Columbia County PA Archives Biographies.....HELLER, Hiram W. 1850 - living in 1899
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  Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 5, 2005, 1:17 pm
  
  Author: Biographical Publishing Co.
  
  HIRAM W. HELLER, who has charge of "Berwick Heights," the home of C. R. Woodin
  and son, is one of the prominent citizens of Berwick, and was born in Mifflin
  township, Columbia County, Pa., November 10, 1850. He is a son of Michael and
  Mary Ann (Hetler) Heller, grandson of Christopher and Susanna (Lantz) Heller,
  and great-grandson of Michael Heller.
  
    Michael Heller, the great-grandfather of our subject, was born in Berks
  County, Pa., and served throughout the Revolutionary War under Gen. George
  Washington. During his later days he engaged in farming in Northampton County, Pa.
  
    Christopher C. Heller was born in Northampton County in the village of
  Hellertown, and when he grew to manhood he moved to Columbia County and
  purchased a large tract of land in Mifflin township. He cleared a part of the
  farm, built a saw-mill, and built the house now standing there. He also built a
  blacksmith-shop and did work for himself and sometimes for his neighbors; he was
  naturally a mechanic and made the first threshing machine ever used in Columbia
  County. He died on his farm in Mifflin township in 1861 at the age of
  eighty-four years. He was joined in wedlock to Susanna Lantz, who died in 1872
  aged eighty-four years. Four, children were the results of this union, namely:
  Michael; John; Mary M.; and Sarah A.
  
    Michael Heller, the father of our subject, was born on the old homestead in
  Mifflin township, September 8, 1823, and carried on farming the greater part of
  his life. He also learned the trade of a blacksmith from his father when he was
  a boy and carried on blacksmithing to a large extent. He was very successful in
  his chosen occupations and added considerable land to the original homestead.
  Mr. Heller was widely known throughout Columbia County and was held in high
  esteem for his many sterling qualities which stand as an example to the rising
  generation. He was a strong Republican in politics, and, in a Democratic town,
  he was elected three times as poormaster, which tends to show his popularity and
  the respect in which he was held by his fellow-citizens. Religiously he was a
  member and deacon of the German Reformed Church. Socially he was a member of
  Lodge No. 246, I. O. O. F., of Mifflin. He termed a union with Mary Ann Hetler,
  a daughter of Michael Hetler of Columbia County, and the following children were
  born to them: Francis Whitney; Hiram Westley, the subject of this sketch;
  Christopher Columbus; Sarah Catherine; John Madison; Harriet Alice; and Morris
  M. The last three died in their infancy. Mrs. Heller passed from this life in
  1863. Our subject's father formed a second matrimonial alliance with Elizabeth
  Smoyer, a daughter of Peter Smoyer. Seven children were the results of this
  union, namely: Alfred B.; Amanda, deceased; Wilson A., deceased; Rush M.;
  William H.; Martha M.; and one who died in infancy. The father of our subject
  died on the old homestead in 1893.
  
    The subject of this sketch was reared on the old homestead and followed the
  pursuits of an agriculturist until 1881, when he accepted a position as coachman
  for C. R. Woodin, in which he proved himself honest, faithful and reliable, and
  was rewarded by being made general servant. When Mr. Woodin purchased "Berwick
  Heights" and built a magnificent residence, our subject was given charge of the
  same, and has held that position to the present. Mr. Heller has crossed the
  Atlantic Ocean three times and has traveled extensively through the Eastern
  Hemisphere, and also through most of the states of the Union. Mr. Heller devotes
  his entire time and attention to the trust bestowed upon him; he is a gentleman
  of refined principles, and has won hosts of friends who hold him in high esteem.
  
  
  Additional Comments:
  Extracted from:
  
  Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District
  Published by 
  Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899)
  
  
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