We unfortunately do not have any photos of our 1st generation,but they lie peacefully here at Lake
Ridge. We are in possession of a letter written by their daughter that shows a vivid picture of their
life and travels and who they were. This is part of their heritage to us.
Excerts of Letter from Marie Mueller to her son Ottomar May 26,1926:
My dear parents were concerned not only of bodily welfare of their children,but they saw to it that
we soon were acquainted with our Savior,and that we learned to pray to him. I can still remember
how I sat upon my fathers lap many an evening and I was too young to be able to read,learned of
him to memorize all the verses of the 2 long hymns"Herr,or ist von meinen Leben" and "Wordo
meister mein Gemuethe", also several short psalms and Scripture passages.
When I was 4 years of age my parents were filled with the desire to emigrate to America. We took
to sea upon an old sailship,and after many tedious weeks we came to the coast of Newfoundland,
from there we proceded upon the St.Lawrence as far as we were able to ship. Our objective was
Brookfield,Oh in the NE part of OH. There a settlement of Germans had come into existance,most of
these people were relatives of ours. Here my parents purchased some acreage,upon which they
then erected a blockhouse. For a few years,that is until our parents were well established,
he(brother) remained with us. Thereupon he journeyed to Pa,where he rented some acreage,for
he had married, and it seemed to him that there was not enough to do for 2 men on 40 acres of
land. At that time father was still quite robust,but after 6 years the work on the farm became too
great a burden for him alone, for the inroads of age were becoming quite apparant with father.
Hence my parents planned to sell their farm and there upon obtain more acreage elsewhere so
that my brother could live with us. Thus brother went to Michigan for a family known to us had
moved there, and we learned that the land there was very good. Brother was very much pleased
with the territory he visited, and he also found a farm which was for sale, the only thing which did
not please him was the fact that there was no Lutheran church in the vicinity. Our land was soon
sold, and then we made ready for the journey. Our parents stated that they would not like to make
the journey by railroad, hence it was decided that my brother,his wife, their 3 children, my youngest
sister,and I were to make the trip in a wagon covered with canvas,where father and mother were to
follow in a buggy. Thus the journey was began Sep.1854. On the evening of the 8th day,as
darkness was already upon us,we arrived at the goal of our journey. Oh,how long that last day
seemed onto us, We were tired,hungry and covered with dust.The people from which we bought
the farm were still living in the house. Hence we drove on to the German folks which lived
nearby.They were overjoyed to see us. The farm which we purchased had been neglected very
much. There were 100 acres of land Our English neighbors told us that we could hardly make our
living on that farm,through assisuity God's blessings things had improved after a few years. After 7
families had gathered the men decided to build a church. About the year 1859, the church at Lake
Ridge was built. So far, what followed is known to you. "
Ridge. We are in possession of a letter written by their daughter that shows a vivid picture of their
life and travels and who they were. This is part of their heritage to us.
Excerts of Letter from Marie Mueller to her son Ottomar May 26,1926:
My dear parents were concerned not only of bodily welfare of their children,but they saw to it that
we soon were acquainted with our Savior,and that we learned to pray to him. I can still remember
how I sat upon my fathers lap many an evening and I was too young to be able to read,learned of
him to memorize all the verses of the 2 long hymns"Herr,or ist von meinen Leben" and "Wordo
meister mein Gemuethe", also several short psalms and Scripture passages.
When I was 4 years of age my parents were filled with the desire to emigrate to America. We took
to sea upon an old sailship,and after many tedious weeks we came to the coast of Newfoundland,
from there we proceded upon the St.Lawrence as far as we were able to ship. Our objective was
Brookfield,Oh in the NE part of OH. There a settlement of Germans had come into existance,most of
these people were relatives of ours. Here my parents purchased some acreage,upon which they
then erected a blockhouse. For a few years,that is until our parents were well established,
he(brother) remained with us. Thereupon he journeyed to Pa,where he rented some acreage,for
he had married, and it seemed to him that there was not enough to do for 2 men on 40 acres of
land. At that time father was still quite robust,but after 6 years the work on the farm became too
great a burden for him alone, for the inroads of age were becoming quite apparant with father.
Hence my parents planned to sell their farm and there upon obtain more acreage elsewhere so
that my brother could live with us. Thus brother went to Michigan for a family known to us had
moved there, and we learned that the land there was very good. Brother was very much pleased
with the territory he visited, and he also found a farm which was for sale, the only thing which did
not please him was the fact that there was no Lutheran church in the vicinity. Our land was soon
sold, and then we made ready for the journey. Our parents stated that they would not like to make
the journey by railroad, hence it was decided that my brother,his wife, their 3 children, my youngest
sister,and I were to make the trip in a wagon covered with canvas,where father and mother were to
follow in a buggy. Thus the journey was began Sep.1854. On the evening of the 8th day,as
darkness was already upon us,we arrived at the goal of our journey. Oh,how long that last day
seemed onto us, We were tired,hungry and covered with dust.The people from which we bought
the farm were still living in the house. Hence we drove on to the German folks which lived
nearby.They were overjoyed to see us. The farm which we purchased had been neglected very
much. There were 100 acres of land Our English neighbors told us that we could hardly make our
living on that farm,through assisuity God's blessings things had improved after a few years. After 7
families had gathered the men decided to build a church. About the year 1859, the church at Lake
Ridge was built. So far, what followed is known to you. "
