Louis Mittendorf. A number of the solid old business houses of Champaign perpetuate in their ownership old pioneer names of Champaign County, the undertaking establishment of Louis Mittendorf being a case in point. For more than sixty years the name of Mittendorf has been known and respected in this section, ever representing honest methods and sturdy industry, and every one who has business transactions with Louis Mittendorf can testify that he has dealt with an honest man.
Louis Mittendorf was born at Champaign, Illinois, June 13, 1860. His parents were Christian and Hannah (Schneber) Mittendorf, both of whom were born in Germany. Early in the ’50s the father came to Champaign County in company with Emil Dunlap, for whom he worked for nine years as gardener and nurseryman and then went into the same business for himself, purchasing five acres of land north of the town. This he improved and brought to a high state of cultivation, making of it a very profitable market garden and utilizing every inch in his frugal, efficient way, thereby accumulating a competency. To his marriage with Hannah Schneber eight children were born, as follows: Frank, who is deceased; Lottie, who is the widow of William Kiler, of Champaign; Christie, who is the wife of Jacob Ort, of Wahoo, Nebraska; Reka, who is deceased; Annie, who is the wife of J. J. Dallenbach; Henry, who is deceased; and Louis and Charles, both of whom reside in Champaign. The father of this family died March 28, 1906, and the mother in 1908.
Louis Mittendorf resided with his parents, attending school as was convenient, and assisted his father until he was twenty-one years old, making himself very useful, as. he had charge of the delivery of produce to customers in Champaign. When his father retired in 1897 he succeeded him and continued the business for ten years. He moved then to Champaign and in 1889 started a furniture and undertaking business and continued in both lines until 1914, when he sold the furniture department to C. A. Kiler and since then has confined himself entirely to undertaking. He has well appointed undertaking and funeral directing apartments at No. 134 West Park Street. For twenty-eight years he has sympathetically as well as efficiently served Champaign families, in the way that some time or other all families must be served, personally attending to all details, giving advice when it was welcomed and showing a friendly interest that often means so much in times of distress and grief.
Mr. Mittendorf was married August 22, 1906, to Miss Mary McConney, who was born in Indiana, a daughter of Norris and Mary (Walters) McConney, the former of whom was born in Ohio and the latter at Urbana, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Mittendorf have two children: John Porter, who was born June 10, 1907, and Mary Jane, who was born November 21, 1908. In politics Mr. Mittendorf is a Republican and fraternally he is identified with several orders.