BIO: Charles E. COLLER, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************** __________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, pages 262-263. __________________________________________________________________ CHARLES E. COLLER, Marklesburg, (P. O. Aitch), Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland county, Pa., March 24, 1859, son of Abraham and Martha A. F. (Campbell) Coller. His paternal great- grandparents were born in Berks county; they lived at one time in Adams county, and came thence to Perry county; the great-grandfather was a silversmith. Their children were: Henry; Samuel; John; David; Jacob; Jonathan; Susanna; Catharine; Rebecca; Mrs. Kerns; Mrs. Hollenbaugh; and William; all were married. The family is of German descent. Jonathan Coller, who was the grandfather of Charles E. Coller, removed from Perry county to Mifflin county, where he died. He married Margaretta Albright, who also was of German descent; her father owned a farm of more than 200 acres in Perry county, and was a clock maker. Her brothers and sisters were: John; Abraham; Jacob; Isaiah; Mrs. Mary Hubbler; Mrs. Elizabeth Smith; Mrs. Lydia Thatcher; Mrs. Elvina Shull; Mrs. Louisa Mealster; Mrs. Abbie Coller; and George Albert; all are deceased. Their parents are buried at Loysville, Pa. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Coller were: Abraham; and Matilda J. (Mrs. Biddle), of Cumberland county. Mrs. Jonathan Coller died in McVeytown. Mr. Coller was a Democrat, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His son, Abraham Coller, was for twenty-two years foreman for the Huntingdon and Broad Tip Railroad, and lived in Marklesburg. Before that time he had been in the employ of the Northern Central Railway Company. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His politics were Republican. He married Martha A. F. Campbell. Mrs. Abraham Coller was born in Perry county in 1841. They had six children: Charles E.; Eliza; William, in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; Dollie E. (Mrs. Benjamin C. Keith), of Bellwood, Blair county, Pa.; Sarah M., deceased; Elmer N., in the employ of the Huntingdon and Broad Top Railroad Company. The father died at Marklesburg, June 16, 1888. Mrs. Coller was again married, to Joseph Detweiler, of Lincoln township, where she now resides. Charles E. Coller attended the public schools of Marklesburg and Grantville. While a youth, he worked for farmers, and at brick making, the latter in Grantville. In 1875, when sixteen years of age, he was employed with his father as track hand on the Broad Top railroad, in which capacity he continued to serve for four years. In 1879, he was made agent for the same company at Tatesville, Bedford county, Pa., where he spent several months. In January, 1880, he was transferred to the station at Marklesburg, where he has ever since been passenger agent for the company. In the same year, Mr. Coller was appointed agent for the Adams Express Company, and has always fulfilled the duties of that position to the satisfaction of that company and its patrons. He is popular as an official and as a citizen. Mr. Coller served the township for one term as tax collector, and one term as treasurer of the school board. He was for a number of years a member of the Order of G. T., at Marklesburg; and belongs to Marklesburg Castle, No. 322, K.G.E. He was its representative at the Grand Castle, K.G.E., at Harrisburg, Pa., May 11 to 14, 1897. He is a Republican. Charles E. Coller was married at Hollidaysburg, Pa., November 3, 1889, to Julia B., daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Sorrick, born at Williamsburg, Blair county, Pa. Her father is a farmer of that county, and is of German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Coller have two children: Paul E.; and Carroll S.