Wendell (Mueller) Miller is currently protected by the Native Americans Project for reasons described below. Join: Native Americans Project Discuss: native_americans
Due to unsourced claims that he had a common-law marriage with a Native American woman named Elizabeth Red Fern Blackhawk, this profile is being tracked and co-managed by WikiTree's Native Americans Project.
Johann Wendell Mueller was born about 1730, probably in what is now Germany. He emigrated to America in the 1730s [1] and then came to Rowan County, North Carolina by 1755, where he appears in records as Wendell Miller. [2] He married about 1755 to an unknown wife. His first child was Frederick, born in 1756. In 1774 Wendell was a founder of what is now known as the Organ (Lutheran) Church. [3] Wendell's children by his first wife were Frederick, Catherine, Phillip, Jacob, Phillipina, John J, Susana & Anna Maria.The death date of his first wife and the date of his marriage to Christina are unknown, but the marriage must have taken place by 1783 since his marriage to Christina Fisher made him the father of seven additional children: Sara, Peter, Rachel, Christina, George, Henry and David, the youngest, born in 1792. Christina also had a daughter, Elizabeth Fisher, by her previous marriage. [4]
Wendell died in 1804 leaving a substantial estate and a
will. [5]
Origins
Johann Wendel Müller may have been baptized at Dörrenbach, Germany 12 October 1733.[6] A previous version of this profile had his birth as 1729 in Manheim, Erfkreis, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, but without source.
Like most Germans, his name was combination of a saint's name and his “called” name (Rufname; "calling name") Wendell.
Emigration
He is believed to have immigrated with his family to Pennsylvania in 1739 on the ship "Samuel".[7][8]
About 1753 the family moved to North Carolina and the name appears in records as “Miller.” [9]
Wife / Wives
Wendell had two wives; the name of the first one is unknown. According to statements made by grandson Michael and the wife of son Peter in the pension application of son Frederick, Frederick returned home during the Revolutionary War and brought smallpox with him. Frederick's infant son John, and his [unnamed] mother (Wendell's first wife) both were infected, died, and were buried together. [10]
Family tradition, documented to date only in online trees, holds that this wife was a Native American woman named Red Fern Na Me Qua[11] who was the mother of his older children.
His second wife was Christina (Biese) Fisher (widow of a Mr. Fisher). [12]
Wendel's will names all of his children and his wife Christina. [13]
Life Leading to the Revolution
In 1774, Wendell was appointed an overseer of the road from a ridge between Buffalo and Dutch Second Creek to the Pee Dee, crossing the Granville line. He was nominated Lieutenant by the Rowan County Commission of Safety on Nov 11, 1775, and he was later promoted to Captain. He was a Constable in 1777 and a tax assessor in his district.[citation needed]
Military Service
Lieutenant Wendell (Mueller) Miller served with North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution.
Wendell (Mueller) Miller is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A079637.
Wendel was a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War. [14][15]
Wendel (as Windle) was enumerated in Salisbury, Rowan Co., North Carolina in 1790[17] and 1800.[18]
Death
Wendel died before November, 1804 when his will was probated.
He may be buried at Organ Lutheran Church Cemetery in Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina where a descendant placed a memorial in 1976.[19]
Children
When his will was probated on November 17th, 1804, he was father of the following children, in order named:[13]
David (named youngest son)
George
Henry
Peter
Catharina (married to John Brown)
Anna Maria
Susana
Phillippina
Elisabeth
Sarah Rachel
Christina
Frederik
John
Philip
Sources
↑ believed to be a son of the Michael Miller who arrived on the Samuel in 1739, list of male passengers transcribed at ship
↑ Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999.
