Herman A. Mueller

As printed in 1915

HERMAN A. MUELLER.

The life activity of Herman A. Mueller has connected him closely with the history of Madison county. He was born in a log cabin which stood on the site of the residence of the late William Schoen, near the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of section 35, Jefferson township, Madison county, August 29, 1866. His parents, George and Catharine (Schott) Mueller, were natives of Germany. The former was born September 11, 1842, in the principality of Waldeck. His father was a forester for the prince, as his father had in turn been before him, and the family of Midlers lived for many years in the town of Bad- Wildungen, a noted watering place and health resort. There George Mueller attended the public schools to the age of fifteen and afterward worked upon the farm for a year or two but in the summer of 1859 came to America, making the voyage in a sailing vessel which after six weeks reached New York harbor. He at once made his way to Keokuk, Iowa, to join a sister who had come to the new world a few years before. In the spring of 1860 he went to

Wintersct, living with a cousin with whom he moved to section 2S. letterson township, in the fall of that year. After working on the farm for a year he again went to live with his sister at Keokuk in December, 1861, remaining there and at Warsaw, Illinois, until August 8, 1864, on which day he wedded Catharine Schott, of Warsaw. She was born in Baden, Germany, August 22. 184s, was left an orphan when very young and at eight years of age accompanied her uncle to America. Their home was at Warsaw, on the bank of the Mississippi, which at that time was the great thoroughfare of the middle west.

Soon after their marriage Mr, and Mrs. George Mueller came to Madison county and the first year both worked for his cousin, Louis Stracke, of Jefferson township. In the fall of 1865 they rented a farm-of William Schoen on section; and thereon the landlord and tenant built a log cabin which became the birthplace of H. A. Mueller. In December 1866, the parents removed with their family to section 2, Union township, the father purchasing what was known as the Benjamin Duckett farm. There he and his wife have continued to reside and are now owners of three hundred and thirty-three acres of well improved land. On the 8th of August, 1914, they celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary, which year was also the fiftieth anniversary of their settlement in Madison county. All of their children except two were present, together with a host of old friends and neighbors, and the occasion was a most enjoyable and memorable one.

Like all country boys, Herman Mueller learned to do the chores while attending school. He was a pupil in the Farris school in Union township, with George Turbett as teacher in 1873, James M. Guye in 1874, Penina Moore in 1875, Wesley Lehman in 1876, George Turbett again, Frances Fletcher in 1877, Nan Davis in 1878, Joseph W. Forney, the fall of 1878 and the winter following, Wesley Lehman in the winter of 1879 "1" 1880 and R. J. Spragg during the winters of 1881-2-3. During the winter of 1880-1 he attended a term of school at Winterset, did eighth grade work during a term at the Irving school in Des Moines in the fall of 1883 and afterward spent a term in Drake University. In the winter of 1886-7 he attended a term at Jefferson No. 7 under the instruction of R. J. Spragg. Every fall from 1885 until 1893 he attended the teachers' institute or normal held in W'interest.

In the meantime he w'as learning the lessons of life upon the farm, becoming familiar with every phase of farm work. He taught his first school at Douglas Center in the winter of 1887-8 under Superintendent E. R. Zeller, who had given him a first-grade certificate. The next winter he taught at the Doak school in Jefiferson township and in the succeeding fall attended a term at the Dexter Normal College at Dexter, Iowa. In the succeeding winter he was again a teacher at Jefiferson No. 7 and the following winter was again at Doak. In the spring of 1891 and through the following fall and winter he taught the Jefiferson school and during all these years made his home with his parents, working on the farm through the summer. In the fall of 1892, with his friend, Sam C. Smith, now an attorney of Winterset, he entered the State Normal School, now called the State Teachers' College, meeting the expenses of the course with money which he had previously earned on the farm and as a teacher. He was graduated with the degree of B. Di. in 1894 and M. Di. in 1895. He was then elected principal of the Arcadia schools, remaining in charge for two years, and in the fall of 1897 became a junior in the State University of Iowa, admitted to that class because of his standing at the State Normal. He was graduated in 1899 with the Bachelor of Philosophy degree and in the fall of that year became a teacher of the high school at Webster City but resigned to become the candidate for auditor of Madison county on the republican ticket.

Mr. Mueller has held various public offices. In 1890 he was chosen clerk of Jefferson township; in 1892 became assessor of Jefferson township and was reelected in 1894, serving three years, resigning the position when he became teacher at Arcadia. He made a record for doing the assessor's work in the shortest time. In 1900 he was United States census enumerator of Jeft'person township and in the summer of 1900 he received the nomination for auditor of Madison county on the republican ticket and was elected that fall, while in 1902 he was reelected, leading the ticket. He retired from the office in January, 1903. and for a few months assisted J. W. Smith, county treasurer. On the ist of May of that year he went to St. Charles, where he became bookkeeper in J. F. Johnston's bank and following the death of Henry Hayden succeeded him as cashier in the fall of 1905, continuing in that position until April, 1912. He has served as school treasurer of the independent district of St. Charles from September, 1905, until July, 1912, was a member of the town council from April, 1910, until April, 1914, became school director of the St. Charles independent district in March, 1914, and in March, 1915, was chosen president of the board. In the spring of 1914 he was a candidate for the nomination for representative on the republican ticket, which he easily won over his competitor, but was defeated in the election by his democratic opponent.

While at the State Normal he had three years' training in the military department, so upon the organization of Company G, Fifty-first Regiment National Guard at Winterset he enlisted for three years and attended encampments at Atlantic, Iowa, Fort Riley, Kansas, and Des Moines. He is a member of Lotus Lodge, No. 48, K. P., of Winterset, was vice chancellor in 1903 and keeper of the records and seal in 1904. He belongs to Model Lodge, No. 315, A. F. & A. M., of St. Charles, Iowa; and Model Chapter, No. 174, Eastern Star of St. Charles, of which he was worthy patron in 1912. He is also a member of Lebanon Chapter, No. II, R. A. M., of Winterset, belongs to Backbone Tent, No. 54, K. O.

As printed in History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.