USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III > Part 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138
John Jacob Mickley was elected one of the General Committee of the Revolution of North- ampton county, Nov. 15, 1776. He served as Commissioner of Issues and in September, 1777, saved the Liberty Bell, bells of Christ church and other bells of the city of Philadelphia, eleven in all. He brought the State House bell or Liberty Bell on his farm team through Beth- lehem to Allentown, where he with other pa- triots of the church concealed it with other bells beneath the floors of Zion's Reformed church, where they remained secreted for more than a year. This history with other items concerning the family is given in the genealogy of the Mick- ley family. John Jacob Mickley's name is also mentioned in the lists of men of the Revolution from Northampton county, now Lehigh.
2. John Martin Mickley served in the Revo- lution and removed to Adams county, Pennsyl- vania, in 1785, where many of his descendants live, prominent in the church as clergymen and other walks of life ..
3. John Peter Mickley escaped from the In- dians Oct. 8, 1763, served in the Indian Wars and was a fighter in the Revolution, serving continually during the war. Many of his de- scendants are prominent residents of Philadel- phia and Bucks county, in Iowa, and other states.
4. Magdalena Mickley m. Peter Deshler. His father, Adam Deshler, was Commissary of Sup- plies during the Colonial Wars and his house built in 1760 on Coplay Creek, near Egypt, was one of the largest stone houses at the time in the country. There was a stockade around the house to hold one hundred men. To this house the families of the neighborhood fled during the Indian massacre of 1763 and spent three weeks with the Deshler family. Peter Deshler served in the American Revolution. After his death his widow married Michael Bieber. They lived near Schoenersville, where they are buried in the church yard. There were no children of Magdalena Mickley Deshler Bieber and Michael Bieber. The descendants of the children of Mag-
dalena Mickley and Peter Deshler are eligible to the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The descendants of these four children of John Jacob Mickley and Eliza- beth Barbara Burkhalter (who were buried in the Egypt churchyard, and in 1864 were re-interred in the Mickley's cemetery in the lot of their grandson, Jacob Mickley), are eligible as Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution. Volume I of the Mickley Genealogy was pub- lished in 1893. Volume II is being compiled, giving a full list of descendants of the Michelet family of America, known as Mickley, of the male and female lines, as many belonged to prominent families residing in the United States and their history written in many of the county histories- of the various states.
The late Carl Ludwig ( Charles Louis) Mich- elet, a descendant of a Louis Michelet, younger brother of Jean Jacques Michelet, has given a most interesting history of the Michelet family in Europe in his book "Andenken ans Meinen Leb- en." His grandfather, Louis Michelet, fled as a Huguenot to Berlin in 1720. Prof. Charles Louis Michelet, philosopher of the University of Ger- many in Berlin, received many honors from the emperor and university and was one of the noted scholars and philosophers of his day. He died in 1894, at an advanced age. He furnished the genealogy of the Norweigan, Paris, and Berlin branches of the family to the compiler of the Mickley genealogy.
March 12, 1913, the Michelet chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the Amer- ican Revolution was organized in the Declaration room of Independence Hall, Philadelphia, by Miss Minnie F. Mickley, who was appointed regent of the chapter by the state regent of Penn- sylvania, Mrs. C. C. Cummings, and authorized by the National Board of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Washington, D. C., Feb. 5, 1913.
The chapter is composed of the descendants of the four children of Jean Jacques Michelet and Elizabeth Barbara Burkhalter.
The officers of the Michelet Chapter, members and honorary members of the chapter are lineal descendants of the Mickleys, who served in the American Revolution. The honorary members belong to other chapters, but are affiliated with the Michelet chapter on account of the family his- tory, which is being compiled by the members of the chapter under the direction of the regent, Miss Minnie F. Mickley, Genealogist, Mickleys, R. D., Allentown, Pa., and Washington, D. C.
Vice Regent, Mrs. Cora Irene Wilson, Over- brook, Pa.
893
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
Registrar, Mrs. Annie D. Mickley (Joseph Philip) Mickleys, R. D., Allentown, Pa.
Treasurer, Mrs. Florence Louise Lyon (G. Al- lan), Washington, D. C.
Cor. Sec., Mrs. Grace L. Mickley Harvey (Francis Willard), Washington, D. C.
Rec. Sec., Miss Emily B. White, Philadelphia, Pa.
Historian, Miss Mary Michelet Wilson, Over- brook, Pa.
