History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III, Part 26

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 854

USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III > Part 26

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William Miller, a native of Germany, emi- grated to America at an early day, and soon after his arrival, settled in Whitehall township and is buried at Helfrich Springs in a private burial ground. He bought a large tract of land, which he cultivated and improved to a high degree of perfection, and by his industry and economy amassed quite a fortune (for those days), where- by he was enabled to spend his declining years in comfort. He married and reared a family of children, among whom were sons, William, Jr .; Abraham ; and others.

William Miller, Jr., was born in Whitehall township. He was reared upon the farm and at- tended the schools of his neighborhood. He was a lifelong resident of his native township and became a man of influence and wealth, and ranked among the successful men of the county. He was a large land owner-a farmer and stock raiser. He was the first to discover iron ore in his neighborhood, and this discovery was one of great importance to that community. It was the making of Catasauqua and Hokendauqua the thrifty towns they now are, the greater portion of their residents being engaged in the iron in- dustry. He subsequently owned what was known as the Maria Furnace, named in honor of his wife.

William Miller married Maria Powell. Is- sue: Powell, a prominent iron manufacturer ; William; Joshua, a successful agriculturist ; Polly; Catherine; Mary; Deborah; Lavina; Sarah Miller.

William Miller, the second eldest son of Wil- liam and Maria (Powell) Miller, was born in 1812, in what is now West Catasauqua, Pa. He was reared upon the farm and educated in the public schools. In early life he became a carpen- ter, and did considerable work in that line in Le- high and Northampton counties. In 1836 he removed to Lehigh township, Northampton county, where he purchased a tract of 120 acres of arable farming land and followed farming and stock raising. He was an honest and in- dustrious man, and his laborers were crowned with financial success.

William Miller married Catharine Brobst, of Whitehall township, born in 1813, and died in

Edwin & Miller

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1846. Issue: Edwin F .; Catherine, died un- married, aged 61 years; Mary, died in 1912, married Josiah Shoemacher ; Matilda, died 1893, married Charles Nicholas; Elizabeth, married Joseph Anthony, now deceased. His widow re- sides in Allentown.

EDWIN FRANKLIN MILLER, eldest son of Wil- liam and Catherine (Brobst) Miller, was born Jan 17, 1834, in South Whitehall township, Le- high county. In 1835 his parents removed to Le- high township. He was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools. He remained at home until 20 years of age, then became employed in stone and slate quarries. In his young man- hood he located in Scranton, Pa., where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits. He subsequently developed several slate quarries which he owned, both in Lehigh township, and near Slatington, Pa. He continued along these lines until 1871, when he removed to Allentown, and for five years was engaged in the baking business. In 1866 he established himself in the butcher busi- ness, which he followed for sixteen years. In the fall of 1882 he purchased a farm of about forty acres in Salisbury township, now South Allentown. Here he operated the farm, and also a general store and in 1893 he established a. hotel, operating this also as "Miller's Hotel," until 1909, when he turned over its manage- ment to Charles H. Minnich, his son-in-law. Mr. Miller has been the prime factor in making South Allentown what it is to date, a thriving borough wherein he built twenty-five houses and the Stuyvesant Silk Mill in 1905, which he aft- erwards sold. He sub-divided his acres into building lots, and sold them on easy terms, thus making it possible for many persons to own their own homes. At one period he owned 300 acres in Salisbury township. He built many houses and developed a large real estate business. He is president of the Keystone Textile Silk Mill in South Allentown; was connected with K. of P., and the Golden Eagles, and was the first burgess of South Allentown, where he is living a life of activity and usefulness. He and family are members of St. Mark's . Lutheran church, which he served as elder for four years. He and family have a burial plot in St. Mark's cemetery, South Allentown, where the Miller monument is erected.

Edwin Franklin Miller married, in 1864, Elizabeth Selvies, daughter of Henry and Susan (Beltz) Selvies, of Monroe county, Pa. Issue : Almira J., married Charles H. Minnich, pro- prietor of Miller's Hotel; William, married Annie Nonnemaker; Franklin A., sand and stone dealer, in South Allentown; Edwin C. E.,

born 1875, died 1909, married Elizabeth Serfas, of Cedarville; and Minnie, single at home.

ISRAEL, N. MILLER.

