Scott Co, Iowa - IAGenWeb Project
Frank W Mueller Bio
"From Vol 2 History of Davenport and Scott County" by Harry E. Downer - S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago
Frank W. Mueller, the eldest son of Christian and Elfrieda Mueller, was born in Davenport, October 18, 1863. His boyhood days were spent in his father's home, during which time he attended the public schools of the city, while later he enjoyed the advantage of instruction in the Iowa State University, from which he was graduated. His education complete, he became associated with his father in the lumber business and in order to gain comprehensive knowledge thereof passed through every department, thus fitting himself for his present important position. Since his father's death he has been called to the presidency of the Mueller Lumber Company and is thus in control of one of the most extensive and important lumber concerns not only of Davenport but of the middle west. He is likewise the vice president of the Mueller Land & Timber Company and in business affairs his judgment is regarded as most sound. He is a member of the Turners and the Schuetzen societies and is also well known in Masonic circles.Transcribed by Debbie Gerischer
"From Vol 2 History of Davenport and Scott County" by Harry E. Downer - S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago
Ed C. Mueller, associated with his brothers in the Mueller Lumber Company, was born January 8, 1865, in this city, and pursued his education through successive grades in the public schools until he undertook the mastery of the brances taught in the high school. He afterward attended the Duncan Business College and when his course was completed, like his brothers, became connected with the father's business. All were thoroughly trained in the various departments of the business and the result is that the enterprise has continued to grow under their management since the father's death. From 1886 until 1907 Ed C. Mueller had charge of the manufacturing interests in the summer and was superintendent of the logging in the winter. He thus gained intimate and comprehensive knowledge of the business in its operative department and since 1907 has looked after the buying for the Mueller Lumber Company, of which he is now the secretary and treasurer. He also has considerable supervision over the interests of the Mueller Land & Timber Company, of which he is the president. The latter company has very large interests in Oregon and the scope of both business enterprises if being gradually extended, while the firm has become widely known throughtout the middle portion of the country and even far into the west.
In 1889 Mr. Mueller was married to Miss Clara Bruhn, a native of Davenport and a daughter of John Bruhn, one of the old residents of the city. They have two children: Walter, born July 5, 1896; and Elinore, born August 19, 1902.Transcribed by Debbie Gerischer
"From Vol 2 History of Davenport and Scott County" by Harry E. Donner - S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago
W. L. Mueller was born February 21, 1867, and is a son of Christian Mueller, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this volume. The public schools afforded him his early educational privileges and he afterward attended Griswold College. He then became connected with the lumber business which was founded and conducted by his father, spending the first year on the river and in keeping books. Like his brothers, he passed through every department of the business in order that he might thoroughly acquaint himself with the trade, not only in the management of the financial interests but also in the value of lumber. It was in 1895 that he was admitted to a partnership and since the death of the father the business has been carried on by the sons, W. L. Mueller being now the vice president of the Mueller Lumber company. He gives his undivided time and attention to the management and development of the business and his efforts have constituted an important factor in its expansion and substantial growth.
In 1893 Mr. Mueller was married to Miss Bernhardine Lennhuis, a native of Davenport and a daughter of Bernhard Lennhuis, one of the old settlers of Scott county. They now have two children, Ben and Annie. Mr. Mueller belongs to the Turners and other societies, in which his social qualities and generous spirit have rendered him popular.Transcribed by Debbie Gerischer
Bio of Alfred Christian Mueller
"From Vol 2 History of Davenport and Scott County" by Harry E. Downer - S. J. Clarke Publishing Co 1910 Chicago
Fortunate is the man who has back of him an ancestry honorable and distinguished, and happy is he if his lines of life are cast in harmony therewith. In person, in talents and in character Alfred Christian Mueller is a worthy scion of his race. He is a representative in the maternal line of a family that has figured conspicuously in connection with the legal history of Davenport for fifty-seven years, and in his personal connection with the bar he has demonstrated the possession of those qualities which win success in law practice - close application, comprehensive study of legal principles and unfaltering devotion to the interests of his clients.
