BIO: Jonas Koller, Cumberland County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Bookwalter

Copyright 2009.  All rights reserved.
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http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania.
Containing History of the Counties, Their Townships, Towns, Villages, 
Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc.; Portraits of Early Settlers and 
Prominent Men; Biographies; History of Pennsylvania; Statistical and 
Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc.  Illustrated.  Chicago: Warner, Beers 
& Co., 1886.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/beers/beers.htm
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                                PART II.

             HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA.

                             CHAPTER XXXIX. 

                        BOROUGH OF MECHANICSBURG.

420  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

  JONAS KOLLER, farmer, P. O. Mechanicsburg, was born in Shrewsbury 
Township, York Co., Penn., November 15, 1831, a son of Jacob and 
Elizabeth (Miller) Koller, also natives of York County, the former of 
whom, a mill-wright and farmer by occupation, died at the age of 
seventy-seven years and seven months, and the latter when aged seventy-
one years.  They were members of the Lutheran Church.  They had five 
sons and 

421  BOROUGH OF MECHANICSBURG.

four daughters.  Jacob Koller had been previously married to a Miss 
Peterman, by whom he had two sons and two daughters.  Jonas Koller, the 
subject of this sketch, is the youngest son and eighth child by the 
second marriage, and was but thirteen years old when his parents came 
to Cumberland County and settled near Oysters Point in East 
Pennsborough Township.  In 1848 they moved to their farm near 
Shepherdstown, in Upper Allen Township, where Jonas attended school 
during the winters and worked at farming and the trade of wagon-making, 
until his marriage with Miss Catherine Bingaman, March 9, 1856.  She 
was born in Shepherdstown, this county, October 26, 1831, a daughter of 
Charles and Susan (Keiper) Bingaman, natives of Lancaster County, 
Penn., who settled in Shepherdstown soon after their marriage.  They 
were members of the Reformed Church, and had six daughters who grew up.  
Charles Bingaman, who was a contractor and builder, died in 1876, aged 
seventy-four years.  After his marriage, Mr. Jonas Koller settled at 
Kollerstown one-half mile south of Mechanicsburg, where he and his 
father built the first of two houses and the town was named for them.  
In 1873, our subject moved to his present farm of fifty-five acres in 
the eastern part of Mechanicsburg, where he has a beautiful residence.  
Mr. and Mrs. Koller have had five children, four now living:  James B., 
Mary H., Jacob H. and William M.  The boys comprise the firm of J. B. 
Koller & Co., proprietors of the Cumberland Valley Spoke Bending, and 
Wheel Works.  Mrs. Jonas Koller is a member of the Lutheran Church.  
Mr. Koller became a Mason in early life, and later a Knight Templar and 
a member of St. John's Commandery, No. 8, at Carlisle.  He and his 
family stand high in the estimation of all.  The family are of German 
descent, our subject's great grandfather having come from Germany and 
settled in York County, Pennsylvania, at a very early date.