USA > Iowa > Madison County > History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 58
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To Mr. and Mrs. William Kivett were born seven children, of whom three died in infancy. Those still living are: Mrs. Mary Griswold, who resides near Macksburg; William Howard, occupying the old homestead; Mrs. Elmira J. Craven, of Webster township; and Leroy L., of Creston, lowa.
William Howard Kivett has always lived upon the old homestead farm since brought to this county by his parents during his infancy and his life has been
643
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
devoted to its further cultivation and improvement since age and strength made him old enough to take up the work of the fields. He married Miss Maggie Given, a native of Ireland and a daughter of Henry and Ann Given, who came to Madison county thirty years ago, but who are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Kivett have five children, Elmer, Eugene, Lee, Annie and Grace, all at home. The parents are members of the Baptist church and they have a wide acquaintance in the part of the county in which they reside.
GEORGE MUELLER.
George Mueller is one of the pioneer settlers of Madison county and the owner of one of the finest farms in the county. His property is the visible evi- dence of his life of well directed energy and thrift, all having been acquired through his own efforts. The farm comprises three hundred and thirty-three acres, lying partly in Union and partly in Jefferson townships. Mr. Mueller was born September 11, 1842, at Holinsheidt, a village in Eder county, in the principality of Waldeck, which became a part of the German empire in 1871. His parents were George and Johanna Müller. The former was born in Bad- Wildungen, on the 17th of May, 1804, and was a son of George Müller, who was born about the year 1773, in Bad-Wildungen, Waldeck. He was forest inspector of the county of Eder during the opening years of the nineteenth cen- tury. He was married about the year 1800 to Henrietta Kleinhaus, who was born in Wolfhagen, Hesse. The former died about 1840 and the latter in 1845, at the home of her son George at Freihenhagen. Their son, George Müller, married Johanna Müller who, though of the same name, was not related. Their marriage was celebrated in 1834. In 1845 they removed to Freihenhagen, where George Müller was "over forester," there remaining until 1850, when he removed to Wildungen, in the same county, having been appointed superin- tendent or inspector of forests for the county of Eder, of which Wildungen was the principal town. It was a walled town and every evening the gates were closed as in olden times. His wife was a daughter of Christian and Rosina (Wild) Müller, who were conducting the Lion Apothecary, or drug store, in Bad- Wildungen. Johanna Müller was born in September, 1813, in Bad-Wildungen. Her mother, Rosina Wild, was born in Cassel-Hesse, where her parents were in the drug business, having immigrated there from Geneva, Switzerland. Doro- thea Wild, a sister of Rosina, married William Grimm, one of the Grimm brothers, noted German philologist and author of Grimm's Fairy Tales. Johanna Müller died in 1862 and George Müller in 1868, in Arelsen. They were the parents of seven children. The eldest, Herman, born September 10, 1835, at Freihenhagen, died in December, 1906. He studied surveying and forestry and many years ago became general manager of the estate of the Prince of Witten- genstein, where he remained until his death. He had two sons: Herman, who is now a captain in the German army in the present war; and Adolf, who is being held as a prisoner of war near Sydney, Australia. Carolina, born October 29, 1837, at Hohnsheidt, was married in 1857, to Albert Stracke, and imme- diately afterward came to America, settling at Warsaw, Illinois, but her death
644
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
occurred in St. Louis, in January, 1876. Adolf, born in Hohnsheidt, February 8, 1840, was in the dry-goods business in Berlin until 1907, and died near that city, April 2, 1909. George, the next of the family, is the one whose name heads this review. Johanna, born May 3, 1845, at Freihenhagen, came to Iowa in 1870, in 1880 was married to Michael Grassman, of Churchville, Warren county, Iowa, and died in December, 1901, her remains being interred in Linn Grove cemetery, Warren county. She left three children: Elsie, now the wife of Thomas Gillespie, of Crawford township, Madison county; Michael Grass- man, who was killed in a runaway accident about the year 1902; and Rosina, now Mrs. Couch, of Cumming, lowa. Otto Müller was born in 1848 at Frei- henhagen, studied pharmacy, and died in the year 1911. . Dr. Ernst Müller was born in November, 1855, in Bad-Wildungen, came to Iowa in 1871, studied pharmacy in Warsaw, Illinois, and medicine in St. Louis, and is now practicing medicine in the latter city.
