Notes:
The existence of John Muma is from a biographical sketch of a "Lena Muma" in which her father is identified.
"Portrait and biographical album of Ionia and Montcalm counties, Michigan", Chapman Bros. 1891
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SIDNEY GARDNER. Among the well regulated farms of Otisco Township is that of the gentleman above named, who has been one of the factors in the progress of Ionia County since he was a youth of seventeen years. The farm which he now owns and occupies is pleasantly located on section 30, and consists of sixty acres of fertile land, upon which will be seen a complete line of farm buildings, substantial and sufficiently commodious to answer every purpose. Mr. Gardner has done much of the work of the pioneer, having cleared a large acreage of land and prepared it for cultivation and habitation. Bofore giving the facts in the history of Mr. Gardner it will not be amiss to make some mention of his parents. His father, William Gardner, was born in the Empire State, whence he removed to Canada. After making his home in the Dominion for a number of years he returned to the States in 1844, settling in the township that is now the home of his son. Here lie died in 1863. He was a wheelwright, but after coming to this State located upon a farm, having bought one hundred and sixty acres. He was High Sheriff for a number of years in Canada. Originally a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he was connected with the Advent Church when he died. In Canada he married Lena Muma, daughter of John Muma, a native of Germany. This lady was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Sidney Gardner was born in Canada, February 29, 1828, and spent his early years in no unusual manner. He obtained a practical education and considerable knowledge of business, and until he was of age he aided his father. After the removal to this State he was on the farm until he took up the labors of life for himself. A few years later he married Miss Catherine Jane Beckwith, the ceremony being performed at the home of the bride, November 19, 1853. The union has been blessed by the birth of four children, namely, Warren, Deed, Helen and Adoniram J. Mrs. Gardner is a daughter of Philander and Melinda (McIntyre) Beckwith, who were natives of New Hampshire and New York, respectively. Although never aspiring to public honors Mr. Gardner accepted the position of Highway Commissioner and worked for the good of the traveling public during his term of office. lie gives his political allegiance to the Republican party and his support to tlie Patrons of Industry, in which he has been enrolled for some time. Mrs. Gardner is a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church and conscientious in her life.
The following informaiton was provided by William Bray, a descendant of Lena Muma and a "Muma" researcher. His research srongly suggests that John Muma was the eldest son of Jaocb and Betsey Muma (
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DNA proves Lena was his daughter, and that John was the son of Jacob & Betsey. Ontario, Wentworth Co., Ancaster Township Deed Abstracts 1816-1829, p. 53-54, Memorial #566, John Muma & wife Catherine sell the northern 1/2 of Lot 43, 1st Concession, Ancaster Township, of Wentworth County. The deed was dated 15 May 1820. This is the only reference I've found for Catherine being John Muma's wife. There was no deed detailing when John & Catherine obtained the 100 acres. The man who had received the original crown grant for all 200 acres of Lot 43, Henry Chrysler, Jr., had died during the War of 1812, having been declared a traitor. Some of his properties from other deeds I've seen, indicate that Chrysler sold various plots in 1810, and again in 1812 before the War was in full swing. Perhaps the Muma's bought the land then, but never recorded the deed. Perhaps they acquired the land from the Commission that dealt with confiscated lands of traitors. Unknown.
The first official reference found for John Muma in Ontario is when he appears on the Oct-Nov 1813 Muster Roll of Capt. William G. Hepburn's Co. of the 2nd York Militia Regiment. He also later appeared in various companies of the 5th Lincoln Militia Regiment. Both regiments recruited men from Ancaster, and it wasn't unusual for men to appear in both regiments from time to time.
You already are familiar with his war claims for damages, in 1815 and again in 1823, with brother Samuel acting as his agent in 1823. In both claims it was stated that John was a resident of Ancaster when the damages were committed by friendly Indians who were part of the British forces.
John Muma also appears in the Diary of Benjamin Smith of Ancaster Township. The diary is preserved in the Archives in Toronto. Smith stated in his diary that he was bringing wheat and corn to Muma, which was being distilled into whiskey. All of the diary references to John Muma were in the year 1813.
John Muma appears in an 1822 Map of Dumfries Township, Brant County. He was on South half, Lot 6, 1st Concession. His brother Jacob Muma was on SE 1/4 Lot 7, 2nd Concession. His brother Christian was on North half, Lot 6, 2nd Concession. Michael Muma was on West Half of NE 1/4, Lot 7, 2nd Concession. Son-in-law William Gardner (& wife Lena) was on South half, Lot 6, 2nd Concession. From this you can see that the whole Muma clan had moved west from the Ancaster, Beverly, and Flamborough townships where they had resided during the War of 1812. They all grouped together in the southeast corner of Dumfries Township, Brant Co., Ontario.
John Muma appears again on an 1826-1836 Map of Dumfries Township, Brant County. John was still on the South Half of Lot 6, 1st Concession. Some of the rest of the family had scattered elsewhere in Dumfries Township, or neighboring Blenheim Township in Oxford County.
John Muma appears in an 1832 Census of Dumfries Township, still on lot 6, 1st Concession (brother Jacob was on Lot 5, 1st Concession, and brother Samuel was on Lot 8, 1st Concession). John had 12 people in his household, had 100 acres of which 35 was in cultivation. Based upon the age brackets of the people in his household, Catherine still was alive. Some of the people listed in the household might have been children to John & Catherine, but the rest would seem to be young children that probably would have been grandchildren. I can state that a younger couple with children was not the William Gardner-Lena Muma family - they had moved about 1830 further west in Dumfries Township to 150 acres slightly northwest of the growing town of Paris, and lived there until they moved to Michigan in 1844. It is likely one of the younger couple with children living with John & Catherine was a son or daughter. A pity no record has yet surfaced to identify additional children for John & Catherine.
The last known reference to John Muma is when he was enumerated in the household of Benjamin Muma (b. ca. 1813) in the 1851 Census, Rainham Township, Haldimand Co., Ontario. Though it is called the 1851 Census, the enumeration did not actually begin until January 1852. The census asked the age each person would be at their next birthday. John Muma was listed as age 76, which would imply a birth year of 1776. It was stated he was born in the United States, but does not list the particular state. That census was the last known reference of John Muma found to this point. His relationship to Benjamin Muma is a matter of conjecture. Many online pedigree trees claim that Benjamin was a son of either Christian or Jacob Muma. It is entirely possible that a nephew would take in an aged uncle to live with his family. A scenario just as likely is that Benjamin was a son of John Muma.