Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-05-17
SOME LARGE FAMILIES.
TWINS, TRIPLETS, QUADRUPLErs
AMI SEXTUPLETS.
l"wa's Champion Leads with Twenty,
eight Children, and Another Hawkeye
claims Two Dozen - Michigam's Great
hecoHt-WiscOnsin to the Front.
he Chicago Herald.l
DUBUQUE, Iowa, Nav.

DUBUQUE. Iowa. May, 1889.
some interesting developments in con-
hectlon with large families have been made
IN IN this vicinity. Melchor Mueller. who re-
e eluns near e. Bellevue, in the ,neighboring
county OF Jackson. bears the distinction Of
H 1selng the father Of one OF the largest fam
lies on record. Twenty-eight children
nave been born to him. eighteen of whom
are a.. dead and ten living. In this number
mere were three pairs Of twins. Mueller
cember. 1884. and is a robust, healthy mar
he mas been twice married. His first wife
was Agatha Doser, u native of Germany.
who bore him six children. three of whom
are living. His second wife was kunigunde
tunnel, also a native of Germany. who is
Two children. seven OF whom arc living.
Mueller is a poor but industrious, man,
deeply attached to his family, thoroughly
domestic in his tastes, and. if his life is
spared. thinks he will yet see several other
his name. The neighborhood in -. which
Muellee resides Is largely populated by Lux
enourgers, and among them are many
large families. The average family is
twelve. Indeed. a family of less than this
numberi is considered small in that neigh
borhood. family OF twenty-five children
lives in Spruce Creek Township. jackson
County. near Mueller's home.
In the city OF Dubuque there are many large
families. John Benkson. painter. heads
the list; He has been married but once.
wife is a native of Iowa. SO years of age
Their residence is 1890 White street. John
Jennie. laborer. comes next with II family
\ OF sixteen children. His wife is 43 years
81 age, and the couple declare they would
a9t willingly part with one of their
offspring. John krayer. Well to-do grocer
n tins city, has fifteen children by his pres
tent wife, who is now 43 years Of age and !;
woman of robust health. George Neumiller
mas q family OF fourteen. and Jake Dodge
T. peddler. one OF the same number. Joseph
ioode is thoroughly happy surrounded by
the same number of children. Those hav-
ing thirteen children are: Leo Mcdaniel,
Benedict Bossler, p Vogel. Frank Muier,
Iritz Reibitsch. P. Mccullough and J. G.
Eurtis. Those having twelve children are:
y. NJ. Lenehan. Z. u. Jones, John Parker.
Eobert Miller. Adam Doerr. A. J. Patch.
T. A: Mayer NJ. Gantenbeim. Joseph Bower,
8. Ridermeyer, Thomas Kenneully, Anton
taumhover. Henry Dippey. Z. l.. Curtis and
Wax Matsch. It would occupy column of
pace to publish the names OF the men in
lls city who are the fathers Of eleven chill
9ren each. With great many that number
seems to be high water mark. It is related
here that In 1872 a woman named Schmidt
living at Rockdalc. in this county. gave
birth to six children, all within an hour. A
Jear or two ago a woman namod Murphy.
residing in this city. gave birth to four chill
Iren, all of whom were healthy and strong.
Has Twenty-three Still Living.
II BELLEVUE. Iowa.
About three miles north of the neighbour
ing township of Bows. this State, on the
Bowen road. there lives in one story
house one of the most remarkable families
ION record. It consists of u father and
mother. Mr.: and Mrs. Wllliam Marks. with
twenty-five girls and one boy. The oldest
\ child is only "a years of age; the youngest
an infant child Of eight months. There
4 was an evon two dozen children in the
Marks family until November last, when
the diphtheria visited them and carried of
one. The husband and father OF this inn
mense family is u laboring man. possessed
Of no means of maintenance except his
simple earnings. with which he supports
his flock. and want has never yet entered
their door. He is 43 years Of age: his wife
| The perfect picture of health and comeli.
ness-is one year his junior. They have
been married twenty-five years this month