George Mueller, who adopted the present spelling of the name, was educated in the public schools of Bad-Wildungen, which he attended from 1850 until 1857. He then went to a farm called the Heide, where he studied and followed farming, having in the meantime determined that he would come to America. He remained upon the farm until September, 1858, and in the succeeding winter attended the high school at Bad-Wildungen, studying French, English and mathematics. On the Ist of June, 1859, not wishing to serve in the German army, he left the fatherland for America, because all persons under seventeen could leave Germany without being held for military duty later. He crossed the Atlantic on a sailing vessel, landing at New York on the 15th of July, and from there he proceeded by rail to Dunkirk, New York, by boat to Toledo, Ohio, by rail to Chicago and thence to Warsaw, Illinois, where he lived with his sister, Mrs. Albert Stracke. From October, 1859, until May 5, 1860, he was employed in the Schott brewery in Warsaw, and in the latter month he came to Winterset, Iowa, in company with Gotlobb Burger, who was teaming to Winterset from Keokuk. After reaching Madison county Mr. Mueller lived with his cousin, Louis Stracke, until December 1, 1860. Mr. Stracke then sold his business in Winterset and removed with his family to a farm on seetion 25, Jefferson town-" ship. Mr. Mueller accompanied them to the farm and worked for Mr. Stracke until December 20, 1861, when he returned to Warsaw to assist his brother-in- law, Albert Stracke, with whom he continued until June, 1864, and during that period he engaged in clerking in stores and at various other kinds of work. He was then married and with his bride returned to Madison county. They worked on the farm of his cousin, Louis Stracke, until December 1, 1865, when they removed to the farm of William Schoen, where he and Mr. Schoen built a log house in which to live while he was cultivating a part of the farm. In the summer of 1866 Mr. Mueller purchased the Benjamin Duckett farm adjoining William Schoen's farm, of John Honnold, and he and his wife took up their abode thereon in December of that year. Much hard work was before him. His place comprised one hundred acres on section 2, Union township, much of which was covered with timber, so that there was a great deal of clearing to be done. He did not hesitate at the arduous task that confronted him, however, but resolutely set to work to make his land cultivable and as he prospered in his undertakings he kept adding to his original holdings until he is now the owner
645
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
of three hundred and thirty-three acres of valuable land in Union and Jefferson townships. The place is under a high state of cultivation and in fact is one of the best improved farms in Madison county. From time to time Mr. Mueller erected good farm buildings upon the place, including barns and other out- buildings for the shelter of grain and stock. In 1886 he built a new home across the township line from his old home in Union township, thus becoming a resi- dent of Jefferson township, but he still owns his original tract in Union town- ship, where his first residence was a log cabin. The rail fences have all been replaced by woven or barbed wire fences and the work of improvement has been carried on along the most progressive lines. In addition to his farming activi- ties Mr. Mueller is interested in the insurance business. He served for several years as vice president of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Madison county and in 1904 was elected its president, which office he has since filled.
On the 8th of August, 1864, at Warsaw, Illinois, Mr. Mueller was married to Miss Catharine Schott, who was born in Baden, Germany, August 22, 1845. She was early left an orphan and came to America in her eighth year, living in Warsaw, Illinois, with an uncle, Johann Schott, who operated the Schott brewery until his death some thirty years ago. To. Mr. and Mrs. Mueller have been born seven children. Herman A., born August 22, 1866, married Cora Irwin, and lives in St. Charles, Iowa. Laura M., born May 15, 1868, is the wife of A F. Burger, of Winterset. Theresa L., born September 7, 1870, is the wife of Pleasant Brittain, of Elliott, North Dakota. George E., born September 10, 1873, married Alice Battice, and lives in Tioga, North Dakota. Oscar O., born March 27, 1877, resides at Lewistown, Montana. Ernest W., born November 3, 1879, married Georgia Hunt, and lives on the farm which he operates in part- nership with his father. Fanny, born April 5, 1885, is the wife of L. V. St. John, a resident of Sheridan, Wyoming. The parents were much interested in the education of their children, who attended diligently the rural schools. and upon the farm and in the home were also taught valuable lessons of life. They also received such higher educational training as the parents were able to afford and all of the children, save Laura and Theresa, taught in the rural schools near their home. Before her marriage Laura was a teacher of instrumental music at Churchville, Barney, St. Charles, Truro and New Virginia. Herman, Oscar, George, Ernest and Fanny attended the State Normal School at Cedar Falls, and all except Ernest hold diplomas from that institution. He also attended the State Agricultural College at Ames for four terms before taking over the supervision of the home farm. Herman and Oscar also hold diplomas from the State University. George E. was principal of the schools at McCalls- burg, Danbury and Wesley, Iowa, and then went to North Dakota, where he taught in the public schools. He afterward entered the Indian service as teacher, first at Fort Totten and later in the Turtle Mountain Indian reservation. He is now farming and teaching near Tioga, Williams county, North Dakota. Miss Fanny Mueller taught a few years in the rural schools about her home and after her graduation at the State Normal School taught at Sheldahl, Callender and Clear Lake, Iowa, and later in the schools of Sheridan, Wyoming, where she married and now resides.