Mr. Mueller was born in Davenport, June 14, 1875, a son of Christian and Elfrieda (Claussen) Mueller. The father, for many years a leading lumber merchant and prominent and beloved citizen of Davenport, is mentioned at length on another pages of this volume. The mother was a daughter of Hans Reimer Claussen, who in 1853 was the founder of the present law firm with which A. C. Mueller is now connected. The business has descended by legacy or purchase to son and grandson to the present time and the firm has ever stood as one of the most successful and representative among the practitioners of the Davenport bar. Hans Reimer Claussen, the founder of the firm, was born in Schleswig-Holstein, in 1804, and prepared for the practice of law as a student in the University of Kiel between the years 1824 and 1829. The following year he was admitted to the bar and entered upon the active duties of the profession near his old home. In 1834 he opened an office in Kiel, where he remained in active practice until 1851, when he was exiled by the King of Denmark, then ruler of Schleswig-Holstein. He served as a member of the legislature of Holstein from 1840 until 1851 and in 1848-9 was a member of the German parliament, which convened in May of the former year. For the prominent part which he took in the discussion of governmental affairs, and because his son Ernest fought in the ranks of the revolutionists in 1848, the family were exiled. America, the refuge of so many political exiles from Germany, offered shelter and opportunity to H. R. Claussen, who, arriving in Davenport in 1851, began the study of the English language and two years thereafter was admitted to the bar. His son Ernest became his law partner and the firm soon took rank with the leading representatives of the legal profession in this city. In 1869 Hans R. Claussen was elected to the state senate for a four years' term, and his knowledge of the law enabled him to take active part in the revision of the court in 1873. He left the impress of his individuality upon the laws enacted during his connection with the general assembly and also upon the history of the republican party, aiding largely in shaping its history in this state. In May, 1832, he married Anna Rahbeck, a daughter of a Danish civil officer and niece of a celebrated Danish poet. Ernest Claussen, who became his father's law partner and was an uncle of A. C. Mueller, was born in 1833, spent the first two years in America in St. Louis and then became a resident of Davenport. Following his father's retirement from the bar in 1870 he continued in practice alone until his son Alfred became his associate. Moreover, he was prominent in connection with municipal affairs and that his fellow townsmen recognized his devotion to the public welfare is indicated in the fact that he was for five terms mayor of Davenport.
From a family of lawyers, therefore, Alfred Christian Mueller was descended in the maternal line. At the usual age he became a pupil in the public schools and afterward attended Duncan's Commercial College, while for one year he was a student in the polytechnic school at Hanover, Germany. His literary course completed, he took up the study of law and afterward pursued his reading for one year under the direction of Julius Lischer. He next entered the law school of the Iowa State University, from which he was graduated in 1897 and afterward spent one year in the office of Lischer & Bawden. He next went to New York and pursued a three years' course in law in Columbia University, from which he was graduated in the class of 1901. Returning to Davenport, he became associated with the Mueller Lumber Company as auditor, but in 1903 entered actively upon the practice of law and became the successor of his cousin, Alfred Claussen, thus continuing the firm which was founded by his grandfather.
