Muller, Julius

MULLER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/22/2019 at 19:49:55

Julius Muller

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.428)
JULIUS MULLER, a prominent citizen near Crescent City, was born April 8, 1836, in Colmar, Alsace, France, which has been a province of Germany since the Franco-German war of 1870-'71. His parents, William and Madaline (REBERT) MULLER, were also natives of France. His father was a bookbinder by trade; he had four children, of whom Julius was the second. In 1851, leaving his family for the purpose, he came to America, sailing from Havre to New Orleans, arriving eight weeks later. Coming on up to St. Louis, he was there engaged at his trade. During the month of December the next year his family arrived. A year afterward he went to Davenport and established himself in his trade there, where also Julius, having previously served his apprenticeship in the same, remained a short time. Going next to Cassville, Wisconsin, he entered 160 acres of land and began improving it, but after a time he sold it, visited Lancaster, Wisconsin, and then located in Rock Island, Illinois, where he carried on his business extensively until he was burned out. His wife, being an invalid, was living with her daughter in Davenport, when she died in 1875. After her death he made a number of changes until he finally settled in Davenport, where he still resides.

October 2, 1859, Mr. Julius MULLER married Ann BIRD, who was born near Quebec, Canada, May 2, 1838, of Irish ancestry. She was brought by her parents to Illinois in 1852, and to Clay County, Iowa, in 1855. After his marriage Mr. MULLER bought a tract of bottom land in Harrison County, this State, and resold it in 1866; but in 1864 he was drafted into the military service, placed in Company E. Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was in service at Nashville, Tennessee. Next he was detailed upon a scouting expedition through Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, and thence to Annapolis, Maryland, whence he was sent down the coast on vessels to Morehead City, North Carolina, thence to Newbern and Kingston, where they were engaged in a severe fight, Mr. MULLER having a narrow escape from the bullet of a sharp-shooter. They then joined Sherman in his march from the sea. At Raleigh they heard of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. They proceeded on to Washington and thence to Louisville, Kentucky, where they were mustered out, July 21, 1865.

Mr. MULLER then went to Denver, looking for a place to locate, but returned to Pottawattamie County, and in 1867 purchased forty acres of land entirely wild, and began improving it. He has since added to his first purchase until he now has 164 acres of good land, on sections 13 and 24. He has a good story-and-a-half house with farm buildings, etc, a fine orchard and evergreen ornamental trees about the premises. His specialty is the rearing of domestic animals, chiefly horses.

Politically Mr. MULLER is a Republican, but in the primaries he votes for "the best man." He is a member of the M. P. Society, and has held various offices. He and his family are highly respected. His children are: Mary, born January 25, 1861, residing at home; William, born April 8, 1862, resides in Missouri Valley, Iowa; Charles, born January 22, 1867; Minnie, born August 15, 1870; and Thomas, born November 26, 1871, all three of these last still at their parental home.