My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH F. HOLLER, who lives retired in Pottstown, is a native of Spring township, Berks county, where he was born October 6, 1837. He is the son of George and Rebecca (Fox) Holler, who resided in Berks county, where the father was a farmer. Both died there, Mrs. Holler surviving her husband several years, and dying forty-five years ago. Both were buried at Sinking Springs. They were members of the Lutheran church. They had two children, Joseph F. (the subject of this sketch), and a daughter, Mary, who married Charles Bachman, who was a blacksmith by trade. Mr. and Mrs. Bachman are both deceased. Charles Bachman lost a leg in the rebellion. The couple had no children. They resided in Reading.

Joseph F. Holler attended school until he was seventeen years of age, following at the same time the occupation of farmer, as is usual in the rural districts, either at home or on neighboring farms. He then sought employment at a rolling mill at Reading, where he worked for three years. He then went to West Reading, where he was employed for a further period of thirteen years. After further changes he returned to Reading for an additional three years, and then removed to Port Clinton, and thence to Keystone, where he worked for Cray & Koch for two years, and thence to Mount Carmel, where he remained for some time. He then went back to Reading, from which place he removed to Pottstown, where he was one of the first men to work at the Glasgow Furnace. To the time of his retirement Mr. Holler had been connected with the establishment for the long period of thirty-seven years. Mr. Holler married, May 26, 1860, Angeline, daughter of Thomas and Catherine A. (Ager) Rorick. Mrs. Holler’s parents resided in Berks county, where he was a blacksmith by occupation. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. They were members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Rorick died first, at the age of seventy-three years. His wife survived for several years and died at the age of seventy-eight years. Both were buried at the Charles Evans cemetery, Reading. They had fourteen children: Catherine, the only one besides Mrs. Holler who is living, resides in Reading. She married Levi Snyder, who is engaged in a planing mill in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have three children living. Mrs. Holler was barn October 1, 1839. The other children of the family are Rose, Sarah, Mary, Thomas, Jr., Frank, Reuben and Elizabeth.

Mr. Holler is a Republican in politics, and voted for Abraham Lincoln. He is a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle and of the Brotherhood of the Union. Mr. and Mrs. Holler are both members of the Lutheran church.