“John Kleinfeldt pioneered the north 50 acres of Lot 6, Con. 14 and Christopher Mueller (1841-1914) purchased the S. 1/2 of Lot 6 [Hay], and the south 25 acres of Lot 7 [Hay]. Christopher Mueller married Maria Quandt (1847-1913). They were both born in Germany and obtained their first deed from the Canada Company in 1881, settling on Lot 6 in 1882. They had leased this property in 1871 according to the Ontario Land Records Index. They raised eight children: Otto, Ludwig, Louise, Edward, Gustave, Nicholas, Bertha and Clara.

Otto (1870-1930), married Minnie Biesenthal (1876-1944) and farmed Pt. Lot 8 & 9, Con. 14, Hay. Ludwig (1871-1939) married Losena Mueller (1876-1960) and farmed Pt. Lot 9, Con. 14 [Hay]. Louise (1873-1940) married Charles Keller (1868-1949) and farmed the east 50 acres Lot 30, SB, and S. 1/2 Lot 3, Con. 16 [Hay]. Edward died at the age of three (1875-1878). Gustave (1877-1953) lived and worked with his sister and brother-in-law. Nicholas (1879) married Alwyna (Ella) Biesenthal and homesteaded in the Windthorst, Saskatchewan area, where both of them are buried. Bertha (1881-1950) married Jacob Wiilert (1883-1942), who farmed in Stephen.

Clara (1884-1960) married L.H. Rader (1884-1964) and took over the Mueller farm in 1911. They purchased the N. 1/2 Lot 6 [Con. 14 Hay] in 1913 from John Kleinfeldt. The Raders had a mixed farming operation and Louis was active in politics. he served as Warden of Huron County in 1932. He showed fancy horses at local fairs and also had a trucking business, taking cattle and hogs to market. The Raders raised eight children: Lloyd, Irvin, Amelia, Dorothy, Elgin, Elmer, Hilda and Violet.

Lloyd (1912) married Rose Willert (1915). He took over his father’s trucking business. Irvin (1913-1984) married Mary Patterson (1915), a schoolteacher and correspondent for the Exeter Times-Advocate. Mary Rader wrote the history of Dashwood, Friedsburg 1860 – Dashwood 1985. Irvin was a thresher and a carpenter. Amelia (1915-1979) married Leonard Prang (1910-1984). They lived in Zurich where Leonard owned a garage. Dorothy (1917-1989) married Ivan Taylor (1921) and lived in Waterloo. Elgin (1919-1995) married Dorothy Kraft (1922). Elgin bought the home farm from his father in 1940. They farmed together until 1964, then sold to Frank Dielman. Elgin and Dorothy moved to Dashwood and reside there. Elmer (1921) married Arvis Haugh (1928), worked as a day labourer until his retirement and then moved to London. Hilda (1923) married Garnet Weiberg (1919-1987). Garnet worked for Lackie Brothers Construction and lived in Kitchener. Violet (1928) married Wendell Gamble (1928) who worked for Ontario Hydro. They retired to London. Frank Dielman sold the farm to Erich and Kaethe Freiter Sr. in 1968.

extracted from “Hay Township Highlights: 150 years of Diversified Progress, 1846 – 1996”, published by the Hay Township Book Committee under the auspices of Hay Township Council, Alice Gibb ed.; pg. 574 ISBN : 0-919939-43-0