EXCERPT FROM MAKERS OF NEW YORK EDITED BY CHARLES MORRIS. 1895

LOUIS WINDMUELLER, a prominent merchant and reformer of New York, is a native of Westphalia, in which country he received a collegiate education in a college at Munster which had the honor of being founded by Charlemagne.

He emigrated from his native country to the U. S. in 1853, landing in N. Y., which city has since remained his place of residence. Here he entered into the mercantile business with much success, while outside of his immediate business relations he became in time widely known for his connection with prominent financial institutions, his active labors in the interests of reform and charity, and his connection with many of the municipal and social institutions of the metropolis.

The financial institutions with which he has been associated, and which he took part in founding, are the Title Guarantee and Trust Company, the German-American Insurance Company, the Hide and Leather National Bank, and the Bank and Mortgage Guarantee Company. With some of these companies he is still associated as director.

The Reform Club, of New York, is in part due to Mr. Windmueller, who was active among its founders, and who has served as its treasurer since 1887, while the comfortable home which the club now occupies it largely owes to its treasurer's earnest interest in its affairs. He is also a member of the German-American Reform Union, and, as one of its Executive Committee, took an active part in adding the election of William L. Strong as reform mayor of N.Y. As a reformer he has been indefatigable in the advocacy of a sound currency and tariff, and civil service reform, his efforts in these directions having been from time to time made known to the public through the press.

Mr. Windmueller's interest in public affairs is also shown in his membership and active work in several other associations for municipal and State improvement. Among these may be named the Chamber of Commerce Comm. on Internal Trade and Improvements, of which he is chairman; and the Executive Comm. for the Improvement of the State Canals, as a member of which he agitated successfully for the amendment to the constitution which authorizes the Legislature to make the necessary appropriations.

He is, in addition, auditor of the Business Men's Relief Committee, and an earnest member in a number of charitable institutions, to whose work he lends efficient aid. Among these is the German Legal Aid Society, which furnishes gratuitous advice on points of law to the needy without regard to their nationality. In this useful institution he is a member of the board of directors.

Among the earnest and effective efforts in behalf of charity which have been made by Mr. Windmueller must particularly be mentioned his valuable services for the benefit of the German Hospital Fair in 1888. For this he arranged a collection of paintings, which proved so potent an attraction that over $100,000 were cleared for this important charitable institution.

Outside his connection with bodies devoted to reform and charity, Mr. Windmueller is a member of many other N. Y. Organizations, including the Merchants', German, Lotos, Insurance, Athletic, and various other clubs, and the New York Historical Society, of which he is a life member.

As regards specially German interest, it may be stated that he is treasurer of a fund for the erection of a monument to Goethe and vice-president of the Heine Monument Society.

The various subjects in which he is interested have called forth ably-written articles from his pen.  He has contributed to the Forum, Harper's Weekly, and other periodicals whose pages are open to the liberal discussions of public affairs.

During his period of residence in New York he has made frequent visits to Europe, where he is well known, particularly in Germany, his native land.

Mr. Windmueller was married in 1859, and has since lived a happy family life. He has three children and possesses a beautiful home near the village of Woodside, Long Island. He ranks among the founders of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in this village, and is a member of its vestry. He takes a warm and intelligent interest in art and literature, and his home near Woodside is adorned with a fine collection of modern paintings and a valuable library of books, in which the subjects of art and general literature are particularly represented.