Mr. Mueller has been a republican since he became a naturalized American citizen in 1868 and has been active and prominent in public affairs in his com-
646
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
munity. He served as a trustee of Jefferson township from 1890 until 1903, was school director of sub-district No. 7 in Jefferson township for five years and was road supervisor for a term or two. At one time he was a member of the Grange and has always been interested in those agencies which have been factors in the agricultural development of the state and in upholding the standards of advancement along that line. He was confirmed in the Lutheran church in Germany and he has lived an upright, honorable life that has commanded for him the respect and goodwill of his fellow citizens. He belongs to the Madison County Historical Society and is well qualified to speak upon matters relating to the history of this community. On the 8th of August, 1914, he and his wife celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary at the old homestead, where they have lived for nearly forty-eight years, and 1914 was also the fiftieth anniversary of their arrival in the county. At the golden wedding celebration all of their children save two were present, together with other relatives and many friends and neighbors, and the occasion was a most enjoyable one, as they recalled tales of the early days and noted the changes of the fifty years in the improvements which have brought the county to its present condition of progress and pros- perity. The old settlers have nearly all passed away, the second generation are now past middle age and another generation has come up to take the place of the early pioneers. The veneration and respect which should ever be accorded one of advanced years is given Mr. Mueller, who is now in his seventy-third year, and it is to be hoped that he will be spared for many years to come to watch the further development of the county with which he has been so long identified.
INDEX
Abrahams, James
230
Clements, C. O ..
8
Addy, M. E ..
129
Cline, C. P.
256
Allgeyer, C. F. 616
417
Cochran, F. L. 402
Anderson, H. P ..
415
Cochran, J. H. 73
Anderson, W. M ..
108
Cochran, W. L. 381
Archer, O. M ..
315
C'ochran, Wesley 466
Atkinson, W. W.
341
Cole. E. K .. 218
121
Bailey, Moses
349
Compton, S. M.
75
Bardrick. G. A. 333
440
Cooper, R. H.
13
Barnett, J. M ..
208
Cooper, R. S.
90
Beardsley, N. M.
312
Cooper, W. S. 60
Beek, Jeannette E ..
100
Cornell, W. J
136
Beeler, Fred
448
Cox. George
269
Benge, J. E ..
76
Cox, Theodore
9
Bennett, G. N.
323
Craven, J. D. 368
552
Bertholf. A. H.
10
Creger, W. O
410
Bertholf, James
326
Cridling, John
279
Bertholf. L. M.
501
Binns, Nathan
622
Bird, Butler
627
Danforth, W. R .. 91
Bissell, E. E.
564
Davis, J. R. 262
Bissell, F. L.
408
Davisson, R. R 46
Błack. J. H ..
214
Blomquist, S. C
603
De Bok, John. 635
Devault, C. H., Sr 433
Bonham, Alexander
618
Devault, H. F. 514
Bonine, Mary K.
162
Devault, J. J. 548
Bowlsby. B. F. 299
Devault, J. S. 380
Boyce, M. J ..
83
De Witt, D. S. 494
Brady, M. O.
407
Dickinson, C. L. 170
Breakenridge, James
485
Brinson, William
276
Brittain, J. E.
153
Brittain. Pleasant
594
Brock, F. B.
112
Brock, J. F.
145
Brown, H. D.
369
Brown, John
92
Brown, Mahlon
88
Bruce, F. M
284
Early, Thomas 84
367
Egy, D. P.
