Mueller, Max E. (Died)

Max E. Mueller, 814 Park Avenue, pioneer resident of Wilmette and a former postmaster and village collector, died of apoplexy at his home on Wednesday, September 4. Mr. Mueller was 74 years old. He would have been 75 on September 27. Since 1887, three years after coming to this country from Germany, Mr. Mueller had lived in Wilmette continuously, except for two years spent in Sycamore, Illinois. He had always taken an active interest in village affairs. Mr. Mueller had a general merchandise store at the northwest corner of Wilmette Avenue and Main Street for twenty years. He is credited with securing the installation, in his store, of the first telephone in the north shore vicinity. During part of the time that he conducted this business, Mr. Mueller also was postmaster, and he built Wilmette's first post office adjoining his store and immediately north of it. The old post office building is now occupied by a barber shop. It was in 1903 and 1904 that Mr. Mueller first served as village collector. He was called back to the post in 1920 and 1921 following the death of Edmond P. Dunshee. This was during the administration of Edward Zipf. When Mr. Dunshee died Mr. Mueller was the only man available who was familiar with the village collector's duties. For the past 26 years Mr. Mueller had lived in the home where he died. For a number of years prior to that he resided in an apartment over his store at Wilmette Avenue and Main Street. Mr. Mueller is survived by his widow, Mrs. Caroline Mueller, a daughter, Clara, of Wilmette; two sons, Arthur of Evanston and Alfred of San Leandro, California, a suburb of Oakland, and four grandchildren, Helen and Jane Mueller, children of Arthur, and Mary Louise and Robert Mueller, children of Alfred. Private funeral services last Saturday afternoon were conducted by the Rev. J.H. Gockel of St. John's Lutheran church. Burial took place at Memorial Park cemetery.