A tribute to Oscar O. Mueller by Glen C. Morton, August 28, 1966

              A TRIBUTE TO OS.CAR O- MTIELLER
by
Glenn C. Morton - August 28,1966
Oscar Muelier was my fiiend. my brother in Masonry, and my comrade in Rotarv,
but I feel very inadequate to make a proper and fitting tribute to his memory. Who can
adequately describe a crystal ciear mountain stream--the wildflower strewn wooded hills--
a beautiful Montana sunset at the end of a day.
Oscar Otto Mueller was born on a farm near Van Meter. Iowa, on March 29,
1877,the son of George and Catherine Mueller pioneer citizens ofthe state of Iowa. His
father was a progressive farmer and numbered amon-e his many friends, Henry A. Wallace,
Sr. publisher of the then popular agricultural paper, The "Wallace Farmer".
The old home farm is no owned and operated by George Muelier, a son of Oscar's
brother Ernest, and on this very day the descendants of George and Catherine Mueller are
gathered in a family reunion at the old home place to eeiebrate the 100th anniversary of
the Mueller family ownership of the farm.
Oscar graduated from Iowa State Normal School at Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1903,
after which he was the Principal of schools at Stacyville, Iowa for two years. He then
entered the Law School of the University of Iowa at Iowa City. from which he received
his Degree in Law in June, 1908.
The new extension of the Milwaukee Railroad through Montana was just being
completed when Oscar traveled over it to Harlowton, then on up to Lewistown on the old
"Jaw Bone" railroad. arriving there on September 1i, 1908. He soon thereafter was
admitted to the Bar in Montana and set up the practice of law in Lewistown in offices on
the second floor of the old Empire Bank building, which is now the American Legion Club
building.
During the years 1909 and 1910 he filled the position of Assistant County
Attorney and May l,1917 he was appointed City Attorney, which position he heid for
several years. In 1929 he was elected Mayor of the City of Lewistown and served in that
capacity for two vears. He was a member of the School Board of Lewistown District No.
I for many vears.
On June 9, i915. Oscar Mueiier and Josephine Cook of White Sulphur Springs
were united in marria-qe. Miss Cook was the dau-qhter of Charles W. and Abbie Cook,
prominent pioneers of Montana. Mr. Cook was one of the first stockmen of the state and
a member of the Cook-Folsom party that made the first exploration of the Yeilowstone
Park region.
At the time of their marriage, Miss Cook was homesteading South of the Snowy
Mountains near the inland Post Office, Rothiemay. Before his marriage, Oscar roomed at
the Lewistown home of James Smith.. The Smiths were friends of Miss Cook who
frequently visited at their home while she was homesteading and it was at their home that
the acquaintance was formed which led to their marriage.
A Tribute to Oscar O. Mueller -l