↑ Sifford, Harry. Organ Lutheran Church, Rowan County, North Carolina, founded 1745 : a brief history. Church pamphlet, 1993. image at church
↑Wendel Miller and His Descendants, Geraldine Trexler Miller, 1925. Co-Editors: Jerrie Miller Peeler, Patricia Bonds Beck, Library of Congress Catalog: 3907744492, Card Catalog Card Number: 86-070691, Copyright 1985, page xi, Library, Rowan Public Library History Room, Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina, United States, 28144
↑ Will of Wendell Miller, Rowan County, N.C. North Carolina Wills and Probate Records 1665-1998, digitized at Ancestry.com, transcribed by K.P. Forbes 9/4/2020 Image at: Family Search North Carolina, probate records : COLLECTION RECORD, 1735-1970 Rowan County, Will 1797-1806, Book D, p. 205ff image #217ff
↑ Kirchenbuch of Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche, Dörrenbach, Germany per Find-aGrave memorial biography. Original source sought.
↑ "Henn Mer Der Wendel Müller G'funne: The Saga of Wendel Müller: from German-Peasant to American-Junker?" by Dr. Johannes L. Schlenker, published in the Rowan County Register, August 1992, Volume 7, No. 8, pages 1569-1590
↑ Rowan County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Abstract of minutes, 1753-1797, "Michael Miller came into open court and took the state oaths," Sept. 1753. Family History Library Film # 007640166 image #14
↑ Revolutionary War Pension, #W8460, Frederick Miller. National Archives and Records Administration, NARA M804. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files. Roll:1724. Digitized at Fold3: pension
↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 9 Dec 2021), "Record of Wendel Miller", Ancestor # A079637.
↑ Proceedings of Rowan County Committee of Safety, November 1775. Recorded in Colonial Proceedings of North Carolina, Vol. X, p. 320. Digitized at Miller
↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 16 October 2018), memorial page for LT Johann Wendel “Wendel Miller” Müller (12 Oct 1733–17 Nov 1805), Find A Grave Memorial no. 63318121, citing Organ Lutheran Church Cemetery, Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina, USA ; Maintained by CLH (contributor 47502760) . Find-A-Grave Virtual Cemetery memorial #63318121 BETTER SOURCE SOUGHT.
"Wendel Miller and His Descendants," edited by Geraldine Trexler Miller, with co-editors: Jerrie Miller Peeler and Patricia Bonds Beck, 1985. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 86-070691, State Library of North Carolina, Raleigh, Card Catalog Card Number: 929.2 M647W
"Some Descendants of Wendel Miller, 1724-1805," edited by Bernard W. Cruse, Jr., Published for Cabarrus Genealogy Society by Catawba Publishing Company, May 2008.
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63318121/johann-miller : accessed 27 December 2022), memorial page for LT Johann “Wendle Müller” Miller (12 Oct 1733–17 Nov 1805), Find a Grave Memorial ID 63318121, citing Organ Lutheran Church Cemetery, Salisbury, Rowan County, North Carolina, USA; Maintained by Ghost Writer § CL Hileman (contributor 47502760).
"Deutschland, ausgewählte evangelische Kirchenbücher 1500-1971," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPJ4-RHHC : 27 October 2021), Johann Wendel Müller, 14 Oct 1733; images digitized and records extracted by Ancestry; citing Baptism, Dörrenbach, Sankt Wendel, Rhein, Preußen, Deutschland, Dörrenbach, Kr u Sankt Wendel, German Lutheran Collection, various parishes, Germany.
"North Carolina Revolutionary Pay Vouchers, 1779-1782," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2WT-54KF : accessed 27 December 2022), Windel Miller, 29 May 1781; citing Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina, United States, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh.
"United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRW-7TD : accessed 27 December 2022), Windle Miller, Rowan, North Carolina, United States
"United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRW-7TD : accessed 27 December 2022), Windle Miller, Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 302, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 33; FHL microfilm 337,909.
"North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VJG2-H75 : 8 March 2021), Windle Miller, 1805; citing Rowan, North Carolina, United States, State Archives, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,616,610.
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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Wendell by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA.
However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line.
It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Wendell:
It didn't work from my device so I'm glad it was saved. Maybe it depends on the os or it could've just been busy at the time ;/ Either way- thank you for clearing it off. Cheers!
Mueller-6736 and Mueller-1127 appear to represent the same person because: I propose to Merge Mueller-6736 into Mueller-1127 since they are the same person. Wendel Miller had 16 children, as noted in his will, but only 7 are currently listed. I have proposed this merger to name 2 more of his children, John Jacob Miller, Sr. (Miller-93336) and Henry Miller (Miller-4750). Both are listed in Wendel's will.
