PETER MÜLLER.

Pg 341

         One of those who have been successfully indentified with the mercantile interests of Grand View for some years past is Peter Müller, whose birth occurred in the Rhine Province, Germany, on the 3d of November, 1856. His parents, Peter and Caroline Müller, were also born in the fatherland and there Mr. Müller, passed away on the 4th of July, 1897, at the age of sixty-eight years, but his wife still survives and continues to reside in the land of her nativity. Four children were born of this union of whom the son Peter is the second in order of birth, the others being: Carl, who is a resident of Bowling Green, Ohio; Julius, who lives in Germany; and Philip, who passed away in the old country in 1888, at the age of twenty-five years.

         Peter Müller was only a youth of seventeen years of age when he took passage for America, where he expected to make his fortune. He landed in the United States on the 17th of September, 1873, first locating in Danville, Kentucky, where for ten months thereafter he followed the baker’s trade. At the expiration of that period he migrated to Springfield, Ohio, where he continued to follow his trade for a few months, going from there to Columbus. From the latter city he went to Cincinnati and after a short sojourn there took up his residence for a time in New Orleans. Returning to the north again he located in Chicago where he remained until he came to Iowa. He first settled in Postville, this state, where for twelve years he operated a bakery. Disposing of his business at the expiration of that period he returned to Germany for a visit.

         When he came back to this country he located in Nashua, Chickasaw county, Iowa, where he opened a bakery which he ran for five years. Selling his business, for two years thereafter he lived retired, following which he went to Montana . . .

Pg 342

. . . where he visited relatives for a short time. Subsequently he engaged in business in Victor, Iowa, but he sold his establishment at the end of sixteen months and came to Grand View. Having decided to become identified with some other line of activity he bought the mercantile business of R. C. Vibber, which for three years thereafter he conducted alone. At the end of that time he sold a half interest to T. E. Johnston and they have ever since been associated in the management of the business. They have a large and well selected stock of goods and enjoy an excellent patronage.

         While residing in Postville Mr. Müller was married to Miss Albertina Kammine, their union being solemnized on the 12th of October, 1879. Mrs. Müller is also a native of Germany, her natal day having been the 28th of October, 1859, and her parents Henry and Louise Kammine. Her parents emigrated to the United States in 1873 and located on a farm in Allamakee county. There the father passed away in July, 1909, but the mother survived until the 27th of March, 1911, her demise occurring on the old homestead. Of the three children born of their union Mrs. Müller is the eldest; the others are: Amelia, the wife of Fred Duebel of Allamakee county; and Tillie, who married Paul Topel, also a resident of Allamakee county. Having no children of their own Mr. and Mrs. Müller have adopted two, Lemma and May A.

         In religion Mr. and Mrs. Müller are of the German Lutheran faith and in politics he is a republican. Although he has never been an office seeker at the present time he is serving as a member of the city council. He is one of those enterprising, thrifty and industrious sons of the fatherland who came to America practically empty-handed, but with an inexhaustible supply of perseverance and determination of purpose by means of which he hewed his way to success.