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Famous Residents
Hieronymus Mueller was born in Germany in 1832 and immigrated to America in 1850. In 1857 he moved to Decatur. A gunsmith by trade, Mueller gained international recognition for several major inventions. In 1872 he patented hist first invention, the Mueller Water Tapper. Mueller’s six sons continued their father’s creative work and joined the family business. Other Mueller Family inventions in the automotive and munitions fields followed his water works inventions. Mueller died in 1900.
James Millikin was born in Ten Mile, Pennsylvania, in 1827. His father was a successful farmer who believed that his children should receive a good education as well as good work ethic. After finishing school, Millikin used his education and work ethic to take advantage of opportunities in the Midwest. He drove his flock of sheep to Illinois and sold them for a handsome profit. Millikin soon became a successful livestock dealer, buying in the East and selling for a profit in the Midwest. He invested his profits in large tracts of Illinois land. By the age of 30, Millikin was a wealthy, successful businessman and decided to call Decatur home. Friends persuaded him to invest in a bank and by 1860 Millikin Bank was established. Toward the turn of the century he turned his focus to establishing Millikin University. He died in 1909.
Richard James Oglesby came to Decatur as an orphan in 1836 at age 12 to live with his aunt and uncle. He grew up in Decatur and went on to practice law. He served in the Mexican War and Civil War where he was wounded in battle. In 1865 he served as governor of Illinois. He was elected as governor again in 1873 but resigned to serve as a United States senator from 1873 to 1879. He was elected to his third term as governor in 1885. He died in 1899.
Charles Earl Bowles was born in England in 1829 and came to the United States as a child with his family. He spent his early adult life as a gold miner and in 1854 while traveling through Decatur he met his wife. He settled down in Decatur with his wife and two daughters. In 1861 he joined the Union Army which took him away from his family. After the war Bowles would return to mining in California leaving his family in Decatur. The silver mining must not have been lucrative because Bowles took up robbing stage coaches. He robbed nearly 30 stages before being caught. His label ‘Black Bart’ was derived from a character in a local newspaper’s adventure story. Black Bart was described as polite and well-educated by his victims. After his arrest in 1883 he spent four years in prison and it’s not clear whether Black Bart returned to Decatur after he served his time.