On the 21st of January, 1903, Mr. Mueller was married to Lulu May Ellsworth, a native of New York city and a daughter of Albert Starr and Cora Ellsworth, who were of English descent. Mr. Mueller takes little active part in politics but is a member of the school board and is much interested in the cause of education, recognizing the full value of public instruction as one of the bulwarks of the nation.Transcribed by Debbie Gerischer
"From History of Davenport and Scott County, Iowa - by Harry E. Donner - Chicago - The S. J. Clark Publishing Company, 1910"
One of the prominent young men of Scott county is Dr. Henry Hell, who for the past five years has been practicing his profession as a veterinarian there and in the village of New Liberty. A native of this county, he was born in Cleona township, November 27, 1877, and is a son of John and Wiebke (Stolley) Hell. The former was born in the town of Maren, Ditmarschen, Germany, March 27, 1833. In 1853 he sailed for America, coming to Davenport immediately after crossing the Atlantic, and there for a number of years he worked at his trade of a mason, but later in partnership with his brother Claus bought a team of oxen and engaged in breaking prairie for pioneer settlers in this county. In 1857 the brothers began to farm for themselves, having secured what was then known as the Charles Hagen place in Hickory Grove township. Five years later John Hell married and in March, 1862, removed to Cleona township, where he lived until 1891, when he came to New Liberty, here engaging in the general merchandise business. In the preceding years he had followed farming with great profit, for in addition to the quarter section of land on which he lived in Cleona township on the Cedar county line, another tract of eighty acres in Cedar county, comprising the old homestead farm, and two hundred and forty acres in Cedar county, in the same section as the tract just mentioned. These extensive landholdings were entirely the result of his own labor, for he came here with little capital. The land was unimproved and its resources were then untried. He overcame the many obstacles that beset his path, however, and in 1900, at the beginning of the new century, retired from active life. He died in New Liberty, August 13, 1908. His wife, whom he wedded January 18, 1862, was born in Rendsburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, January 12, 1833, and had come to this country in 1860. She is still living and makes her home in New Liberty. Six children were born to them: John, a farmer at Hankinson, North Dakota; Charles, a mechanic at Grundy Center, Iowa; Theodore, who died in childhood; William, who is a molder and lives in Davenport; George, a farmer at Sunbury, Iowa; and Henry, the subject of this sketch.
Dr. Henry Hell was reared at home and lived with his parents in Cleona township and New Liberty until 1900. He attended the public schools of his district during his youth, in which he received a good foundation for the studies he later pursued in higher institutions of learning. When he left home upon his father's retirement from business in 1900, he went to his brother John, who was at that time a contractor of railroad construction. He devoted some of his time to that labor for several months and in the fall of 1901 took a course in veterinary medicine at the Iowa State College at Ames. In the fall of 1903 he was admitted to advanced standing in the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, where he pursued his studies in his chosen profession until June 15, 1904, when he was given a degree from the veterinary department of that institution. He came to New Liberty almost immediately after his graduation and on the 1st of July commenced the practice of veterinary surgery in that village. A young man, who felt that from his boyhood he was peculiarly fitted for his line of work, and being endowed with a quick and alert mind, which has been most thoroughly trained, he has proved that he is well abel to care for the most troublesome cases entrusted to his care. A skillful practitioner he has also a keen understanding of animal nature, so that in the half decade that he has been practicing here he has been of invaluable assistance to the farmers and stock owners of the surrounding country.
At Omro, Wisconsin, December 26, 1906, was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Hell and Miss Minne Elmegreen, who was born in Schleswig township, Manitowoc county, Wisconsin, February 19, 1884, and is a daughter of August Elmegreen. She received her early education in the place of her birth and then recieved private instruction under Professor Gensch at Hilbert, Wisconsin, after which she engaged in teaching for three years. In the fall of 1904 she was engaged as an instructor in Liberty township and here met Dr. Hell, whom she afterward married. Two children, Chester John and Ethel Mae, have been born to the couple.
Dr. Hell is a stanch republican in his political views and is at present treasurer of the town of New Liberty, for he is a young man in whom all place the greatest reliance. Fraternally he enjoys pleasant relations, being an active member of Lodge, No. 221, A. F. & A. M., at Davenport.
Transcribed by Debbie Gerischer
"From Vol 2 History of Davenport and Scott County" by Harry E. Downer - S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago
Hon. George W. Scott, mayor of the city of Davenport, whose experiences have been wide and whose course has been maked by continuous progress, was born on a farm near Le Roy, in Oldtown township, McLean county, Illinois, January 31, 1861. His parents were William H. and Eunice B. (Lebo) Scott, the former of Irish descent and the latter of French lineage. The maternal grandfather was born in France, and some of the Lebo family were participants in the Revolutionary war and the war of 1812, while brothers of Eunice B. Lebo served in the Civil War.