My name is Stephen Lloyd Sechriest, I am already considered a descendant of Wendel Miller through his daughter, Sarah (Miller) Brown (Miller-4755). Sarah's daughter Mary Ann Brown married John Jacob Miller, Jr. They were first cousins descended from Wendel, but with different grandmothers. I am a descendant from both.
Several of my first cousins who are descended from Sarah and John, Jr. are also descendants of Wendel's son Johann Philip Miller (Miller-4757). They are also descendants of Wendel's son Henry Miller (Miller-4750).
Both John Jacob and Henry are recognized as children of Wendel Miller in the books: Wendel Miller and His Descendants, edited by Geraldine Trexler Miller, with co-editors: Jerrie Miller Peeler and Patricia Bonds Beck, 1985 and Some Descendants of Wendel Miller, 1724-1805, edited by Bernard W. Cruse, Jr., Published for Cabarrus Genealogy Society by Catawba Publishing Company, May 2008, which were sources used for some of the other recognized children of Wendel Miller.
First- Thanks for the work done on this profile and for protecting it in order to prevent more wild attachments from being added etc. It is looking great!
I really appreciate the addition of Sarah from last year and should've brought up adding John's profile as well- not Johann Phillip (alleged son to his 'allleged' common law wife) but a slightly younger son that would be from the union with Christina. I found a brick wall John Miller profile on here that matches my dates and locations for their son, mentions the correct parents and wife, Elizabeth Lentz. The profile is Miller-93336 (both John and Elizabeth are mentioned in the will of our shared ancestor, my 6th great grandfather, J. Wendle Müeller / Miller I'm hoping we can add him...
Which brings me to a second question / favour. I have a photo copy of the hand written will Wendel wrote and signed November 17, 1804 (you all probably have this as well but if not please let me know who to email a copy to so it could be added or transcribed) I also have the diaries of my great grandmother Chloe Zenoba Miller and some notes from her parents Sarah Jane Hunt and Jefferson Davis Miller that have brief remarks about Wendle (his last signature placed the "l" before the "e") and I am happy to share most of that information pertaining to ancestors no longer living.
Sorry to ramble but the point about the will and diaries I that they mention slave ownership and the will (most specifically) gives names, dates and locations which could be helpful to the relatively newer U.S. Black Heritage Project here on Wikitree. We have several Categories that could alert our group and although this is project protected and I am not a group leader to speak for them I hope the two groups can work together and allow the information found to be used for matching and creating profiles for everyone mentioned in it.
Thanks for reading and if you made it to the end please let me know if any of this is plausible or what I need to do to help correctly expedite points.
Cheers!
Becky Elizabeth
Simmons-11603
I'll take a look at the John Miller profile you mention; in the meantime, please feel free to add the scan of the will and notes from your ancestors' notes and diaries. Please include source citations that will help the reader understand the source of this data. I think it would be great to include the names of enslaved persons mentioned in his will. If you are familiar with the format used by the Black Heritage project for adding those names to a profile, please go ahead and do so.
Thank you so much for the assist and welcoming the additions. I am a member of the U.S Black Heritage Project but would like to have another person look at the names etc to make sure everything is done correctly as I have only added a few on my own and this is a higher volume profile
Also can we please add their daughter Sarah (Mueller/ Miller) Braun/ Brown [Miller-4755] to this profile? She has at least one profile on here and the information seems good so far but I am waiting for p.m. before editing anything.
This is my great grandfather through his son with first wife who the family simply called "Indian Lady" (Nothing I am proud of) and also by his daughter Sarah with secons wife Christina Biese who was also widow from her marriage to Mr. Fisher. There are a lot of sources here and I have a few more including an old manuscript from my Miller family which also includes the smallpox story and a drawing of where the approximate "graves" would be located. There are a lot of mistruths about my Native American great grandmother including her name and that she was "Cherokee" and a daughter of the war chief "Black Hawk". When considering his path down the main roads to NC he most likely came across his wife in Virginia and we speculate
I understand that this is a long-sranding family story, but it is not corroborated in any early documents, interracial marriage was illegal, and there is no way Wendell could have collected an Indian wife while travelling from Pennsylvania. The deaths of his first wife and their grandchild are recorded in the pension records of Wedell’s oldest son, Frederick Mueller (it was Frederick’s baby that died). Frederick btought smallpox home from the War and infected his son and his mother who both died. The church building and cemetery did not exist at that time.
