My Genealogy Hound

FRANKLIN KOEHLER, the subject of the following sketch, can certainly look back upon a busy life and feel that his labors have not been in vain. When success crowns the victor in a struggle reward is due, and Mr. Koehler receives his reward in the peace and plenty which surround his declining years, and the rest he can now take after the hard fight against adverse circumstances and poverty. During his more active years he was one of the prominent farmers of Whitehall Township, but he is now living retired near the city of Allentown.

Our subject is a native of this county, and was born April 27, 1837, to Samuel and Abba (Schreiber) Koehler, also natives of this state. The father died when our subject was a small boy, and was followed to the better land by his wife, whose decease occurred a few months later. Being thus deprived of the care of his parents, young Franklin went to live in the family of Jacob Schreiber, who was at that time residing near Coplay, and there remained for two years. He began when very young to make his own way in the world, and was employed in working on other people’s farms until eighteen years of age, when he followed the miller’s trade, which he had learned, for about four years. At the end of that time he found that farm pursuits were more to his liking, and accordingly purchased property in Whitehall Township, on which he located, and was very successfully engaged in its cultivation. As might be expected from one who was so early thrown upon his own resources, he was permitted to obtain only a very limited education, and can therefore be very truly called self-made.

Miss Susan Newhard became the wife of our subject in 1856. She became the mother of six children, namely: Emma J., Mary A. (wife of Lyman Howe), Joseph, William, Robert and Gertrude. Mr. Koehler owns over one hundred and thirty acres of valuable land just outside the city limits of Allentown, which is the result of his arduous work, and here he is spending the declining years of his life.

Mr. Koehler is a member of Zion Reformed Church at Allentown. He is a stanch Democrat in politics, and is well known throughout the county where his life has been passed and where he is held in high esteem.