The Moeller Families of Scott County, Iowa

Henry Moeller is one of the most prominent and wealthy of the many successful agriculturists of Cleona township, although he has now forsaken the active work of the farm, to which he devoted himself with such energy for so many years and now makes his home in the village of Walcott. He was born in the province of Mecklenburg, Germany, September 17, 1848. His parents.

John and Caroline Moeller, were also natives of the fatherland and came to the United States in 1854. Immediately after their arrival in this country they came to Scott county, Iowa, locating in Blue Grass township, where Mrs. Moeller died. She was not able to withstand the hardships of travel in those early days when there was nothing to shorten the tiresome journey across the ocean, and the means of crossing the mountains and prairies were most primitive. Mr. Moeller himself did not live to see the great change which transformed the character of this county for he passed away seven years after his advent here. Only two sons were born to him and his wife — Henry, the subject of this review; and Charles, a resident of Shelby, Iowa.

Henry Moeller, when being deprived of his father's guidance in his youth, found employment and a home upon his uncle's farm, where he remained until he reached man's estate,,and, having married, was filled with the natural desire to make a home of his own. Accordingly he bought a large tract of land in Cleona township, to whose cultivation he devoted himself assiduously until May 22, 1906, when he felt that a large income, the generous return of his years of labor, entitled him to the respite from toil he desired and he took up his residence in Walcott. He had previously built a fine residence, whose many modern conveniences indicate the progressive spirit which was as potent a factor in his success as the industry and frugality. In addition to operating his own place, Mr. Moeller improved and cultivated a fine tract of one hundred and thirty-four acres belonging to his wife and another of sixty acres owned by his mother-in-law.

On the 6th of February, 1875, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Moeller and Miss Caroline Feuerbach, who was born in Cleona township, this county,' April 14, 1858, and is a daughter of John and Mary Elizabeth (Dietz) Feuerbach. Her father was a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, where his birth occurred May 20, 1817, and he came to the United States in 1853. He was accompanied by his sister Lizzie, who later became the wife of Jacob Adomey and was the only other member of his family to come to America. She like her husband has now passed away. Mr. Feuerbach had learned the trade of a carpenter in the land of his birth, but after coming to this country worked in the mines of Pennsylvania while that state was his home, and when he took up his residence in Scott county, Iowa, devoted himself exclusively to agricultural pursuits. He first bought forty-eight acres of land in Cleona township, to which he added extensively in the course of years until at the time of his death he owned five hundred acres. This is now in the possession of his widow and part of it is operated by his son Henry. In Pennsylvania, July 11, 1853, Mr. Feuerbach was united in marriage to Miss Mary Elizabeth Dietz, who was also born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, December 18, 1832. In 1853 she came to America with her parents, John and Marie Elizabeth (Mock) Dietz, who settled in the Keystone state and latter came to Scott county, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Caroline, who is the wife of Mr. Moeller, and Henry, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work, were the children granted to Mr. and Mrs. Feuerbach.

Mr. and Mrs. Moeller have seven children, namely: Willie, who resides upon his father's farm; Bertha, who is the wife of John Hein, of Cleona township;

Amelia, the wife of Louis Gibson, of Blue Grass township; Theresa, who married Julius Hein, a brother of John Hein, and a resident of Cleona township; Elizabeth, the wife of Adolph Rodgens, of Cleona township; Ella, who married George Reisen, of Fulton township, Muscatine county, Iowa; and Ferdinand, who lives with his brother Willie on the home farm.

Mr. Moeller is one of the most substantial representatives of the German race who have come to this country, and through the strong traits of their character have raised the standard of citizenship here, while at the same time they have contributed to the sum total of the prosperity which distinguishes this county and state.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIE M. MOELLER.