Egy. J. S. 239
Eisele, W. J. 81
Cameron. J. A 263
Campbell, F. D.
59
Campbell. J. W
561
Carrington, G. T .. 560
291
Fenimore, Willard 500
424
Chace. W. A
245
Fife, Samuel
168
Chamberlain, A. B.
339
Foster, G. K.
Clague, Thomas
370
Foster, H. A. 45
Clampitt. D. F. 377
456
Foster, R. G.
45
Clement. J. W.
Duff. Robert 385
275
Dunlap, William
Bunnell. J. C.
98
Burger, A. F.
206
Eppard. W. S .. 528
Evans, John 317
252
Eyerly, G. W.
Carter. Joseph
Catterlin. John 52
Doak, W. H. 205
Doak & Hartsook 624
Douglass, A. C. 308
Drake, W. M. 490
Drake, W. W. 609
Dudley, W. H. 592
247
Beem, J. W. 363
Cox, John
189
Bennett. A. L. 476
Craig, W. F ..
Bennett, W. V 630
Creger, JJ. T.
Day, Ben 278
Boling, S. H .. 568
Danforth, Challen
5
Comp, Joseph
Conway, L. 438
Barker, P. N ..
Cochran, Fred
607
Anderson, E. K .. .
Foster, J. (. 336
647
648
INDEX
Frey, Christian
223
Johnson, A. B. . 576
Fulton, J. W ..
442
Johnston, George 350
Johnston, J. F. 395
Gamble, Michael
264
Gaston, J. J ..
97
Gattenby, J. K
571
Gentry, W. W
215
Gilbert, J. G.
464
Gilleland, G. W.
240
Gilpin, T. C. .
Kale, James
348
Godby, Clement
137
Kellogg. J. M
382
Golightly, S. T.
177
Gordon, J. A ..
148
Killam, J. M.
232
Gracey, W. J.
637
Kinnaird, G. H.
287
Graves, J. W ..
Kinsman, H. A
42
Green, C. R
144
Griffith, D. A.
285
Griffith, Jerome
324
Grismer, W. E.
43
Krell, J. W.
68
Griswold, D. M
31
La Pella, J. H
127
Leinard, J. W.
116
Leinard, M. C.
119
Leveke, Henry
254
Libby, W. T.
99
Hamilton, J. E.
21
Harrell, E. B
577
Harrell, Edgar
396
Harrell, E. W.
78
Harrell, L. W
130
Harris, L. J ..
572
Hartsook, F. P.
203
Hartsook, W. E
521
Lytle, F. F.
357
Hartsook, William
62
MeCleary, W. H 379
McClelland, J. L.
556
Hays, C. W.
371
Hays, S. A
74
MeGlothlen, J. W
451
Herren, F. C ..
591
Herren, Robert
610
Hester, J. E.
61
McPherson, M. L. 582
MeQuie, Peter 439
540
Hircock, C. E
465
Hircock, W. F.
Macumber, L. A
527
Hochstetler, J. M.
511
Mardis, T. F.
157
Hoeness, S. G.
400
Marsh, E. B 608
520
Hollingsworth, N. B.
200
Meacham, A. M
639
Holmes, M. B.
192
Miller, J. W
190
Howard, Dexter
636
Howell, C. E.
160
Moore, R. M. 508
Myers, G. W. 394
Mueller, George
643
Husted, H. C. 122
Hutchings, J. J. 22
Imboden, Frederick
372
Irvin, H. C. 280
Nelson, A. H.
513
Newlon, W. C.
403
Jackson, G. D.
172
Nichols, E. V. 241
Jesse, W. T. 463
Jessup, C. E.
229
Oldham, J. B 271
171
Hoisington, A. J.
294
Hollingsworth, D. E.
207
Marston, J. E.
547
Holmes, J. W. 82
Miller, Joseph
455
Holmes, R. A.
238
Mills, David
66
Moore, J. G., Jr
399
Howell, Lanson
628
Huglin, J. G.
321
Mueller, H. A 599
Mueller. O. O.
631
Heacock, S. C.
331
McKee, Thomas 361
MeKibban, James 425
MeNamara, P. M.
217
Hibbard, A. F
288
Hill, L.
585
Hindman, John
489
Macumber, Andrew
56
89
Mardis, F. F.