Peter Mickley, only son of Christian and Eliza- beth (Deshler) Mickley, was born in 1794, on the old homestead and was educated in the best schools of that period. From boyhood he labored on the farm and in the course of time succeeded to the ownership of the family homestead. He was active in township affairs, and for many years held the office of school director. He was an active member of the Reformed congregation of Mick- ley's church. He was married to Annie Butz, a daughter of Abraham Butz. They were the par- ents of the following children: Abraham; Frank- lin P .; Caroline, married to Francis Levan ; and Alfred T.
Alfred T. Mickley, son of Peter and Anna Mickley, was born Oct. 20, 1844, in Whitehall township. He received his education in the public schools of his native place, and Easton, and in the Freeland Seminary at Trapp, Montgomery county, Pa. Like his father he was reared on the farm and in 1875 he started to farm for him- self and continued farming a tract of 80 acres until 1900, when he retired. Forty acres of his farm was originally Mickley land. He took an interest in township affairs, having filled the office of assistant assessor for one term and of assessor for six years. He has been very prominently iden- tified with the Reformed congregation of Mick- ley's church, served the congregation faithfully as deacon, elder, and trustee, for many years. He was a member of the building committee when the church was remodeled in 1899. Mr. Mickley was first married to Sarah Smith, who died in 1892 without issue. He was married second time to Henrietta Grim, widow of John Parton. They reside at No. 549 Walnut street, Allen- town, Pa.
Frank P. Mickley, a son of Peter and Annie (Butz) Mickley, and a prominent resident of Ballietsville, was born in Whitehall township, Lehigh county, near Mickleys, March 1, 1832, which had been the birthplace of his father and grandfather. He received his primary education in the schools of his native town, afterward at- tending Easton Academy. After leaving school he returned home and engaged in the mining of iron ore, which he found in considerable quanti- ties, embedded in the soil of his ancestral farm.
He continued this for some years, finding it a fruitful source of pecuniary profit, and then turned his attention to agriculture, which he made the business of his life, and in which he proved as successful as his forefathers, until he retired from the active labors of the farm. In his earlier years he was actively identified in the development of the iron ore fields and was also a member of the Balliet Oil Co., with possessions in Western Pennsylvania.
Mr. Mickley was one of the founders of the Union Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Pennsylvania, and for more than forty years was one of its directors. In banks and corporations he held the same office. He took an active in- terest for years in educational work and served for many years as a school teacher. He was a staunch member of the Reformed Church and in politics was a Republican.
In 1854 Mr. Mickley married Miss Sarah A. Butz. They had five children, two sons and three daughters: Ella C., wife of Walter B. Bieber ; Mrs. Anna S. Albright; Mrs. Laura A. Eddler ; Charles F .; and Dr. Howard P.
Mr. Mickley died at his home in Ballietsville, Dec. 3, 1911, aged 80 years, and is buried at Union Church. His wife preceded him in death.
Charles F. Mickley, a resident of Balliets- ville, Pa., was born in August, 1870, in North Whitehall township. He attended the public schools and pursued a course in the Easton Academy, after which he clerked in a hardware store in Allentown for five years. In 1898 he entered the employ of the Lehigh Portland Ce- ment Company, where he is still employed. He is a member of Chapman Lodge, No. 637, F. & A. M., and of the Reformed church, at Union- ville, where he served as deacon for two years. He married, in 1900, Catharine H. Balliet, daughter of Benjamin Balliet. Mr. and Mrs Mickley had two sons: Earl B., who resides on the old homestead, and Paul, who died in his infancy, at Ballietsville.
Dr. Howard P. Mickley, a son of Frank P. and Sarah (Butz) Mickley, and a native of Ballietsville, was born Oct. 15, 1866. He at- tended the public schools, Keystone State Normal School, Jefferson Medical College, of Philadel- phia, from which institution he was graduated in 1889, pursued a special course in obstetrics and was physician for one year in the Philadelphia Lying-in Hospital. In 1891 he located at Bal- lietsville, and five years later located at Neffs, where he occupies the Dr. L. B. Balliet mansion. and has a large field. He is a member of I. O. O. F., Jordan Lodge No. 192, and of the Re- formed church at Unionville. He was first mar- ried, in 1889, to Maggie Koch, who died in
894
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
April, 1900, and is buried at Unionville. They had a daughter, Grace, who died at the age of one year, and two days. He was married a sec- ond time, on Oct. 10, 1901, to Anna Kern, daughter of Willoughby and Eliza (Schneck) Kern. By this marriage he has one daughter, Dorothea K.
