BIOGRAPHY - LOUIS MUELLER
Louis
Mueller, the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section
22, Mona township, was born in Germany on the 1st of February, 1859, a son
of Adolph and Louisa Mueller. The father passing away in Germanv and the
mother afterward emigrated to the United States, now living near Seattle,
Washington, with one of her daughters. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph
Mueller were six children, as follows: Carl, who resides in Germany; Louis,
of this review; Adolph, deceased; Hannah, the wife of Godford Borchard, who
lives near Seattle, Washington; Matilda, deceased; and Bertha, who became
the wife of James Parson and also makes her home near Seattle, Washington.
Louis Mueller acquired a common-school education in his native country and when fourteen years of age began clerking, being employed in the same store for six years at a salary of six dollars per month. He had heard many favorable reports concerning the broader business opportunities of the new world and when twenty years of age crossed the Atlantic to the United States, locating first in Champaign county, Illinois, where he secured employment on a farm. For about three months he was engaged in digging a tile ditch in company with several other men and at the end of that time his employer hired him as foreman and overseer of his farms, Mr. Mueller having already given practical demonstration of his fidelity and capability. He remained in this position for twelve years, but in 1889, desiring to engage in farming on his own account, he rented a tract of land which he successfully operated for four years. On the expiration of that period he purchased eighty acres of land on section 27, Mona township, which he conducted for three years, when he sold out and bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 22, Mona township. He has met with a gratifying measure of success in the conduct of his agricultural interests and is recognized as one of the substantial and enterprising farmers of the county.
In 1889 Mr. Mueller was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Stofferan, who was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1857, a daughter of Paul and Mary (Fleser) Stofferan. The parents were natives of Germany but emigrated to America in an early day, locating in Chicago, where the father worked at the carpenter's trade until 1870. He then purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Mona township. Ford county, successfully following agricultural pursuits here until the time of his death in March, 1906. Mrs. Stofferan departed this life in 1898 and the county thus mourned the loss of two of its worthy pioneer settlers. Their family, including Mrs. Mueller, numbered five children. Unto our subject and his wife have been born four children, as follows: Emma Marie and Lillie Minnie, who are both graduates of the high school at Cullom; and Etta L. and Benjamin, both at home.
In his political views Mr. Mueller is a stalwart republican but has never taken any active part in politics, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business interests. Both he and his wife are devoted members of the Lutheran church and are widely and favorably known throughout the entire community. They are self-made people, for they started out in life emptyhanded and acquired the prosperity which they now enjoy entirely through their own well directed labors and untiring perseverance.
Extracted 16 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 2, pages 610-614.