Willie M. Moeller is one of those citizens of Cleona township who have remained true to the locality throughout the entire course of their lives. He was born October 6, 1875, upon the homestead where he still resides and is thus bound to it by stronger ties than fall to the lot of many men. His parents, Henry and Caroline (Feuerbach) Moeller, at the time of their relinquishment of the farm, removed to Walcott, where they still reside. The management of the farm now devolves upon our subject and his keeping in touch with the latest in scientific agricultural investigation has been productive of the most satisfactory results. The Moeller property consists of one hundred and ninety-six acres on section 25, Cleona township, on the Hickory Grove township line. The subject of the sketch has been very successful in the breeding of shorthorn polled Durham cattle, of which he owns about one hundred head.

Mr. Moeller received his early education in the schools of his district and gained a practical training by assisting his father in the manifold duties which every well improved farm presents. Later he engaged in school teaching, properly directing the course of the young idea. He is well and favorably known in the community in which he has lived for something over thirty years. He is the eldest in a family of seven children, and one of these, his brother Ferdinand, is associated with him in the cultivation of the estate.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CHARLES H. MOELLER.

Prominent among the industrious, enterprising and successful farmers of Cleona township is Charles H. Moeller, a native of Louisiana, born at Covington, about sixteen miles from New Orleans, on the 15th of June, 1852. His parents, Godhardt and Mary (Westphal) Moeller, were both born in Mecklenberg, Germany, in the year 1826 and came to the United States in 1850, locating at New Orleans. In October, 1852, they came up the Mississippi river to Davenport and located upon a farm in Blue Grass township. Four years later they removed to Cleona township, where the father engaged in farming until about twenty-one years prior to his demise, when he retired from active life. He had been most successful in his agricultural pursuits, becoming the owner of eight hundred and sixty-six acres of land in Scott county. At the time of his retirement he removed to Walcott, where he and his wife spent their remaining days, the former passing away in 1902 and the latter surviving about two years, her death occurring in 1904.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Hugo Moeller, city clerk of Davenport and one of the rising young men of this city, demonstrates in his political career that there are certain men who are bound to rise above their fellows through energy and mastery of detail. He was born in this city, January 10, 1880, a son of John F. and Mary (Harder) Moeller. The father came to Davenport in 1863 from Germany, his native land, and after being engaged in several lines commenced manufacturing paper and cigar boxes. His wife came to Davenport with her father in the early 'SOS, having been born in Germany. Six children were born to them: Minnie, now Mrs. Wehling; Henry; Tillie, now Mrs. Stockwell; Hugo; Hannah, the deceased wife of Walter Hass, and Walter, also deceased.

Hugo Moeller was educated in the public schools, graduating from the high school in 1897. After being engaged in various kinds of work, he took a commercial course in Brown's Business College. For three years thereafter he was an agent of the Corn Products Refining Company, and worked hard to serve his house. A strong democrat, Mr. Moeller has always given his party a considerable portion of his time and was rewarded by election to the office of city clerk in 1906 and has been continuously reelected. He is an excellent official, obliging, courteous and hard-working, and the people of the city feel that no better man could be found to fill the responsible office.

In 1905 Mr. Moeller was married to Emelia Wulf, a daughter of Herman Wulf. Mr. Moeller belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the O. O. O., and is very popular in them all.

Still in the very prime of his young manhood, with years of usefulness stretching out before him, the idol of his party locally, brilliant things are prophesied of this representative son of Davenport.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

LOUIS MOELLER ing children: Emma, born January 15, 1884, is now the wife of WilHam Illian, of Muscatine, Iowa; Ida, born July 9, 1886, died March 5, 1907; Fred, born May 28, 1888, died August 16, 1894; Ernst L., born March 17, 1891, Wilma A., born August 27, 1895, and Louis J. H., born July 18, 1899, are all at home.

Henry and Louis Moeller were stanch adherents of the democratic party, and both played some part in the local affairs, for Louis Moeller was school director for four years, and his brother was road supervisor for six years. The latter holds stock in the Blue Grass Savings Bank. Indeed both men were representative of the best farming interests of Blue Grass township, which was deprived of one of its most worthy citizens when, on the 22d of November, 1907, Louis Moeller passed away. He was mourned not only by his family, but also by the many of his associates who through frequent intercourse with him had come to respect and honor him.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.