H. J. Moeller
One of those who has actively and successfully contributed to the commercial development of West Side is H. J. Moeller, who for a period of seventeen years has been engaged in the general merchandise business here.
A native of Germany, his birth occurred in the province of Schleswig-Holstein on Christmas day, 1863, being a son of Peter and Catherine (Diers) Moeller. The father passed away in the fatherland at the age of sixty-five years, but the mother emigrated to the United States with her children in 1881, locating in Davenport, where she continued to reside until her demise in 1901 at the age of eighty-two.
H. J. Moeller is the youngest of the six children born unto his parents. the others being: George, who resides in Davenport; Peter, a farmer near West Side; Minnie, the wife of William Lepteen, of Davenport; Wiebke, who married John Luetze, of Chicago; and Annie, the wife of Rudolph Meyer, also of Chicago.
H. J. Moeller was a youth of seventeen years when he left his native land, in the common schools of which country he acquired his education. Coming to Davenport, Iowa, in 1881, he continued to make his home with his mother for two years, at the end of which time he came to West Side, entering the employ of Peters & Suhr, who were engaged in the lumber and implement business, being identified with them for nine years. Withdrawing from this in 1892, he took a position on the railroad, which he retained for a year, at the expiration of which period in connection with John F. Grote he embarked in the general merchandise business. This arrangement continued for ten years and then Mr. Moeller bought the interest of Mr. Grote and has since been conducting the business alone. He has met with success in this venture and in addition to his store owns a very pleasant residence which he and his family occupy.
In March, 1886, Mr. Moeller was united in marriage to Miss Ida Boock, who is a native of Bryant, Iowa, although of German extraction, her birth occurring on the 14th of April, 1867. She is the eldest of the five children born unto her parents, Henry and Catherine (Kuhl) Boock, the others being: Chris and Henry, residents of West Side; Tillie, the wife of John Rinefeld, of Kansas; and Emma, who married Jack Hall, of Boone, Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Moeller are the parents of the following children: Harry, living in Omaha, Nebraska; Fred, who passed away on the 24th of November, 1892, at the age of four years; Alma, whose demise occurred on the 6th of December, 1892, at the age of two years; Carl, residing in Omaha, Nebraska; Roy, who is assisting his father in the store; and Arlo and Earl, both of whom are still at home.
The family affiliate with the Lutheran church, while fraternally Mr. Moeller is identified with the Masonic order and the Modern Woodmen. A strong advocate of the principles of democracy Mr. Moeller gives his political support to the men and measures of that party. That he stands well in the opinion of his fellow citizens is indicated by the fact that he is and has been for twenty years a member of the council. A public-spirited man, he has always openly declared his support of every measure he considered to be for the benefit of the community at large, which fact of itself would make him a most desirable citizen.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.