I used the term wife as it was written but I know that interracial marriages were illegal. It does not mean that a "common law" situation or even an illegal one did not exist. I also made no mention of the church or grounds other than to say "graves" which hers was marked within the property lines- I should not have made it plural as I can't confirm nor refute whether she was buried holding the infant or if they had separate graves.
However, I was not arguing the information on this profile- I thought showing a photo of the handwritten documents, the Bible and scans of docs could have possibly provided something new or would be helpful but I completely understand this is closed and will not bother this page with any further inquiries.
My Sincerest Apologies, Becky
No need to apologize, if you have documents that shed light on Wendell’s first wife, by all means post them. He was a founder of the Zion/Organ Church during the period of his first marriage, which makes it very unlikely that it was irregular in any way. And many cite the non-chiuch burial of the first wife as evidence that she was Indian, when family cemeteries were actually the norm at that time.
Wendell is freshly merged and might need a little reorganization of information. Concerning the duplicated images on this profile, does anybody know if either of these was posted with permission of the photographer? The one from FindAGrave needs to note if permission was given. The other also needs to have the info of who took the photo and that it can be used here. That might help us decide which image to keep.
Miller-15412 and Mueller-1127 appear to represent the same person because: Clearly same man, Mueller is correct German spelling of name at birth. Wives need merging, too
I have disconnected Miller-15411, please see research notes on that profile. Miller-14689 is the correct Frederick and will be connected in the course of merging (he is already connected to the PPP'd final id for Wendell).
Duplicate profile Johann Wendell Miller (1729-1805) needs to be resolved. 15412 has a son Frederick who is NOT the son of this Wendell Johann Wendel Mueller (1733-1805) but other information on profile relates to this one. If the other Wendell is a different man the wife and erroneous children need to be detached and connected to this profile.
Sarah M, can you move project protection from this to its better named duplicate? If he was born in Germany, Mueller is a better choice than Miller. Thank you.
Some reference materials for this situation. Detailed articles on each of these memorials that may be helpful.
FAG Mem #63318121 for Johann "Wendel" Miller 1733-1805
FAG Mem #91710694 for Frederick Miller 1756-1840.
Received the following : The following comment from Kathie Forbes was posted on the WikiTree profile of Frederick Miller. Do not reply to this e-mail. Click here to reply or send Kathie a private message if you do not want your response to be public.
This is NOT the Frederick Miller son of Wendell Miller. Wendell's son was born in Rowan County, N.C. in 1756, married Margaret Brown in 1779.
There were at least three Wendell Millers/Mullers who came to Pennsylvania in the first half of the 1700’s. The one who went to North Carolina and married Christina is pretty well identified as a son of Michael Muller/Miller who arrived with his family in the late1730’s and then went to North Carolina in the early 1750’s. The Family Tree DNA project Miller-1750RowanNC has a lot of information on the different Wendell Miller family lines: https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/miller-1750-rowan-nc/about/background
There re two or three other Miller projects there as well.
This whole line needs some research, as the timeline don't seem feasible, starting with Johann Wendell Miller-15412. Good bio on his profile listing children, but no Hans John Miller-53199 listed. Hans b. 1713 in SC before either dob on Johann. Peter & Frederick are listed in the bio & their dob works, but feel they are half-brothers. Frederick-15411 dob in question also--1740 & 1756. IF Johnann dob is 1717 he would have been 23, if dob is 1729 Johann was only 12 in 1740, but was 25 in 1756 (date of Frederick's dob in bio).
