BIO: Fred KOHLER, Clearfield County, PA
 
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From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 682 & 683.
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  FRED KOHLER, one of the best known citizens of Brady township, is probably 
one of the most venerable, his birth having taken place December 21, 1819, in 
Wittenburg, Germany, the home of his parents, who were George Frederick and 
Sophia Kohler.
  In 1833 the parents of Mr. Kohler decided to leave Germany and find a new 
home and better opportunities for their children by coming to America.  After 
much preparation they embarked on a sailing vessel and after about six weeks on 
the Atlantic Ocean, were safely landed at the port of New York.  The father was 
a dyer by trade and he soon found employment in what was known as the Dressler 
factory, in New Jersey.  It was his desire, however, to secure land and give 
his sons an opportunity to become farmers.  From New Jersey he moved to Erie, 
Pa.  In the meanwhile one of his daughters had married a Mr. Troutwine, quite 
an important man, for whom the town of Troutville, in Clearfield county, was 
named, it being built on land that he owned.  George F. Kohler made a visit to 
his son-in-law and was so pleased with the appearance of the country in Brady 
township that he made arrangement for the purchase of the farm which his son, 
Fred Kohler, now owns and shortly afterward moved on the place.  He did not 
long survive but his widow lived to the age of ninety-three years.  Six 
children were born to them, namely:  Rosanna, Sophia, Fred, Amiel, Frederica 
and Wilhelmina, Fred and Amiel, the latter of whom lives in Clarion county, 
Pa., being the only survivors.
  Fred Kohler was fourteen years old when he accompanied his parents to 
America.  He had attended German schools but had to learn to speak in English 
after reaching the United States.  He was about sixteen years old when the 
family settled on the present farm.  At that time he saw no immediate way to 
make any money in this section and decided to follow the suggestion of a 
relative that he return to New York City, where he could find employment and 
make excellent wages by engaging in steam-boating.  Thus he followed the water 
for some years and then went to California during the first gold excitement, in 
1849, not, however, before he had made a payment on the old homestead to the 
other heirs.  He remained in California for some years, meeting with many 
thrilling adventures and being fairly successful at gold mining.  He then 
returned to Clearfield county and took charge of his present farm of 200 acres, 
100 of which is cleared.  It is fine land and is situated between Troutville 
and the Jefferson county line.  For a number of years afterward, Mr. Kohler 
devoted much of his time to the lumber industry.
  Mr. Kohler was married first in 1860, to Miss Nancy Crawford, who died two 
years later, leaving one child, George, who is a resident of DuBois, Pa.  The 
latter married Elizabeth Ferris.  In March, 1867, Mr. Kohler was married second 
to Miss Mary Harwick, a daughter of John and Margaret (Kippler) Harwick, of 
Huntingdon county, Pa., and five children were born to them, as follows:  
Samuel, who married Catherine Broshes; William, who married Catherine Knarr; 
Elizabeth, who married Solomon Conrad; Sophia; and Fred A., who married Agnes 
Wilson.  Mr. and Mrs. Kohler are members of the Lutheran church.  In politics 
he is a Democrat and is serving as a member of the school board of Brady 
township.  In spite of advancing years Mr. Kohler still takes an active 
interest in public affairs and in neighborhood happenings.  He is held in high 
regard by all who know him and this circle is very wide.