous pseudonyms such as Benjamine Broadaxe and Ebenezer Slypole. After devoting his full attention and livelihood to writing he became quite a prolific author with some 139 works in 277 publications. His best known work is the 14-volume Columbian Historical Novels published in 1892 by Funk & Wagnalls. This series was hailed by world literary critics at the time as a bold step forward in the field of historical fiction as they explored the discovery and growth of north America through the use of fictional characters while paying strict detail to historical accuracy. John Musick's most personal work was without doubt In the Whirl of the Tornado published in Century Magazine (August 1899), a detailed account of a large deadly tornado that destroyed much of KirksvilleKirksville, Missouri
Kirksville is the county seat of Adair County, Missouri, United States. It is located in Benton Township. The population was 17,505 at the 2010 census. Kirksville also anchors a micropolitan area that comprises Adair and Schuyler counties. The city is perhaps best known as the location of Truman...
in April 1899. Although his home was spared, Mr. Musick was badly injured while attempting to rescue neighbors from the debris. He never fully recovered from the injuries and died in Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
on April 14, 1901. John Musick is buried in Forest-Llewellyn Cemetery in Kirksville.