292
Hoeness, C. L.
495
Mardis, J. C.
154
Loehr, N. W.
441
Logsdon, C. C. .
562
Love, W. P.
309
Lowe, Laclede
147
Lucas, W. O.
114
Ludlow, Carrie E 107
Harwood, J. L.
475
Harwood, W. A.
450
MeConnelce, J. H 487
Griswold, Martin
496
Grout, G. M.
222
Guiher, J. A.
228
Guilliams, B. C ..
538
Ketman, I. J. 502
Goshorn, A. E
578
Killam: T. I. . 387
Graham, J. G.
146
261
Kirby, J. F. 432
Kirk, J. V. 641
Kivett, W. H
642
Jones, B. F.
133
Jones, C. L.
457
Kail, H. L. 158
194
Johnston, J. M. 124
Jones, A. J.
169
Kelso, H. C. 213
Likens, J. W
McGee, M. M. 531
Mack, J. H.
Marston, A. B
649
Orr. G. H.
293
Sole, .J. R. . 272
Orris, R. S. ..
175
Southworth, C. E .. 640
Osborn, J. M.
596
Spatz, F. B 193
Speer, A. S .. 388
Palmer, Ellsworth
198
Patterson, W. D
111
Peach, M. W.
29
Stiles, C. D. . 322
Peed, F. M ..
593
Stillman, P. R 20
Phillips, R. E.
586
Storck, George 204
Switzer, S. S.
401
Pitzer, J. A.
342
Poffinbarger, G. W
181
Tate, A. R. 152
Taylor, J. S.
310
Taylor, O. L.
623
Taylor, W. H.
621
Terrill, R. B. .
167
Thomas, E. M. .
113
Ramsey, Alexander
613
Thomas, James
569
Rankin, B. R.
354
Thomson, J. R .. .
32
Ratliff, D. G
632
Thornbrugh, J. C.
35
Ray, L. S.
426
Tidrick, M. R.
102
Read, Asahel
437
Townsend, L. T
471
Read, Thomas
434
Tracy, G. W
346
Renshaw, Sylvester
67
Travis, S. N.
418
Rhyno, W. P.
537
Travis, T. H.
53
Rippey, J. C.
325
Trawver, J. C'
283
Rippey, M. P.
427
Trindle, I. I
493
Riser, John, Sr.
242
Tucker, J. I ...
442
Roberts, Wesley
506
Rollstin, O. D.
120
Vance. W. H .. 128
Rollstin, Porter
159
Vandeburg, M. V.
270
Rowe, A. H.
488
Vierling, B. S. .
358
Rowe, Henry
364
Rowe, Martin
335
Wainwright, Vincent
38
Walker, W. W
533
Roy, J. L ..
36
Rutherford, William
185
Walton, J. M. 106
Sackett, G. C.
318
Weeks, W. H.
409
Sawhill, James
525
Sawhill, J. C.
526
Sawhill, J. W.
416
Whitworth, Morley
480
Schoenenberger, Anthony
481
Whitworth, William 355
Schoenenberger, E. D.
534
Wieks, Wallace 183
404
Schoenenberger, R. T.
356
Wilkinson, F. H.
307
Scott, C. F.
458
Wilson, Barnett
224
Scott, T. M.
134
Wilson, C. E.
302
Seevers, M. E
414
Wilson, Eugene
41
Shaffer, A. J.
392
Wilson, J. M.
138
Sheldon, C. G.
428
Wolverton, Emanuel 522
248
Shriver, J. G.
37
Skinner, G. N.
28
Young, H. R. 199
Slavens, Ernest
482
Young, J. T .. 186
Smith, E. M
266
Young, Myles, Sr. 15
Smith, James
507
Smith, Dr. Jessie V 70 Zeller, E. R.
178
Roy, Fred
115
Wallace, C. M 617
Weeks, A. B.
386
Wetrich, R. A. 452
White, J. C .. 55
Schoenenberger, John
604
Wilkinson, A. W
Schutz, A. C. 614
Wilkinson, W. S.
554
Shepherd, W. S
101
Wright, W. W.
Steele, .J. P .. 16
Stifel, W. F. 559
Pindell, Cass
462
Polk, Charles
184
Pomeroy, E. E.
499
Pope, Jacob
570
Pope, S. C.
474
INDEX
.5M
95 55
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