Abraham Mickley, a son of Peter, was a farm- er on the original homestead, where the old stone house is still standing. He was a member of the Reformed church at Mickleys, where he served as an elder for many years. His wife, Anna Maria Erdman, still lives and resides at Egypt. Their children are: Alice, wife of Francis Newhard; Preston; Oscar F., of Bal- lietsville; Joseph B., and Ida, wife of O. J. Breinig.
Joseph B. Mickley, a son of Abraham and Anna Mickley, and a resident of Allentown, was born in Whitehall township, June 1, 1860. He is a member of the firm of Long and Mickley, with works in Whitehall township. He attended the public schools, the Allentown Business Col- lege, from which he was graduated in 1878, and followed clerical work for several years. In 1880 he engaged in cigar manufacturing at Cop- lay, continuing thus until 1896, and during this time served the offices of justice of the peace and postmaster as a Republican, under President Har- rison. In 1896 he engaged in the hotel business at Guthsville, conducting the Center Hotel for four years and then located at Cementon, where he was proprietor of the Laurel House for seven years. In 1907 he removed to Allentown and en- gaged in his present business. He was a com- mitteeman of South Whitehall and Coplay for several years, and is a member of Zion's Reformed church.
He was married, Sept. 10, 1887, to Laura A. D. Kohler, daughter of Lewis A., and Pauline E. (Newhard) Kohler, of Mickleys. Mr. and Mrs. Mickley have three children: Irene Esther, Joseph K., Jr., and Anna M.
Oscar F. Mickley, son of Abraham Mickley, was born at Mickleys, June 15, 1856. He at- tended the public schools of his township and followed farming all his life. In 1900 he moved on his farm, near Egypt, where he resides at the present time. His wife was Jemima, daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Stofflet) Schadt. Their children are: Eva H., wife of Norman Remaley ; Thomas B., of Brooklyn, N. Y .; Edwin A .; Ida M., deceased ; Helen M., wife of Martin Leibenguth ; Anna M .; Oscar J .; Jemima S .; David G .; and Matilda S. Mr. Mickley is a Republican in politics and a member of the Re- formed church at Mickleys.
Anna M. Mickley, daughter of Oscar and
Jemima Mickley, was born Aug. 25, 1889, at Ruchsville, Pa. She attended the public schools of her township and the Keystone State Normal School, from which institution she was graduated in 1912. She commenced the profession of teach- ing in 1912, in Whitehall township, and teaches. there at the present time. She is a member of the Reformed church at Egypt, and an active member of Scheidy's Sunday school.
MILLER FAMILY (LYNN TOWNSHIP.)
The ancestor of the Miller family, originating in the northwestern part of Lehigh county, was Christian Miller, Sr., who was born in Switzer- land, and emigrated to Pennsylvania, settling first in Longswamp township, Berks county. He then located in Lynn township, but was driven back, during the French and Indian War, by the savage Indians, to Berks county. Later, how- ever, he again returned to Lynn township and settled upon his land which he had taken up by warrant, in 1749, 1750, and 1767, in all 208 acres, and later he added other tracts. He was. married in Longswamp township, and had two sons : Andrew and Christian.
Andrew, the elder son, was born in 1738, and followed farming. He lived on the south side of the Schochary in Lynn township, his homestead being now owned and occupied by Reuben Bach- man. He married (first) Magdalena Seiberling, and (second) Ann Elizabeth Schneider, who was born in 1767 and died in 1830. His children were: Maria, Catharine, Mrs. Andrew Straub, and John Miller. Maria married John Dieter Heintzleman, and Catharine married Samuel Kistler.
John Miller, the only son of Andrew, was born in 1790, served in the War of 1812, died suddenly in 1835, and was buried in a private graveyard on the north side of the Shochary. The family was affiliated with the German Reformed Church. He married Maria Rex, daughter of John George Rex, and their issue were: Stephen, Sarah, John, Mary (Mrs. Jacob Holben), Cath- arine, and Reuben.
Reuben Miller, son of John Rex, was born Nov. 27, 1824, in Lynn township, and attended the common schools of the district. At a suitable age he engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he followed for a number of years, and, acquir- ing a competence he was enabled to live in re- tirement at New Tripoli until his decease, May 17, 1904. He married Sarah A. Mantz, daugh- ter of David Mantz, of Lynn township, and their issue were: James A .; Alvena M., who married Reuben H. Fister, and had four chil- dren; George D .; William A .; Mary J., who
HON. JAMES A. MILLER.
895
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
married James D. Snyder; and Catharine E., G. German, daughter of Jonas German, and who died, single, in 1912. they have a son, Ralph E.
