Dan Muller

Daniel Cody Muller, generally known as Dan Muller (1889–1976) was a cowboy, an artist, illustrator, and writer of the American West. Having grown up on a ranch, he learned to break in horses, a skill he utilized for the United States Army during World War I. He made and sold paintings of the American Old West and worked occasionally as a ranch hand into the 1920s. In 1933, his first published story was Break 'Em Gentle for Esquire magazine. He wrote and illustrated books, like Chico of the Cross Up Ranch and Horses. He created three large murals for the Chicago World's Fair (Century of Progress) which were awarded a gold medal and a $1,200 cash prize.

Muller was a prolific artist who painted scenes with great detail due to his photographic memory. He married Edna Groeschel while both of them were on horseback in Nevada. The couple moved in 1939 to Port Washington, Wisconsin, where Muller continued to work as a creator and lived the rest of his life.

Muller wrote the book My Life with Buffalo Bill, which sounds autobiographical, but there has been no verification that Muller had the kind of relationship with Cody that he asserts. near Choteau, Montana. Muller claimed that his father was one quarter Piegan Blackfeet. In the story Break 'Em Gentle he tells of the tragic death of the father of a five year old boy. (According to census records, Muller did not live with the Codys in 1900.) That year, Cody only lived with his wife Louisa and daughter Irma. Muller claims to have a letter from Cody dated May 31, 1910 that was sent to Muller at Cody's ranch. It was written on Buffalo Bill's Wild West stationery. Edna, born on April 28, 1904, was the daughter of Emil Groeschel. The Mullers lived by themselves in Port Washington in 1950.

Muller died on December 4, 1976. Edna died on November 11, 1985, at her Port Washington home. They were buried at Union Cemetery in Port Washington.