San Francisco County
Biographies
JOHN MUELLER, organist of St. Ignatius Church of the Jesuit Fathers, San Francisco, is one of the oldest and best known musicians on the Pacific coast. He was born in Bergenstein, Prussia, April 28, 1823, where he passed his boyhood and youth. He inherited his musical talents from his father’s family, who were all musicians. At the age of six, he began taking lessons on the violin and piano, in which his progress was so rapid as to cause him to be looked upon as an infant prodigy. We have the unusual spectacle of a boy of twelve taking his place at the organ of the church in the town of his birth, the day on which he also received his first communion, and continuing in that capacity until his father removed his family to the United States, to the intense disgust of older musicians, whose jealousy he had aroused.
It was in 1844 when the subject of this sketch made his initial ocean trip, per sailing vessel, which occupied seven weeks. Upon their arrival here they settled in Connecticut, where John at once became an immense favorite on account of his musical abilities, as well as his unassuming and gentle demeanor. Life could not very well hang heavily on his hands, for invitations poured in upon him for dinners, receptions, etc., and, though he could not yet speak the English language, ladies vied with each other in their attention to him, much to his discomfiture. There were no organs at that time in any of the churches in Connecticut; but a wealthy resident offered to purchase a fine instrument, if John Müller would preside at the services, to which he readily assented. This resulted in a division of the congregation, many objecting to instruments in churches as being against the old Puritan notions; but John’s soulful playing soon healed the breach, and brought back the straggling sheep from the fold, much the same as the Pied Piper charmed away the children in fairy lore.
About this time the gold excitement in California broke out, and John was seized with the fever. Not wishing to be alone in a far-away country, he wedded an estimable American lady, Sarah Youmans, and together they took passage on the steamer, Daniel Webster, from New York. The journey was uneventful on the Atlantic, but when Nicaragua was reached the trials of the traveler awaited them. The vessel which they were to have been transferred to had been wrecked on the pacific, and they were detained for three weeks on the peninsula awaiting another vessel. There were no accommodations whatever for travelers, and hammocks had to be swung between the trees for the ladies, while the men were forced to find the soft end of a board on which to rest their weary limbs. At last the steamer Monumental City arrived, and the belated travelers once more moved toward the Golden Gate, hoping their troubles were ended. Not so, however, for in reality had they hardly begun, the vessel was crowded from stem to stern, and before many days sickness broke out, bad food and water being the cause, and more than one-third of the original party found watery graves under the bosom of the broad Pacific.
Mr. Müller and wife, fortunately, escaped illness, and reached California March 20, 1852, where on the first night of his arrival he played at a private party, receiving therefor the sum of $20, a very liberal remuneration considering his services were required but one hour.
From that day his success was assured, his services being called for daily, and receiving as high as $60 for one evening. In 1856 he was engaged by Father Maraschi, of St. Ignatius Church, as organist, and since the, for the past thirty-six years, he has held that position, and more wonderful still is the fact that during all this time he has not missed a single Sabbath, a record entirely unparalleled on the coast.
Mr. Müller enjoys an enviable reputation in the musical profession, and in his private life is an unassuming, honest man, of a high moral character, modest and retiring in his disposition, generous and charitable. He looks upon his choir as members of his family, of whom he speaks most affectionately, the greater part of whom have been identified with the church a dozen years or more. He has a large circle of warm friends, and it is yet to be known that he has an enemy. His residence is at 610 Bush street, which has been his home for a quarter of a century.
Transcribed 7-22-06 Marilyn R. Pankey. There doesn’t seem to be
an explanation of why the spelling of the last name changed. from Mueller to
Müller.
Source: "The Bay of San
Francisco," Vol. 2, Pages 422-423,
Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
©
2006 Marilyn R. Pankey.