HON. JAMES A. MILLER, state senator of Le- high county, Pa., banker, merchant, and repre- sentative citizen, residing at New Tripoli, was born May 3, 1863, in the historic "Sechler House," in Lynn township. He spent his boy- hood days on the old homestead, assisting in the labors of the fields through the summer months, and during the remainder of the year pursuing his education in the public schools. He also at- tended several select schools, and when his educa- tion was completed, he engaged in teaching, be- coming afterward a successful representative of educational interests in Lynn township. He then entered the employ of his father-in-law, Jonas German, and managed the store and hotel business at New Tripoli for nineteen years, until Mr. Ger- man's death, July 5, 1900. In the settlement of the estate Mr. Miller purchased the entire prop- erty, and began business on his own account, Aug. 17, 1900. In 1908 he admitted his brother, Wil- liam A. Miller as a partner in the business, under the firm name of James A. Miller & Bro. His various business interests have been managed in a most successful manner. Early in 1914 Sena- tor Miller disposed of his interests in the store and hotel business to his brother, William A., after having been identified with it for more than thirty years. He was granted commissions to serve as a justice of the peace, by the following named governors: Robert E. Pattison, 1885; James A. Beaver, 1890; Daniel H. Hastings, 1895; William A. Stone, 1900; and Samuel W. Pennypacker, 1905. The first commission was granted in the year he became of legal age, and he served continuously for twenty-five years, un- til May 1, 1910. From May 1, 1910, he served one year as a notary public, when he was suc- ceeded by his brother, William A. Miller.
In 1903 Mr. Miller was elected a director of the Merchants' National Bank, of Allentown, and he has continued to serve this position until the present time. His political allegiance is given to the Democratic party. In November, 1911, he was elected state senator by a large majority, and this position he has filled in a most successful manner, to the entire satisfaction of his constitu- ents. In 1914, he was re-nominated by his party for the office of state senator. He is a member of the Masonic Order ; the I. O. O. F .; the Knights of the Golden Eagle; and the Jr. O. U. A. M .; the Pennsylvania German Society ; and the Lehigh County Historical Society. He and his family have connected themselves with the German Re- formed Church, and this he has served as a dea- con.
.
In 1881, Mr. Miller was married to Louisa
Ralph Edgar Miller, son of Senator James A. Miller, was born at New Tripoli, Jan. 26, 1882. He received his preliminary education at the vil- lage school, and West Chester State Normal School, after which he attended Ursinus College, at Collegeville, Pa., from which he was gradu- ated in 1905. He then entered the Baldwin Locomotive Works at Philadelphia, and served an apprenticeship of three years. During this time, in 1907, he became married and this having in- clined him to a business career, he located at Collegeville, and engaged in the business of con- ducting a grist-mill in connection with dealing in feed, grain, etc., and in this he has continued until now. He was married to Alma J. Clamer, daughter of Francis J. Clamer, of Collegeville, and they have two children, Margaret Louise, and Robert Clamer.
GEORGE D. MILLER, farmer near New Tripoli, was born in Lynn township, Feb. 27, 1871. He was reared on the Miller farm near New Tripoli, which is now owned by Reuben H. Fis- ter, his brother-in-law. For a period of six years he conducted the farming operations for his father on the homestead and in 1904 he began farming there for himself. On March 16, 1905 he located upon the 74-acre farm which he pur- chased, and now occupies. This was formerly the Peter Moyer farm for many years.
In 1891, Mr. Miller was married to Josephine Old, daughter of Joshua Oldt, and they have three children : Annie V., Charles R., and Elmer G. They are members of the Reformed congre- gation which worships in the Ebenezer church, and Mr. Miller has served it successively as deacon and trustee. Mr. Miller is a Democrat, and was elected registry assessor of the township in the fall of 1911.
WILLIAM A. MILLER, merchant at New Tripoli, was born at that place on Aug. 28, 1876, and he received his education in the town- ship schools. He was reared on a farm until he became twenty years old, then entered the gen- eral store of Jonas German as a clerk and con- tinued there for five years. In 1900 he began clerking in the store of his brother, James A. Miller, state senator, and, after serving him faithfully for eight years, he was admitted as a partner in the business, trading as James A. Miller and Bro. They have been large and suc- cessful dealers in general merchanidse at New Tripoli and also conduct the "Hotel German" at that place. Early in 1914, Mr. Miller purchased his brother's interest in the store and hotel busi- ness and conducts it alone. He is a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M., at New Tripoli; of the
896
HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Odd Fellows, at Steinsville, and of the I. O. O. F. Encampment at Jordan. He was married on June 27, 1907, to Mabel Krause, daughter of Jacob and Sabina (Smith) Krause, and they have two children: Lillian M. and Lawrence W. They are members of the Ebenezer church, of which he is one of the deacons.
