Karl Von Muellers advice for finding treasure leads

[Daryl Friesen]

A long time ago I wrote a letter to Karl Von Mueller asking his advice about where to find information on how to find good treasure leads. Here is what he wrote me in response. Most of my letter to him is misssing. Keep in mind this letter was written in 1987 or so.



www.spindlequest.com/losttreasure.html

[kc7rad]

Daryl,

I may be a noob here, but I focus on one area and read, read, read. I grew up in Mercer County, Illinois; a very rural community on the Mississippi river. It started as a general interest in the Native American history of the place. I found a ton of old documents on-line, including detailed history, plat maps, business and military history.

From that, I have been able to trace nearly all of the old, now extinct, railroad beds and many of the stage lines. I know that there are several towns that are nearly or completely abandoned that used to be fairly active areas of commerce.

With about 75% certainty I have located one of the county's first grist mills long lost to time, several old abandoned homesteads and long abandoned roads. I have read of hermits, rich people with no apparent source of income, distrust in banks, distrust in railroads, bank and store robberies... the list goes on.

Granted, I haven't found a single thing. You see, I live in Las Vegas and found all of this just by searching the internet.

At this point I have at least one fairly good lead and three or four questionable ones.

Guess my suggestion then, would be to read, read, read.

-Ken

[Tuberale]

A long time ago I wrote a letter to Karl Von Mueller asking his advice about where to find information on how to find good treasure leads. Here is what he wrote me in response. Most of my letter to him is misssing. Keep in mind this letter was written in 1987 or so.



www.spindlequest.com/losttreasure.html

Guess he was staying in his "nom de plume" or pen-name persona.

Actual name: Carl Miller. Makes sense when you think about it. Karl Von Mueller translates from German into Carl the Miller, or Carl Miller in English. Having a life and leading a virtual life make everyday tasks ... complicated.

I was more interested in reading the faint correspondence transferred to your letter. Can you read it?

Finding treasure leads is easy. Research is less easy. Every issue of the newspaper carries potential treasure leads. You need to read thoroughly. Here's a clue: lost and found ads. Check out your local L & F ads from the 1910's and 1920's. These ads were often free, donated as a public service to the community. They have more information in them than any book. But you MUST read.

The Internet can help. But it works only for recent leads.

[Tuberale]

From A.T. Evan's Treasure Hunting Yearbook 1974-'75 Edition, p. 7 "TREASURE HUNTER'S YEARBOOK Salutes KARL VON MUELLER ... MAN OF THE YEAR". A paragraph applies here: "Having written under at least 23 different pseudonyms, this man is actually better known as Karl von Mueller than by his real name, Charles Dean Miller. A favorite pen name, also, is Deek Gladson, being a corruption of his initials and his wife's maiden name, Gladyce Johnson."

[GringoStarr]

Mr. Darrell,

You should know I too recieved a reply from the master, I wish I could find it!

KVon M mentioned in one of his writings, I believe it was Waybills to Eldorado;"there never was a bank or anything that resembled a bank, there."

So, by implication, since the person he was speaking about never lived to retrieve his. "bank", it was likely still there, unless someone had found it.

Regards,

Gringo out

[Connecticut Danny]

Karl wrote many times that the best book about treasure hunting do not have those two words in book titles. I am seeking information on Connecticut bury treasures. lovejoydc@att.net Best of luck to all of you.

[Tom2hunt]

I have both of Karl von Mueller's books which are very good books. I would suggest to you also try to get Dick Stout books on metal detecting and finding treasure. Those are some excellent books to include in your collection. After that go to your historical library in your county and start looking and reading books and maps of your area. Good Luck.

[Connecticut Danny]

Best of luck to you, Tom.