From the Herald of Delphos the following account of the life and work of Rev. Fr. Mueller, who died suddenly at Ottoville on Saturday, Jan. 27th, is taken. Deceased was at one time a resident of this city, and for a time officiated In Sherman township. One brother still resides in Sherman and is pastor of Sebastian's Catholic church.
     The funeral of the deceased pastor was held on Tuesday of last week and was a most imposing ceremony, many friends and priests of the diocese were present. Among those present from this place was Anthony Gerhardstein, Peter Leis, Jas. Miller and Peter Miller of Sherman.
     Rev. Father Michael Mueller, the beloved rector of the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Ottoville, is dead.
     His demise was very sudden and came Saturday evening at about 8:3o o'clock, from heart failure, probably caused by rheumatism, with which he was afflicted.
     Rev. Henry Wiechman, his assistant, had left the parochial residence only a short time before, intending to go to Cloverdale, but a telephone message that Rev. Mueller was dead intercepted him at Ft. Jennings, and he returned. Fr. Mueller heard confessions at the church in the evening, and ate a hearty supper, but did not complain of feeling ill. When stricken he
was walking across the room.
     The housekeeper was attracted by the noise occasioned by his body striking the floor. She called assistance and Dr. Binder was summoned, but the Reverend Father passed away in a few minutes. He lived probably twenty minutes after being stricken. His head was bruised, probably by striking the floor.
     The news of the death of the good Father spread over the little village like wildfire, and expressions of great sorrow were heard on every hand. Rev. Fr. Mueller was indeed a father. He was kind, a thorough Christian, and his good works were manifested daily. He was loved by his people; his ministrations brought comfort to the aged and infirm, and the children loved him as he was always good and kind to them. He labored faithfully for nearly 32 years among the people of Ottoville and surrounding country and his kindly voice and cheering presence will be greatly missed, not only from the church, but from public life as well. He mingled freely with his parishioners, every one knew and respected him, and he died as he had lived - a Christian, at peace with his God, ready to be summoned into the final presence.
     A telephone message brought the news to Delphos late Saturday night, and on Sunday morning Rev. A. I. Hoeffel drove to Ottoville to assist in making arrangements for the funeral services and burial.
     Michael Mueller was born in Bavaria, Germany, January 21,1833, and died January 27, 1900, aged 67 years and 6 days. After receiving a good common school education he came to American in 1852. He first studied at Cleveland, and after teaching school some time he went to St. Vincent Seminary in Pennsylvania. From there he went to Assumption College at Windsor, Canada, and completed his theological studies in Cleveland. In 1865 he was ordained to the priesthood by the Right Reverend Amedeus Raape, Bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland.
     Rev. Muellers first charge was at Rockford, Cuyahoga county, O. , where he remained three years, and in that time was instrumental in having erected a handsome brick church. On March 15, 1868, he assumed charge of the Ottoville parish. He was then in the best years of his life. The country was in a rough state, roads were few and poor, and not many horses were to be had for travel. Consequently he was compelled to walk many miles through woods and marshes to visit the members of his congregation when they were ill.
     In 1871 he caused to be instituted a new congregation at Kalida, with seventeen families. With the help of the little handful of hardy and willing people he erected a handsome brick church. He had charge of the Kalida congregation, together with the Ottoville parish for 12 years.
     The grandest structure erected Rev. MUELLER is the church at Ottoville. The edifice cost more than $50,000. The corner stone was laid on June 28, 1885, and the church dedicated on September 23,1888, by Bishop R. Gilmour. The church has a seating capacity of 1 ,100. In 1893 Father Mueller erected the fourteen stations in the church, at a cost of $1 ,800. A fine new altar was also placed in the edifice.
     The fourth and last edifice erected by the good Father is a neat frame structure ninety feet in length, at Cloverdale, dedicated in 1893 by Rev. Fr. Hoeffel. On Tuesday, March 15, 1893, Rev. Mueller celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of his pastorate of the Ottoville church.
     The deceased Father has living three brothers and two sisters, Daniel and John Mueller, Mrs. Adam Lise (Leis) and Mrs. Jos. Biarn, of Ottoville, and Peter Mueller, of Huron County, Ohio.