James Miller, father of Israel N. Miller, a prominent resident of Salisbury -township, Le- high county, Pa., the well-known proprietor of Idlewild Hotel, Mountainville, was born in Up- per Bern township, Berks county, Pa. - He was reared and educated in the vicinity of his birth- place, and his first occupation was that of farmer,. from which he derived a lucrative livelihood, and. later he was a real estate dealer in and around Berks county, but since 1909 he has led a re- tired life, having accumulated sufficient capital during his active career to enable him to enjoy a well-earned rest. He resides at Centerport, Berks county, Pa., where he is respected and es- teemed. He is a member of the United Brethren Church. He married Pollie Naftzinger, who bore him the following named children: Charlie, died, aged 16; Clara, died, aged 12; Carrie, died. aged 10; Tana, died aged eight; John; Catha- rine; James; Melvin; Israel Naftzinger, , of whom further.

Israel Naftzinger Miller was born in Center township, Berks county, Pa., April 22, 1882, on his father's farm. He was educated in the com- mon schools of Center township, and he complet- ed his studies at the age of fourteen. He then learned the trade of electrician (interior wiring) at. Reading, continuing along this line for three, years and four months. At the expiration of this period of time he enlisted in the United States Volunteers, at Reading, becoming a member of: Company M, Thirty-ninth Regiment, and was sent to Vancouver Island, British Colombia, his term of service extending from Aug. 16, 1898 to June 31, 1901, when he was honorably dis- charged, thus he is a Spanish-American War veteran. He then returned home, where he re- mained for a short time, after which he again re- moved to Reading, and there followed his trade for a, brief period of time. He then entered the. employ of the American Telephone and Tele- graph Company, erecting and repairing wires from the Atlantic to the Pacific, over the Rocky mountains, deserts, and plains, residing for four years in a, wagon, the company being engaged in this kind of work for almost half a century .. On Feb. 9, 1905, Mr. Miller rented the Idlewild Hotel at Mountainville, on the Philadelphia turnpike, between Allentown and Coopersburg, situated in the heart of the Lehigh mountains. He has made many improvements in the house and grounds, and the cuisine being of the best. There is an excellent livery attached to the

VOL. III-9

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

hotel, this being also under the management of Mr. Miller, and in addition to this he owns and conducts the Schoedler Auto Line, which sup- plies autos by the hour or day, also touring cars, has a day and night service, with office at Nos. 531-533 Walnut street, Allentown.

He is a Democrat in politics, and holds mem- bership in the Lutheran Church; Lodge No. 72, Fraternal Order of Owls; Aerie No. 110, Fra- ternal Order of Eagles; Tribe No. 201, Im- proved Order of Red Men, of Lackawanna town- ship; Lodge No. 446, Patriotic Order Sons of America, of Centerport.

Mr. Miller married, Sept. 2, 1903, Katie Eck, daughter of Nathaniel and Catherine (Ziegen- fuss) Eck, of Allentown.

WARREN K. MILLER, ESQ.

Warren K. Miller, attorney-at-law, and at the present time a member of the house of rep- resentatives, of Lehigh county, Pa., is a repre- sentative in the present generation of a family that has long been seated in Montgomery county, Pa., and their history is inseparably linked with that of the section of the state wherein Mont- gomery county lies.

Michael Miller, the progenitor of the line here under consideration, was one of four chil- dren, the others being: John Adam, probably buried at the Six Corner Church, an uncle of Reuben Miller; Eva, who resided in Montgom- ery county; John, who died in 1828, buried at Pennsburg, father of Reuben Miller, who re- sided in Whitehall township, died and is buried at Coplay, Pa. Michael Miller was a farmer at Red Hill, Montgomery county, Pa. He was a veteran of the War of 1812, in which he per- formed valiant service. He was an adherent of the Lutheran Church. He married Catharine DeWees, who died at an advanced age. Mr. Miller died in 1826, and his remains were in- terred in the cemetery, near Oaks, Pa. Chil- dren: John; Mary, married John Rambo ; Susan, married John DeHaven; Jesse D., of whom further.

Jesse D. Miller, son of Michael Miller, was born near Red Hill, Montgomery county, Pa., in 1826, died in 1909 at the residence of his son, Ir- vin S. Miller, buried at Trappe, Pa. He was an agriculturist, owning a tract of land at Col- legeville, Pa., which he cultivated and improved, and whereon he resided until 1902, when he re- moved to Allentown, where he spent the remain- der of his days. He was a veteran of the Mex- ican War, fought in every battle under General Scott, and was the last survivor of that war liv- ing in Allentown, and probably in the county. He also saw active service in the Civil War, serv-

ing in the capacity of corporal. Mr. Miller mar- ried Elizabeth Scholl, born in 1824, died in 1901, daughter of Frederick Scholl. Children: Irvin S., of whom further; Elmira, married Milton Frederick, of Schwenksville, Pa.

