Charles H. Moeller Biography >From "History of Davenport and Scott County" Vol. II by Harry E. Downer-S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago. To view the three pictures of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Moeller, Godhardt Moeller and Mrs. Godhardt Moeller that accompany this biography, please go to the main Scott county, Iowa page at: http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ and click on Pictures/ Documents section. Surnames: Moeller, Westphal, Werner, Smallfeldt, Theada, Frick, Ressen, Dietz, Hamann. Prominent among the industrious, enterprising and successful farmers of Cleona township is Charles H. Moeller, a native of Louisiana, born at Covington, about sixteen miles from New Orleans, on the 15th of June, 1852. His parents, Godhardt and Mary (Westphal) Moeller, were both born in Mecklenberg, Germany, in the year 1826 and came to the United States in 1850, locating at New Orleans. In October, 1852, they came up the Mississippi river to Davenport and located upon a farm in Blue Grass township. Four years later they removed to Cleona township, here the father engaged in farming until about twenty-one years prior to his demise, when he retired from active life. He had been most successful in his agricultural pursuits, becoming the owner of eight hundred and sixty-six acres of land in Scott county. At the time of his retirement he removed to Walcott, where he and his wife spent their remaining days, the former passing away in 1902 and the latter surviving about two years,! her death occurring in 1904. In their family were four children, namely: Charles H., of this review; Anna, the wife of Albert Werner, postmaster of Walcott; E. E., of Stockton, Iowa; and Herman D., residing in Worthington, Minnesota. Charles H. Moeller was barely four months old when he came with his parents to Iowa, and therefore his entire life has practically been spent within the borders of Scott county. Reared under the parental roof, amid the busy activities of rural life, he acquired his education in the district schools near his home and at an early age became familiar with the tasks that fall to the lot of the farm lad. During the periods of vacation he assisted his father in the work of the fields and continued to make his home with his parents until attaining his majority. Upon reaching man's estate he entered business life on his own account as an agriculturist and has never sought to engage in any other line of activity, wisely choosing as his life work the occupation to which he had been reared. That his selection was a wise one is his undertaking and from time to time invested in land, until he eventually became the owner of eight hundred and six acres of this of valuable farming land. Th! is property is all located in Cleona township with the exception of one hundred and sixty acres, which lie in Hickory Grove township, and is equipped with five sets of buildings, all in excellent condition and good repair. He makes his home on two hundred and six acres of this property, located on section 26, and to the cultivation and development of this farm is directing his entire energies. The rest of the land is leased, the rental therefrom forming a most gratifying source of income. With the tilling of the soil he also engages in stock-raising to some extent, making a specialty of short-horned cattle and Percheron horses, and this branch of his business has become an important factor in the large measure of success which is his. In 1877 Mr. Moeller was united in marriage to Miss Fredericka Smallfeldt, a native of Mecklenberg, Germany, where her birth occurred on the 7th of August, 1855. She came to America when a little maiden of ten summers in company with her parents, Christ and Mary (Theada) Smallfeldt. The mother is now deceased, but the father survives and makes his home at present in New Liberty. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Moeller have been born nine children, as follows: Otto, who passed away at the age of nine months; Mattie, the wife of Herman Frick, of Cleona township, Herman, who died at the age of four years; Anna, the wife of Paul Ressen, also a resident of Cleona township, operating one of our subject's farms; Hulda, who married Ben Dietz, of the same township; Amanda, the wife of Emil Hamann who makes his home in Cleona township; Rudolph and Edward, both residing at home; and Charles H., Jr., who passed away when eleven years old. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Moeller has ever given stalwart support to the democratic party, although he has never taken an active part in politics. He has not, however, been unmindful of his duties as a citizen but is regarded as one of the leading and representative men of Cleona township, whose position on all questions of moment is never an equivocal one. On the contrary he stands loyally in support of what he believes to be right and as the years have passed his labors and influence have contributed to the general welfare of the community. A man of domestic tastes, he has sought his happiness at his own fireside, in the companionship of his family, who know him as a loving and devoted husband and kind and indulgent father. He is also popular with a large number of friends, who hold him in high respect and regard because of his upright principles and honorable manhood. ~~~~~~*~~~~~~ Elaine Rathmann ACC Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project List Adm: *IA-CIVIL-WAR *IA-DANES