Mueller-Diefenbach Heritage Pages
Vorfahren & Nachkommen von John Carl Müller und Carl Louis Diefenbach
1847 - 1894 (47 years)«Prev 1 2 3 4 5 Next» » Slide Show
J. C. Mueller Family - Part 7: Early Years in Austin, to 1914
Part 7 of "The J. C. Mueller Family"
As previously mentioned, some files did not completely convert using WordPort. This file wouldn't convert at all, leading me to believe it may have been partially corrupted at some point. I still have the original file on floppy, and may try some file rescue later. The main issues here will be underlined text, which probably indicates a German word or phrase.
The text here is somewhat fragmented and disorganized. The last line indicated my father last worked on this file in May of 1989. I believe it was not yet up to his standards for publication. RBM
On March 4, 1885, the Muellers bought 2.5 acres of land on 23rd Street (Manor Road) in Austin. according to Travis County records. I have not been able to verify the deed, but the date was provided by Robert Mueller, Jr.
According to Aunt Tillie, the house on Manor Road and East Avenue was originally a one-story house that was later enlarged to a two-story house. [This does not seem to be apparent in the photo.] The family lived on Robertson Hill, in the old Bickler School or French Legation area for about three months while the house on Manor Road was being finished. J. C. Mueller was still living when the Manor Road house was built. Originally the house was on a plot of about three and a half acres, and was the length of the Catholic cemetery in back of the house. (All of the above from Aunt Tillie.)
ADDITION, 3/24/87, from Austin, June '86,:
The entry in the Austin City Directory, 1885-86, p. 164: "Mueller, J. Charles, Feed, Hay, and Grain, 322 E. Pecan r es East Ave nr n city limits. See advt." [=residence, east side East Avenue, near north city limits. Apparently the houses that far out were not numbered. HM]
An advertisement in the same directory, p. 16:
"J. C. Mueller,
Dealer in
Feed, Hay, Corn, Bran, Oats, ETC.
All Kinds of Hay and Grass Seeds,
Free Delivery.
322 East Pecan St. Austin, Texas"
[There is no entry for J. C. Mueller in the 1883-84 City Directory.]
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ADDITION, 3/24/87: One of my grandfather's books was one on beekeeping. "Die neue nützlicher Bienenzucht [=Bee-keeping] oder der Ozierzonstock, ....." by Ludwig Duber, 9th Edition, 1886. The book is in German, and inscribed boldly on the inside fly leaf is his name, "J. C. Mueller/ 322/ East Pecan Str/ Austin Texas."
* * * * * *
J. C. Mueller apparently used his initials rather than his names, "John Carl," which may account for the discrepancies in his listings in the city directories. This may also account for some similar discrepancies in the legal documents covering real estate transactions between 1875 and his death. (See Chronology, above.)
The move to the city by the J. C. Mueller family closely parallels the organization of St. Martin's Evangelical Lutheran Church. The church was incorporated on March 29, 1884 (p. 13, FMD), and the new church building was dedicated April 26, 1885 (FMD). In an obituary of Louisa Mueller, she is described as a charter member and founder of St. Martin's. If this can not in fact be verified by church records, she and her family considered herself a founder, if in spirit only. The history of St. Martin's first hundred years by Frances Mueller Danforth includes many indications of service by members of the J. C. Mueller family and their descendants. MOVED: A 1914 obituary of Louisa Mueller states that she was a charter member and founder of St. Martin's. This fact has not been documented, but there seems to be no need to question the fact.
Within a few years of their move to the city, the entire family of six children was baptized on a Sunday evening by Rev. Metzenthin (see article, below). The date of the ÔáõæÓãèåéî of Robert Mueller is March 2, 1890. This is also the date of Tillie's ÔáõæÓãèåéî. A puzzling name on Aunt Tillie's ÔáõæÓãèåéî is that of an Elisabeth Müller as witness. No relative by this name is known; perhaps she was a friend of the family in the church. Aunt Tillie's confirmation certificate is dated two years later, April 10, 1892, also signed by Rev. Metzenthin. The article in which this statement appears also states that all of the children were baptized, confirmed, and married at St. Martin's. (Article on Aunt Tillie in the St. Martin's newsletter of April 28, 1955)
Robert Müller on his confirmation, 29 March 1896, form signed by John Harder, "Seelsorger" [minister, literally, "soul-carer"] This paragraph seems to refer to a document in the original manuscript. RBM
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