<em>The University Magazine</em>  p. 547; No other information available about this article.

Louis Windmuller born in Westphalia, received his education in the Catholic College of Munster.  To his regret, circumstances compelled him to abandon his favorite studies for the mercantile career, and he resolved to emigrate, at the age of seventeen.  He always had a predilection for his country.  At the age of 12 he wrote at school an essay "Why America Finally must Become the Principal Stage of the World's History."  He believes to this day that it will, with New York as it commercial centre.  

Landing here in 1853, he served as clerk in various branches of trade, his first situation being in a dry goods establishment, where he earned $4, while he paid $3 a week for his board.  Shortly before the panic of 1857, he began trading for his own account, first in a small way, and after his marriage in 1859, on a larger scale.  He commenced soon to import goods on commission, and continues to do so ever since.  

He often had to work early and late; by his application to business and the promptitude with which he met engagements, he soon established a good reputation, and weathered all the financial storms through which this country has passed.  He formed a copartnership with A. Roelker in 1865, under the firm which exists now.  

Between that year and 1886 he made numerous trips to Europe.  He visited not alone the large markets for goods but the principal centres of art and science as well.   His leisure moments were spent in the galleries of Florence and Dresden, Rome, and St. Petersburg, in the studios of the artists of Paris and Dusseldorf, in the bookshops on London and Leipzig.  He collected several hundred examples of American and foreign artists, and a library of thousands of volumes of choice works on art, history, and science.  In Athens, he met Schliemann, who explained how he found through Homer and in Hissarlick the spot where he subsequently discovered the traces of the Siege of Troy.  

Ever since his means have allowed it Mr. Windmuller has devoted a portion of his time to public affairs. Some twenty years ago he be-came member of the Chamber of Commerce, where he is Chairman of the Committee on internal trade. As such he made reports on improved roads, postal facilities, equitable rates of storage; he also served on several committees of charity of the Chamber.

He assisted in founding the Reform Club in 1888; became its Treasurer, and raised funds to buy the home on Fifth Avenue, which it now occupies. He has contributed largely to the success of this useful organization, which has members in all parts of the United States, some 2,500 in number, and can boast of exerting some influence on the politics of the country.

Mr. Windmuller assisted in the organization of the following successful institutions : Title Guarantee & Trust Co., German American Insurance Co., Bond & Mortgage Guarantee Co., Hide & Leather Bank. The first named association succeeded in changing and improving the methods of dealing with real estate, since it insures the titles and thus facilitates their transfer. There is no doubt that it has contributed to establish a more stable value of the realty on Manhattan and Long Island. Mr. Windmuller was treasurer of this company for eight years, and is now member of its Executive Committee. He is also director in various other companies.

As member of the German Hospital Mr. Windmuller collected and exhibited, in 1889, some fine paintings, which were the centre of attraction at a fair, held for that charity, and realizing more than one hundred thousand dollars.

He was elected Chairman of the Committee on Arrangements of the German portion of the Centennial Celebration of George Washington, the most interesting part. of the Industrial Parade, which Mr. Windmuller has described in two articles, contributed to the work of C. W. Bowen.

Mr. Windmuller has written many essays on the questions of Immigration, Civil Service, Sound Currency, Management of Corporations, and the Tariff, which have appeared from time to time in daily press and the "Forum."

With Carl Schurz, Oswald Ottendorfer, Henry Villard and G. H. Schwab he formed, in 1892, the "German American Cleveland Union," which proved itself a powerful element in the Presidential Campaign.  Mr. Windmuller acted as treasurer, and contributed a pamphlet showing how the prosperity of the country had suffered under the Republican administration. It was published in German and English by the National Democratic Committee, and had a large circulation.

Mr. Windmuller has collected a fund toward the erection of a monument to Goethe in one of the City parks, and in 1891 he arranged a splendid artists' festival for its benefit.

He is member of the following-other clubs: Merchants, German, Lotos, Insurance, Athletic, Arion and Commonwealth; and of the following other societies : German, St. Mark's Hospital, Isabella Heimath Metropolitan Museum and New York Historical Society.

In. Woodside, where he lives with his family since 1867, he assisted in building St. Paul's Episcopal Church, and serves there as member of the vestry.