Mount Prospect general store owner a 'mover and shaker'

John Conrad Moehling was one of Mount Prospect's earliest "movers and shakers." As operator of the general store, he was crucial to the growth and development of early Mount Prospect.

Moehling began his adulthood as a farmer in Elk Grove Township, but really didn't enjoy it. So, in 1882, he moved his family closer to the tracks, alongside the recently-built train station that bore the name "Mount Prospect," in order to take over ownership of a small general store. It was located at what today would be the corner of Main Street and Northwest Highway.

The store was built by Cook County Commissioner Christian Geils. However, Geils soon found that running a general store was not his calling, so he sold the business to Moehling, his cousin, and moved to Des Plaines to marry and start a cheese factory.

Moehling found keeping the store much more to his liking than farming and he soon became an important part in the community.

He sold farm machinery, grain, coal, seed, feed, buggies, and other items, and built a warehouse along a rail side track to help bring in and ship out materials.

Moehling became one of Mount Prospect's biggest promoters. Throughout his career, he worked hard to improve the village and bring in new services and businesses. He offered to build John Meyn, a blacksmith apprentice in Arlington Heights, a new shop to persuade him to relocate to downtown Mount Prospect.

Moehling also convinced the Chicago Northwestern Railroad to build a new depot and was appointed the first depot agent, a position he held from 1887 until 1902. In 1875, he was a charter member of the Mutual County Fire Insurance Co. of Mount Prospect; in 1884, he organized the Jefferson Democratic Club; and, in late 1885, he was appointed the first postmaster. He based the post office in his store and served as postmaster until 1897.

One of his most fascinating ventures, however, was when he went off in search of the best breed of dairy cows for local farmers. He and several helpers held a cattle drive and brought the cows to Mount Prospect, helping to cement the town's role as a major dairy center of the time.