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ALEX. MULLER - The dairy interests of Sangamon County are worthily represented by the subject of this biographical review who is the proprietor f the well-known Walnut Grove Dairy, and whose headquarters are at his present homestead on section 16, Woodside Township. There he is ably conducting a large and flourishing business and accumulating a competency for his declining years. His fine farm comprises one hundred and twenty-two acres of good land pleasantly located and thoroughly cultivated and improved. The residence is a commodious structure conveniently arranged, while the various outbuildings necessary to the successful operation of his business are substantial and extensive.

The gentleman who is at the head of this business is a native of Switzerland, and in that land which has given the world so many able men he was born September 22, 1849. He is at the present writing in the prime of life and has before him the prospect of an old age of honor and comfort. He passed the years of childhood and youth in his native country and there remained until he was about twenty-four years of age. Having resolved to seek the land across the ocean he left Switzerland and in 1873 crossed the broad Atlantic, finally anchoring at New York City and proceeding directly to Chicago.

During the year following his arrival in America our subject was variously engaged, and in 1874 came to Sangamon County, where he has since resided. Although poor when he came here, his industry and persistent toil did not fail of their reward, and he gradually became independent in his resources. In the fall of 1888 he was enabled to invest the accumulated savings of years in his present estate of one hundred and twenty-two acres, and here he has since continued to live, devoting his time to the dairy business, in which he embarked in 1873.

The subject of this sketch was united in marriage September 6, 1875, in Sangamon County, Ill., with Miss Bertha, daughter of John and Kate Zimmerman. Mrs. Muller was born in Bellevue, Ill., December 10, 1855, and was there reared to womanhood, receiving the advantages of a common-school education. She is a most estimable lady and is highly esteemed by a large circle of friends. To her and her husband eight children have been born, who are named as follows: Rose, Henry, John, Emma, Anna, Mathias, Maria and Bertha. The children are bright and intelligent and will in due time receive the best educational advantages, as they are now being carefully trained at home for future positions of trust and honor.

In their religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Muller are in sympathy with the teachings of the SS. Peter and Paul Church, and are ever ready to aid, by word or deed, those who stand in need of help. Politically Mr. Muller votes the Democratic ticket, believing the principles of that party to be most nearly correct. However, he is so engrossed with the duties of his occupation that he does not care to accept public office and give up the duties of his dairy for the more exciting cares of public position. He has on his farm sixty or seventy cows and sells the milk in the city of Springfield. Through the medium of his business, as well as in other ways he has become well known and is universally esteemed.