These dates jumped out to me when I looked at the proposed merge of 15412 & 53200 by Jilliane Smith. Bottom line is these need more research before merging in my opinion. This is not my direct line so have not done any further research on the Miller line. Will be taking myself off as profile mgr on Johann-15412 so make it easier for corrections to be completed for those in this direct line.
This whole line needs some research, as the timeline don't seem feasible, starting with Johann Wendell Miller-15412. Good bio on his profile listing children, but no Hans John Miller-53199 listed. Hans b. 1713 in SC before either dob on Johann. Peter & Frederick are listed in the bio & their dob works, but feel they are half-brothers. Frederick-15411 dob in question also--1740 & 1756. IF Johnann dob is 1717 he would have been 23, if dob is 1729 Johann was only 12 in 1740, but was 25 in 1756 (date of Frederick's dob in bio).
These dates jumped out to me when I looked at the proposed merge of 15412 & 53200 by Jilliane Smith. Bottom line is these need more research before merging in my opinion. This is not my direct line so have not done any further research on the Miller line. Will be taking myself off as profile mgr on Johann-15412 so make it easier for corrections to be completed for those in this direct line.
Miller-58879 and Miller-15412 appear to represent the same person because: Apparently meant to be the same man. Johann Wendell Muller/Miller was husband of Christina and father of Frederick.
Lacking any evidence that he was ever married to / partnered with a Native American, or had children by such a person, are there any objections to detaching her from this profile? Notes from a Cherokee researcher:
"Wendell Mueller/Miller, his parents, siblings, spouse, and children are all well-documented. Wendell was born in Germany about 1733, came to Pennsylvania with his parents and lived in a Pennsylvania German community in Pennsylvania. In 1752 Wendell moved to North Carolina with his parents and a number of other German families. Wendell's father, Michael got a land warrant in 1753. Wendell married a member of that same German community in 1755. Wendell and two of his sons, Frederick and Philip, fought in the Revolutionary War. Wendell's wife, children, and some of their spouses are all named in his will, which is available on-line. There is absolutely no documentation that anyone named Red Fern ever existed. Wendell Mueller was a single young man when he arrived in North Carolina. He certainly did not have an Indian wife when he lived in Lancaster, PA, nor did he acquire one in West Virginia which did not exist in 1753. Wendell wrote a very clear will naming his wife and all his children in 1804."
Miller-53200 and Miller-15412 appear to represent the same person because: Are these two the same man? One dupe ends up in North Carolina; the son of the other dupe also ends up in North Carolina.
Yes, these are clearly the same man. There are multiple dups of Wendell, Christina, and son Frederick. This appears to be the lowest-numbered "Wendell" profile.
Yes, he hand wrote his will or it says he did (clearly I wasn't there to witness) and he signs it very legibly on the 17th day of November 1804 "Wendle Miller" with the word "seal/e" written in cursive beside it and a zig-zag "bubble" drawn around the word - I wanted to add this bc I don't see doodles often- I wish I could upload the signature here- but to your point Müeller was used on the ship manifest amongst other things but my Miller great grandparents' journals and diaries all use the Miller spelling and they are descendants.
My name is Stephen Lloyd Sechriest, I am already considered a descendant of Wendel Miller through his daughter, Sarah (Miller) Brown (Miller-4755). Sarah's daughter Mary Ann Brown married John Jacob Miller, Jr. They were first cousins descended from Wendel, but with different grandmothers. I am a descendant from both.
Several of my first cousins who are descended from Sarah and John, Jr. are also descendants of Wendel's son Johann Philip Miller (Miller-4757). They are also descendants of Wendel's son Henry Miller (Miller-4750).
Both John Jacob and Henry are recognized as children of Wendel Miller in the books: Wendel Miller and His Descendants, edited by Geraldine Trexler Miller, with co-editors: Jerrie Miller Peeler and Patricia Bonds Beck, 1985 and Some Descendants of Wendel Miller, 1724-1805, edited by Bernard W. Cruse, Jr., Published for Cabarrus Genealogy Society by Catawba Publishing Company, May 2008, which were sources used for some of the other recognized children of Wendel Miller.