Christian Miller, the younger son of Christian Miller, Sr., was born on the old Miller home- stead, Jan. 6, 1741, and died in 1778. He mar- ried Maria Butz, and they had four children: John, Christian, Daniel, and Peter.
Peter Miller, the youngest son of Christian and Maria (Butz) Miller, was born Jan. 19, 1772. He made the historic "Peter Miller" grandfather clocks, which became noted all over eastern Pennsylvania, and was an exceptional mechanic in wood and brass materials. He lived all his life on the old homestead. He died Aug. 22, 1855, and was buried in the Miller family burial ground in Lynn township. He and his wife were members of the German Reformed Church. He married, in March, 1793, Maria Magdalena Bachman. She was born Oct. 20, 1773; and died May 26, 1864, aged 93 years, 7 months, and 6 days. Their issue were: George ; Jonas; Peter; Maria (Mrs. George Bausch) ; and Abigail (Mrs. Jacob Ettinger).
George Miller, the oldest son of Peter, was born in Lynn township, Feb. 10, 1798, and died in June, 1865, aged 67 years, 3 months, and 25 days. He lived on an adjoining farm to the homestead, which is now the property of G. J. Bausch. He built the present barn on that farm. In politics he was a Whig, and he served the district as a school director for a number of years. He was a member of the Ebenezer church, at New Tripoli, until the erection of the St. Peter's church at Lynnville. He served the various offices in the church in which he took an active part.
In 1828 he was married to Mary Ann Ett- inger, whose father lived in the Kistler Valley. They had the following children :
Lucy, married to Stephen M. Kistler.
David, died at Millport, in 1859.
William, lived and died at Easton.
( He had been engaged in the mercantile busi- ness at Lynnville, from 1856 to about 1867.)
Mary, married to Elias Bittner, of Allentown. Matilda, married to Owen Seibert, of Easton. Polly, married to T. Krause, deceased.
Joseph, died near Mossersville.
Reuben E., whose history follows.
Peter, who is unmarried and has his home with his brother, Reuben, for more than twenty years.
REUBEN E. MILLER, a retired, respected, and substantial citizen, residing at Millport, Carbon county, Pa., was born in Lynn township, Lehigh county, Oct. 31, 1842. There he attended the common schools, and at the age of eighteen years learned the tanning trade at Neffs. In the fall of 1863 he went to Lehighton, and there followed the tanning trade as a journeyman until 1867, then settled at Millport and erected a large tannery in which he employed a dozen men. He prospered until in May, 1874, a destructive fire occurred and burned down his entire industry, incurring a loss of $25,000. Broken and crushed in spirit, Mr. Miller, somehow, drifted into the drover business in the fall of 1874 and this he continued with remarkable success until in 1900, when he retired. During some years he bought and sold cattle to the amount of $100,000. He resides in a modest, but comfortable home, at Millport, since March 26, 1867. Four acres of land comprise the tract upon which he lives these many years; but Mr. Miller owns other real estate at Millport, Weissport, Siegfried, and Mauch Chunk, Pa. He is a director of the First National Bank, at Lehighton; and was one of the organizers of the First National Bank, at Palmerton, in 1907, serving it as one of its di- rectors ever since.
Mr. Miller is a modest, unassuming, and hon- est citizen. He goes about his business in a quiet and unpretentious manner and lives the simple life. He is a member of the Evangelical church at Millport; is a most liberal supporter, and has served all the offices within the church. He has not forgotten the graves of his parents, and forebears. On the homestead farm of Chris- tian Miller, his ancestor, is a private burial ground upon which are buried five generations of the family. In 1913 he erected a most substantial concrete wall around this sacred spot. The graves he had fixed up and the tombstones he had imbedded in concrete and cement.
Reuben E. Miller was married (first) in 1872, to Jennie S. Kern. She died in 1873, aged 21 years. They had an only son, Clinton, who died six months after his mother. He was mar- ried (second) in 1901, to Martha A. Buck. She died in February, 1911. They had an only daughter, Mary F., who lives with her father.
Peter Miller, the third son of Peter, was born Dec. 4, 1802, in Lynn township. He owned and operated a farm, hotel, and store at Saegers- ville, from the time he was 20 years old until his death, a period of 65 years. He was the leading business man in his section. He died Sept. 12, 1888, and was interred in Heidelberg church cemetery. He and family were members of the Reformed Church, which he served as
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.