Irvin S. Miller, son of Jesse D. Miller, was born at Evansburg, Montgomery county, Pa., in 1858, living at the present time (1914) in Al- lentown, where he has resided since 1886, a period of twenty-eight years. He attended the public schools in the neighborhood of his home, and this was supplemented by a course at Wash- ington Hall, Trappe, and Ursinus College, Col- legeville. He was for some time connected with the Perkiomen Railroad, and at the present time he is employed by the Bethlehem Steel Works. He is affiliated with the Reformed Church. He married Emma G. Koons, daughter of Abraham P. and Sarah (Grater) Koons, who resided near Schwenksville. Children: Warren K., of whom further ; Eva K.

Warren K. Miller, son of Irvin S. Miller, was born at Schwenksville, Montgomery county, Pa., Oct. 23, 1883, and moved to Allentown with his parents in 1886. His preparatory education was obtained in the public schools of Allentown; in 1901 he graduated from the Allentown high school; in 1902 graduated from Bethlehem pre- paratory school; in 1906 graduated from Hav- erford college, Haverford, Pa .; in 1909 gradu- ated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he was a member of the Sharse- wood Law Club, and the Order of the Coif., both honorary societies. He was registered as a student at law in the law office of Francis G. Lewis, and was admitted to the bar of Lehigh county, Oct. 25, 1909, and he has since prac- ticed his profession. He became a member of the house of representatives from Lehigh county, and was appointed on the following commit- tees: Judicial General, Corporations and Insur- ance, Legislative and Apportionment, and Re- trenchment and Reform, in all of which he has rendered valuable service. He is affiliated with the Salem Reformed church, and is a Republican in politics. He is president of the John Hay Republican Club.

R. L. MILLER.

Roland Lorentz Miller, the cashier of the Emaus National Bank, is a great-grandson of William Miller, of Upper Milford township, and whose remains lie buried at the Zion's Lu- theran church, of Zionsville, and a grandson of the late Edward Miller, of Oley, Pa. Edward Miller married Julia Reppert, a daughter of Jacob Reppert, and was for many years employed at Baer's tannery, in Oley township, Berks

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county. Mr. Miller spent his declining years in the little hamlet of Friedenburg, Berks county. To him and his wife were born the following children: Louise, married to Amos Rapp, Mary Ann, married to Hiram Hartman; William R .; Elisabeth, married Levi Rothenberger; Emma, married to Martin Deturck, and Daniel.

Daniel Miller was born April 16, 1861, in Oley township, Berks county; attended the pub- lic schools of the township and later graduated from the Oley Academy, after which he learned telegraphy at the railway station at Lyons; and immediately entered into the employ of the P. & R. Railway. He held various positions and worked for a longer or shorter period at almost every station along the East Penn. In 1891 he was stationed at Emaus for the fourth time and remained there until the time of his death, filling the position of agent with credit to himself and satisfaction to the company. Mr. Miller was a well-read man of a genial disposition and enjoys a large circle of friends. He served the borough as school director for three terms, during all of which time he was president of the board. At the last borough election he was honored with the election of chief burgess, which office he serv- ed with signal success up to the time of his death, Aug. 27, 1912. Mr. Miller was ever identified with movements and measures tending to con- tribute to the borough's material, social, intel- lectual and moral advancement. His political al- legiance was given the Democratic party. He never sought public office and of him it may be truly said the office sought the man.

Fraternally Mr. Miller was affiliated with the Reading Lodge F. and A. M .; the Knights Templar of this city; of Lulu Temple Shriners, Philadelphia; Mystic Star Lodge, No. 73, I. O. O. F., Emaus, which he served for seventeen consecutive years as treasurer, and a member of the Emaus Fish Protective Association. He was one of the incorporators and the first president of Emaus Fire Company.

Mr. Miller was married to Emma C., the daughter of John Lorentz (see Lorentz Fam- ily). This union is blessed with two children. Roland Lorentz and Florence Judith, the latter is a graduate of the Emaus high school and the Keystone State Normal School.

Roland Lorentz Miller was born in Emaus, Pennsylvania, Feb. 14, 1882. He attended the public schools of the borough, graduated from the Emaus high school in 1898, from the Muhl- enberg College preparatory school in 1899 and from Muhlenberg College in 1903. Upon the opening of the Emaus National Bank in the spring of 1904 he accepted the position of book- keeper and in 1909 succeeded Edwin Lorentz

as cashier. This promotion was well merited and met with the approval of the bank's many pat- rons. Mr. Miller was married, April 28, 1908, to Florence Wickert, the accomplished daugh- ter of Dr. H. T. Wickert, of Emaus. (See Wickert Family). She is a graduate of the Emaus high school, class of 1901, and of the musical department of the Allentown College for Women. They reside in the beautiful home, 235 Main street, Emaus, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Miller enjoy a large circle of friends and are happy entertaining them in their taste- fully furnished home. Mr. Miller is a member of the Odd Fellow Fraternity and of the Mer- cantile Club. During the Jubilee he was chair- man of the ways and means committee and much of the success of that event was due to his un- tiring efforts.