I really appreciate the addition of Sarah from last year and should've brought up adding John's profile as well- not Johann Phillip (alleged son to his 'allleged' common law wife) but a slightly younger son that would be from the union with Christina. I found a brick wall John Miller profile on here that matches my dates and locations for their son, mentions the correct parents and wife, Elizabeth Lentz. The profile is Miller-93336 (both John and Elizabeth are mentioned in the will of our shared ancestor, my 6th great grandfather, J. Wendle Müeller / Miller I'm hoping we can add him...
Which brings me to a second question / favour. I have a photo copy of the hand written will Wendel wrote and signed November 17, 1804 (you all probably have this as well but if not please let me know who to email a copy to so it could be added or transcribed) I also have the diaries of my great grandmother Chloe Zenoba Miller and some notes from her parents Sarah Jane Hunt and Jefferson Davis Miller that have brief remarks about Wendle (his last signature placed the "l" before the "e") and I am happy to share most of that information pertaining to ancestors no longer living. Sorry to ramble but the point about the will and diaries I that they mention slave ownership and the will (most specifically) gives names, dates and locations which could be helpful to the relatively newer U.S. Black Heritage Project here on Wikitree. We have several Categories that could alert our group and although this is project protected and I am not a group leader to speak for them I hope the two groups can work together and allow the information found to be used for matching and creating profiles for everyone mentioned in it. Thanks for reading and if you made it to the end please let me know if any of this is plausible or what I need to do to help correctly expedite points. Cheers! Becky Elizabeth Simmons-11603
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Will_of_Wendell_Miller
but it would be great to have the images of the will attached to that same page.
The free-space page can be referenced/linked to any associated profiles.
edited by Kathie (Parks) Forbes
Cheers! Becky Elizabeth
Your comment must be at least 30 characters long.
Adding characters to meet quota.
However, I was not arguing the information on this profile- I thought showing a photo of the handwritten documents, the Bible and scans of docs could have possibly provided something new or would be helpful but I completely understand this is closed and will not bother this page with any further inquiries. My Sincerest Apologies, Becky
edited by Kathie (Parks) Forbes
FAG Mem #63318121 for Johann "Wendel" Miller 1733-1805 FAG Mem #91710694 for Frederick Miller 1756-1840.
Received the following : The following comment from Kathie Forbes was posted on the WikiTree profile of Frederick Miller. Do not reply to this e-mail. Click here to reply or send Kathie a private message if you do not want your response to be public.
This is NOT the Frederick Miller son of Wendell Miller. Wendell's son was born in Rowan County, N.C. in 1756, married Margaret Brown in 1779.
There re two or three other Miller projects there as well.
edited by Kathie (Parks) Forbes
These dates jumped out to me when I looked at the proposed merge of 15412 & 53200 by Jilliane Smith. Bottom line is these need more research before merging in my opinion. This is not my direct line so have not done any further research on the Miller line. Will be taking myself off as profile mgr on Johann-15412 so make it easier for corrections to be completed for those in this direct line.
These dates jumped out to me when I looked at the proposed merge of 15412 & 53200 by Jilliane Smith. Bottom line is these need more research before merging in my opinion. This is not my direct line so have not done any further research on the Miller line. Will be taking myself off as profile mgr on Johann-15412 so make it easier for corrections to be completed for those in this direct line.
"Wendell Mueller/Miller, his parents, siblings, spouse, and children are all well-documented. Wendell was born in Germany about 1733, came to Pennsylvania with his parents and lived in a Pennsylvania German community in Pennsylvania. In 1752 Wendell moved to North Carolina with his parents and a number of other German families. Wendell's father, Michael got a land warrant in 1753. Wendell married a member of that same German community in 1755. Wendell and two of his sons, Frederick and Philip, fought in the Revolutionary War. Wendell's wife, children, and some of their spouses are all named in his will, which is available on-line. There is absolutely no documentation that anyone named Red Fern ever existed. Wendell Mueller was a single young man when he arrived in North Carolina. He certainly did not have an Indian wife when he lived in Lancaster, PA, nor did he acquire one in West Virginia which did not exist in 1753. Wendell wrote a very clear will naming his wife and all his children in 1804."