Outagamie County, WI - Biography of Wm. Muehl of Seymour *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives SUBJECT: Biography of Wm. Muehl of Seymour SUBMITTER: County Coordinator EMAIL: jmmarasch@aol.com DATE SUBMITTED: 16 Feb 2000 SURNAMES: MUEHL SOURCE: Commemorative Biographical Record of the Fox River Valley Counties of Brown, Outagamie and Winnebago, J.H. Beers & Co, p. 509-510, 1895 BIOGRAPHY: Wm. MUEHL, one of the most enterprising businessmen of Seymour, Outagamie county, was born in Germantown, Washington Co., Wis., and is a son of Frederick Muehl, a native of Untenheim, Darmstadt, Germany. Heinrich and Katharina (Hamm) Muehl, grandparents of our subject, came to America three years after their son, living with their daughter, Mrs. Regina Straub, in Germantown township, Washington county, until called to the home beyond. Their family numbered five children-Ludwig, Christina, Regina, Catherina and Frederick. The last named was reared under the parental roof in the usual manner of farmer lads, and at the age of twenty years emigrated to America, settling in Germantown, Wis., where he arrived August 7, 1843. During the succeeding three years, he worked on a farm near Milwaukee, Wis., then purchased a farm of fifty acres in Germantown township, Washington county. This became his property in 1846, and he made his home thereon for twenty-one years, during which time he transformed the land into rich and fertile fields. Selling that farm in 1867, he came to Seymour, Wis., where he bought 240 acres of land situated within the corporation limits, and the tract being largely unimproved he at once began to clear and develop it. He worked hard, and by his labor and perseverance, and the assistance of his four sons, has made this a valuable and highly productive farm, one of the best in this section of the State. Frederick Muehl was married in Germantown township, Washington Co., Wis., to Dorothea Anton, and they have become the parents of nine children, namely: Catharina, Frederick, Phillip, William M., Christina, Lena (who died at the age of thirty years), Dorothea, Lizzie, and George. The father of this family is a leading member of the German Evangelical Church, and has been one of its most active workers. He served as trustee for a number of years, and while the house of worship was being erected, he gave at least one third of the sum necessary for the work, and also gave of his time and labor. In politics he has been a Republican since the organization of the party, but has never sought office, preferring to give his energies to his business interests in which he has been very successful, earning a well-deserved competence. William M. Muehl acquired his education in Germantown and Seymour, coming to the latter place with his father twenty-seven years ago, and in this city grew to manhood. In his youth he worked on his father's farm, and later was engaged in the furniture business with his brother, Phillip, continuing operations along this line for three years. He then embarked in the grocery business, and in 1889 added a stock of general merchandise. His store is one of the two largest in Seymour, and is a first-class establishment of the kind, complete in all its appointments. He receives from the public a liberal and well-deserved patronage, for he earnestly desires to please his customers, and is straightforward and honorable in all dealings. Mr. Muehl was married January 21, 1882, to Miss Emma Rex, a native of Wisconsin, and they have one child, William R., born May, 2, 1886. In his political views, our subject is a Republican, and he is much interested in the success of his party, believing firmly in its principles. In his business dealings he has won success, and his life has been one of usefulness and activity, bringing him high regard.