JAMES A. MILLER.

Jacob Miller, the father of James A. Miller, of Allentown, was born near the Lehigh church. He followed various avocations; was a laborer, farmer, superintendent in stone quarries and a wheel-wright. He died at the age of sixty-five years and is buried at the Lehigh church, which he had served as a deacon. He was married to Amanda Gabel and they had ten children, among whom were: James A., and Morris A., a sales- man at Allentown.

After the death of Mr. Miller, his widow mar- ried as her second husband Mr. Bortz. They reside at Allentown.

James Alfred Miller, of Allentown, was born near Alburtis, July 16, 1858, son of Jacob Miller. He was reared in Lower Macungie township and when a young man began working for the Thomas Iron Company at Maple Grove, which was operated by Edwin and J. W. Mickley. There he learned the wheel-wright trade. After- ward he was associated with J. D. Finley in the mining business. He was a stationery engineer for ten years. In 1892 he removed to Allentown and accepted a position as engineer with the L. V. Traction Company, after having first been a mo- torman on a trolley car for two years. After- wards he became associated with the Pennsylvania Paint & Ochre Company, which has since been changed in name and continues to be a successful concern and is operated by C. K. Williams & Co., at Bethlehem. In 1905, Mr. Miller became the superintendent of the company and has continued to serve them up to the present time.

He married Maria A. Henninger, a daughter of Peter Henninger. They have the following children : Herbert J .; Estella, married to Clar- ence Scloder, who is employed by the American

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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Express Co., at Philadelphia; Warren A .; Bry- cake baking trade. After his return from Chi- den, and Robert E., a machinist.

WILLIAM J. MILLER.

William J. Miller, tinsmith at Fullerton, was born April 4, 1881, in Salisbury township, Le- high county, where he was educated in the public schools until he was fifteen years of age. He worked in a pretzel bakery for four years, after which he learned the tinsmith trade with Daniel Mager and Hersh Bros., and followed it for six years at Allentown, two years at Newark, N. J., and seven years at Fullerton. He then embarked in the business for himself at Fullerton and has since carried it on there in a successful manner. He is a member of the Amalgamated Steel and Metal Workers, Knights of the Golden Eagle and Knights of the Mystic Chain.

In 1905 Mr. Miller was married to Bertha L. Gerhardt and they have one child, a daughter, Angeline Florence. They are members of the Reformed Church.

Milton Miller, his father, was born in 1849 in Upper Saucon township, Lehigh county, and brought up on a farm. He then moved to Allen- town and followed the trade of shoemaking for many years. He married Mary L. Nonnemacher, daughter of Charles and Mary (Hagenbuch) Nonnemacher, and they had four children: Wm. J .; Howard C .; George M., married Laura Swavely, and Edward. They were members of the Reformed Church. He died February 4, 1913.

His grandfather was Jacob Miller, a farmer of Schelly's Station, in Bucks county.

MILLER FAMILY.

Maximillian Miller was a native of Wurtem- berg, Germany, and emigrated to America, lo- cated at Emaus, where he met with an accident which resulted in his death, June 21, 1900. He was a weaver of quilts and carpets and for some years was engaged in the iron industries, later he engaged in the baking business at Emaus, which he followed until he retired. Mr. Miller was killed while crossing the railroad and is buried in the Moravian cemetery at Emaus His wife was Susanna Barndt, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Egner) Barndt. They were the parents of the following children: Charles, de- ceased ; John, deceased ; Annie, deceased ; Mary ; Wesley P .; Matthias, Sarah, Edgar, Harrison, William, deceased, and Maximillian.

WESLEY P. MILLER, baker, of Coplay, was born at Emaus, March 26, 1853. He was reared at Emaus, where he learned the baking trade. In 1870 he went to Chicago, where he learned the

cago he worked for his father until 1877, when he moved to Macungie, where he conducted the baking business for three years, after which he built a place of business at Alburtus which he conducted for twenty-two years. For two years he conducted the L. P. Peters restaurant on North 7th street, in Allentown, In September, 1906, Mr. and Mrs. Miller purchased the home, stock and goodwill of the Meyle Bakery at Cop- lay, where they are at present located and doing a very large business.