William H. Scott was a farmer by occupation and carried on agricultural pursuits and stock-raising on an extensive scale. He died March 19, 1889, near Lincoln, Nebraska, which city was at that time his home. His widow now resides with a daughter near Enid, Oklahoma. Their family numbered four sons and two daughters, five of whom are living: George W.; Ira, who is on a farm near Cashion, Oklahoma; Wilson H., livingnear La Cygne, Kansas; Orris, whose home is near Norfolk, Nebraska; and Emma, the wife of John Hollar, near Enid, Oklahoma.
George W. Scott was reared to farm life and attended the district schools until nineteen years of age, when he continued his studies in the Evergreen City Business College, at Bloomington, Illinois, pursuing a commercial course. He afterward entered the Illinois State Normal University at Normal, Illinois, and there pursued a two years' course. He afterward engaged in teaching in the country and graded schools for three years and, making advance in this field of labor as he has in every other to which he has directed his attention, he became principal of the graded schools at Morton, Illinois. After a short time he was appointed superintendent of the Indian school and special disbursement agent at Fort Stevenson, Dakota, now North Dakota. He continued in that position from October 28, 1885, until January 8, 1889, when he was appointed superintendent by Hon. J. D. C. Atkins, commissioner of Indian affairs, and at the same time received appointment as special disbursing agent from the Hon. L. Q. C. Lamar, secretary of the interior during President Cleveland's first administration.
Shortly after reaching Fort Stevenson Mr. Scott was appointed first postmaster of the fort by General Adlai E. Stevenson, first assistant postmaster-general. This was an old military fort established in 1868 and when Mr. Scott received this appointment the military reservation was set off, in charge of the interior department, for school purposes and he was placed in charge as its first bonded officer. He not only had charge of the school and reservation but also established an industrial school to which he brought many Indian children who were there taught the different trades and industries. On the 8th of January, 1889, by order of the secretary of the interior and commissioner of Indian affairs, Mr. Scott was transferred to the superintendency of the Chilocco Indian Training School at Chilocco, Indian Territory, with an annual increase of salary of three hundred dollars. At the time that was one of the largest Indian training schools in the service, having an enrollment of some three hundred boys and girls. General John H. Oberly had charge of the Indian affairs and the Hon. William Vilas was secretary of the interior. Mr. Scott remained in charge of the school until december 1, 1889, when he resigned to devote his attention to the reading of law. At the school he had had thirty-five employes under him, had conducted a farm of five hundred acres, had carried on stock-raising quite extensively and had superintended all the manual and graded school work. He was one of the pioneers in the work of the Indian training schools and succeeded in demonstrating their worth in the civilizing of the red race.
While thus engaged Mr. Scott read law in his leisure moments. His reading was directed by C. T. Atkinson, at Arkansas City, Kansas, and after his admission to the bar, on the 20th of April, 1890, he practiced there until April, 1891, when he was elected justice of the peace, which position he continued to fill until elected county attorney, January 1, 1893. He filled the latter position for two years and following his retirement from office removed to Davenport on the 1st of February, 1895, and has since been a representative of the bar in this city. While engaged in teaching and also while pursuing his studies Mr. Scott devoted some time to the newspaper business, being correspondent for the Bloomington Bulletin. He also worked for the Pekin (Illinois) Times and while in Kansas he was for a time associate editor of the Arkansas City Valley Democrat and correspondent for a number of years for other papers. During the fifteen years of his connection with the legal profession of Davenport he has made substantial advance and has conducted many important litigated interests. He formed a partnership with William Theophilus which continued until April 1, 1898, when Mr. Scott was appointed city attorney at Davenport, holding the position until April 1, 1900. He was then engaged in the practice of law alone until January 1, 1905, when he formed partnership relations with B. I. Salinger and William Theophilus under the firm name of Salinger, Scott & Theophilus, which relation was maintained until May 17, 1909. On the 1st of April, 1906, Mr. Scott was appointed city attorney of Davneport, which office he held until the election of 1908, when he was chosen to the highest official position in the gift of the city, being elected mayor for a two years' term. In 1904 he was the democratic nominee for county attorney but was defeated by one hundred and eight-one votes. He ran far ahead of his ticket, however, as is indicated in the fact that Roosevelt in the same year was given a majority of twenty-five hundred.
