Mueller Family
type: people title: Mueller Family last_updated: 2026-06-07 sources: - 1887-10-17_chronicling-america_image-4-of-illinois-staats-zei-p4-dundee-illinois.md
The Müller family (anglicized: Mueller) were residents of Dundee, Illinois who perished in a catastrophic railroad collision in October 1887. The family — father, mother, three boys, and one girl — were among the deadliest losses of the disaster, representing one of several complete families killed in the accident. They had been traveling on what was described as a pleasure trip to the homeland of the parents when they died.
Known Facts
- The family consisted of six members: a father, a mother, three sons, and one daughter.
- They were residents of Dundee, Illinois at the time of their deaths.
- The parents were reportedly immigrants or of immigrant origin, as the family was traveling to the parents' homeland at the time of the accident.
- All six members of the family are believed to have perished in the collision and subsequent fire.
- Railroad Collision Disaster, October 1887
- Illinois Staats-Zeitung (Chicago, Ill.), October 17, 1887, Image 4. Library of Congress, Chronicling America. https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn85033492/1887-10-17/ed-1/?sp=4
Circumstances of Death
On the morning of October 16, 1887, a passenger train originating from Chicago was struck by an express freight train traveling at full speed. The collision occurred in a swampy, remote area with no nearby human habitation. The passenger train had been operating with a broken eccentric gear rod on the locomotive — leaving only one flywheel functional — and the train crew had reportedly continued service rather than stopping to replace the disabled locomotive.
The impact crushed the passenger cars, and fire broke out in the wreckage. According to contemporary reporting, most victims were killed not immediately by the collision but burned to death slowly in the aftermath. The Müller family perished alongside other passengers, including Dr. Perry, his wife, and their eleven-year-old daughter.
The collision was reported in the Illinois Staats-Zeitung (Chicago) on October 17, 1887.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Before October 1887 | Müller family residing in Dundee, Illinois |
| October 16, 1887 | Family departs on a trip to parents' homeland; killed in railroad collision and fire |
| October 17, 1887 | Deaths reported in the Illinois Staats-Zeitung |
Research Gaps
The given names of the individual family members are not recorded in the available source. The specific homeland the family was traveling to is not identified. The family's occupation, length of residence in Dundee, religious affiliation, and burial location are all unknown from current sources. Further research in Kane County records, church registers, and local cemetery records may yield additional detail.
Related Pages
Sources