Mr. Miller is a member of the K. of G. E. and the P. O. S. of A. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the Moravian church at Emaus.

Mr. Miller was married in 1876 to Sallie A. L. Mith, whose parents' history appears below. They had two children, Herbert P., who died June 18, 1900, aged 22 years, who had acquired remarkable skill as a musician. Jacob M., who assists his parents in the baking business.

John Muth was a native of Hesse Darm- stadt. He and his wife, Elizabeth, had a son John, who was born March 18, 1832, and emi- grated to America to avoid serving in the army. He located first at Allentown and later settled with the Jacoby family in Salisbury township. Later he settled near Vera Cruz, where he fol- lowed the occupation of shoemaker. He died December 5, 1900, and is buried at Emaus. He was a member of the Reformed church, also of the K. of P. and Red Men. His wife, Lucinda Wiede, a daughter of Heinrich and Eva (Dor- ney) Wiede, was born June 2, 1834; died De- cember 31, 1904. They had children as fol- lows: Sallie A. L., married to Wesley P. Miller, mentioned above; William H., of Vera Cruz. married to Nora Hunsberger, they have two children, Wesley M. and Edwin; he was mar- ried the second time to Minnie Covely, with whom he had the following children: Raymond, Verna, Pearl, Florence. Elmer and Lillian ; Franklin J., of Emaus, married to Annie Hill. They have children as follows: Jacob, Sallie, Herbert, Eva, John, Ida, Marcus, Anne, Cleo, and Alma.

Adam Miller, a native of Germany, along the Rhine river, emigrated to America in 1747, and settled along the west bank of the Lehigh river in Whitehall township, on a tract of land which extended from the Catasauqua creek to the Cop- lay creek, and was bounded by the Mickley tract on the west, containing upwards of 200 acres. At that time he was twenty-three years old, and was accompanied by his wife, and a daughter named Barbara. He built a stone

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house which, long afterward, came to be situated near the entrance to the Fairview cemetery, and this was torn down in 1892, the stones having been used to fill in the road at the Race street bridge, in the lower part of Catasauqua. He died in 1815, having reached the remarkable age of 92 years, and his remains were interred in the cemetery attached to the Egypt church.

Mr. Miller was married three times. By his first wife he had a daughter, Barbara, who mar- ried John George Faust; and five sons, two of whom went to Union county, Pa. His second wife was Catharine Kuhns, who died at the birth of their only child, named William. Her re- mains were buried at the Helfrich Spring, in a private cemetery back of a barn, where about one hundred bodies came to be buried, and a tomb- stone marks her grave. His third wife was Eliza- beth Haas, a widow, and they had one child, a son named Abraham, who married and had three sons and three daughters.

William Miller, son of Adam by his second wife, was reared by the daughter, Barbara. He became a farmer and erected a house and barn about 1820 on the farm which is now the prop- erty of Reuben Steckel. It is said that he and his half-brother, Abraham, obtained the home- stead, but the five sons by the first wife nothing. In 1839, he erected a dwelling house at the Biery bridge (Lower Catasauqua) and occupied it until he died in 1840, aged 67 years. His remains were interred in the Egypt cemetery. This house was occupied by his descendants until 1910, when it was torn down. He was married to Maria Paul, a daughter of Frederick and Sophia Paul, who resided where the Thomas Iron Furnace is now situated at Hokendauqua. They had nine children : Magdalena, who was married three times : (1) to Samuel Osman, (2) to Daniel Snyder, (3) Henry Snyder; Catharine, who was married twice: (1) to Joseph Mickley, (2) to Peter Steckel; Paul, who settled in Missouri in 1850; William, who resided near Treichler's ; Joshua; Deborah, who married Henry Young, lived for a time near Shoenersville, and moved to Westmoreland in 1837; Mary, who died single ; Louisa, who married Tobias Hess, and resided at Spring Church, in Bucks county ; and Sarah, who married Solomon Diefenderfer, and resided at Packer Hill, in Whitehall township.

Joshua Miller, the third son of William, was born Dec. 17, 1809. He was reared on the farm and followed farming all his life. He owned the homestead for a time and sold it in 1849 to Rob- ert McIntire, when he bought a farm of 60 acres. He erected a number of dwelling houses in West Catasauqua. He was married to Sarah M. Steckel, daughter of Daniel and Salome

(Keck) Steckel, and they had four children : Amanda, who died in infancy; Robert A .; Rosa A., married William F. Koehler; and Jane E. He died April 10, 1878. His wife was born Feb. 15, 1827, and died Sept. 30, 1902. Inter- ment was made in Fairview cemetery. They were members of the Lutheran Church.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III, Part 26

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 854

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 854