On the 5th of January, 1887, Mr. Scott was married to Miss Rosemary Spier, of Peoria, Illinois, and they have six children: Walter Howell, Maris Stella, Coaina Marie, Eunice Marie, Sylvester Hackney, and George Winans. The family are members of the Catholic church and Mr. Scott holds membership with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Woodmen of the World, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the National Union, the Modern Brotherhood of America, the Odd Fellows' society and the Elks, and has filled nearly all of the chairs in nearly all of these organizations. He was exalted ruler of the Elks lodge for two years, was district deputy of the southern division of Iowa and was one of the board of directors of the Elks Building Association. He has also been a member of the Elks grand lodge. He has taken a very active part in society and political affairs and has been called upon to deliver many speeches and orations, both in the lodges and during political campaings. He has been attorney for a number of corporations in this city and has met with eminent success as a criminal lawyer. He stands as a splendid representative of the men whose strength of character and ability have enabled them to work their way upward. Mr. Scott provided for his own education and though he has met with many hardships and difficulties in life, he has made continuous advancement and is today a forceful character in the professional and political circles of his adopted city.
Transcribed by Debbie Gerischer
"From Vol 2 History of Davenport and Scott County" by Harry E. Downer - S. J. Clare Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago
F. E. Peto, who in former years was an active factor in commercial circles of Davenport, conducting an extensive and profitable business as a shoe merchant, is now living retired save for the supervision which he gives to his real-estate interests. His birth occurred in the town of Koenigsberg, Prussia, Germany, on the 1st of May, 1838, his parents being Frederick and Henrietta Peto, both of whom passed away in that country. The father, who was engaged in business as a shoe merchant, served as a soldier in the war of 1830 between Poland and Prussia.
F. E. Peto attended the schools of his native land in the acquirement of an education and afterward worked for his father, under whose direction he gained a thorough knowledge of the shoe business. He likewise served in the German army, participating in the war with Denmark in 1863-4 and in the war of 1866 against Austria. The many favorable reports which reached him concerning the opportunities and advantages of the new world led him to the determination to establish his home on this side of the Atlantic and in 1870 he set sail for American shores. After landing at New York he came direct to Davenport, arriving in this city on the 30th of June. He first spent about two years in the employ of John Jamison, who was engaged in the shoe business, and then started out on his own account, conducting a leather business on Second street for three years. Subsequently he was engaged in the same business in the Hahnemann building for about three years and then purchased a building at No 415 West Second street, where he successfully carried on business until the time of his retirement in 1904. He purchased two more buildings on either side of the one which first came into his possession and likewise bought considerable other property and, though living largely retired for the past six years, still gives his supervision to his extensive real-estate interest.
In January, 1858, Mr. Peto was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Dahms, a daughter of Peter and Helena Dahms. Unto them were born seven children, four of whom passed away in early life. Edward, who is a resident of Chicago, wedded Miss Minnie Miller and has a daughter, Edith. Frank, who died at the age of thirty-seven years, had married Miss Laura Wiese, by whom he had two children, Alice E. and Camilla. Henry, living in Davenport, wedded Miss Anna Klode and has two sons, Harry and Orr.
