Gustavus Gustave A Mueller (Muller) was born to Henry and Catharina Mueller.  Henry Mueller was the founder and president of the Centennial Brewery in Philadelphia, but despite this his first born son seemed determined to stake a path in life separate from his father's business.  After college Gustavus became employed by the textile firm of Martin Landenberger & Sons.  But his father's death in 1882 required Gustavus to quit and at age 21 manage his father's newly expanded brewery.  He operated it as the "Estate of Henry Mueller" for three years , then sold out to his competitors Bergner and Engel.  In that firm Mueller became general manager and later president.  He retired in 1911 on account of ill health.

In life Mueller was a young man with a lot of money in a big city, yet at age 22 he married a woman more than 10 years his senior.  Mueller owned horses and yachts and had interests in several businesses including an Oriental Bath.  His political activity was perhaps inspired by his wife, whose father was expelled from Prussia for organizing against German unification.  Gustavus Mueller died on June 16th 1918 at the age of 57.