Since becoming a naturalized American citizen Mr. Peto has given his political allegiance to the repubilcan party, while fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America. Though born across the water, he is thoroughly American in thought and feeling, and is patriotic and sincere in his love for the stars and stripes. For four decades he has made his home in Scott county, where he has acquired a competence and where he is an honored and respected citizen. In business his course has been characterized by the strictest fidelity to principle and in social relations he displays an unfailing courtesy and a genial cordiality that have won for him many friendsTranscribed by Debbie Gerischer
"From Vol 2 History of Davenport and Scott County" by Harry E. Downer - S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago
Theodor Hartz, secretary, treasurer and manager of the Otto Albrecht Company, manufacturers of fine cigars, was born in Altona, Holstein, Germany, April 24, 1857, a son of Theodor and Emilie (Gottschau) Hartz, who came to America, settling in Rock Island, Illinois, on the 27th of July, 1972. The father was a carpenter and joiner and both he and his wife spent their remaining days in Rock Island, their graves being made in Chipawanie cemetery of that city.
Theodor Hartz was reared in his native land, attending the city schools and also takiing up the study of English under private instruction ere he left Germany for the new world. He had therefore learned to speak the language of this country fairly well when he accompanied his parents on the trip across the Atlantic. They reached Rock Island on Saturday, and on the following Monday he secured a position in the dry-goods store of Louis Kiesow, with whom he remained for seven years - a trusted and valued employe whose fidelity and ability was indicated by the fact of his long retention in the house. He was originally given his board and clothing as compensation for his services, and the proprietor also bestowed upon him a dollar somewhat as an honorarium. On Christmas he was given two dollars and at the end of the year he had eighty-five cents left out of his cash capital of three dollars. During the second year he was paid twelve and a half dollars a month and board, while the third year he was given fifteen dollars per month and board. Later he received an increase to fifteen dollars per week and boarded himself. The appreciation of his services on the part of his employer is indicated in his continued promotion and increase in salary.
In July, 1879, Mr. Hartz came to Davenport, where he secured a position as draft clerk in the citizens National Bank, there remaining until August, 1880, when he became connected with his present line of business in association with Otto Albrecht, who established the enterprise in 1854. Mr. Hartz represented the business upon the road as a traveling salesman for two and a half years, selling cigars, and later was employed in the house. In 1897 the firm was incorporated and Mr. Hartz, being admitted to a partnership, was chosen secretary and treasurer. In the meantime, on the 10th of November, 1881, he married Miss Emma, a daughter of Otto Albrecht. The father became president of the new company, with Mrs. Hartz as vice president. On the 26th of February, 1904, Mr. Albrecht passed away. He had willed his interest in the business to Theodor Hartz personally, and the latter has since managed the enterprise, making his wife president and his daughter, Paula Dunker, vice president, while he retains his old offical connection with the business as secretary and treasurer. The company owns a well equipped factory and employs about thirty people in the manufacture of various kinds of cigars, which find a ready market in Iowa, Illinois and part of Minnesota and South Dakota. Great care and attention are paid to the excellence of the product and the systematic business methods of the house and the well known reliability of the company have constituted strong elements in its success.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hartz have been eleven children of whom ten are yet living: Paula, the wife of William Dunker; Joa; Hans W.; Gertrude; Nellie; Emilie; Gesa; Ina; Hildegard; and Emma. One child, Otto Albrecht, died in December, 1897. The family are members of the Ethical Society of Davenport. Mr. Hartz has been a member of the school board for nine years and the cause of education finds in him a warm champion, his labors being effective in advancing the school interests of this city. He is also a member of the Davenport Commercial Club and of the Trungemeinde. He exemplifies in his life many of the sterling characteristics of his German ancestry, having the persistent purpose and indefatigabel energy which have ever marked the Teutonic race. His diligence has brought him the success which is now his, while his keen discernment in business affairs enables him to capbly control and develop the interests which are under his charge.Transcribed by Elaine Rathmann
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