BIO:  J. C. KOLLER, York County, PA

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, Hanover Borough and Penn Township, Pg 66

REV. J. C. KOLLER, pastor of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Hanover, Penn., was 
born October 24, 1839, in Springfield Township, York County, a few miles 
northeast of Glen Rock.  His parents were Henry and Anna Mary Koller.  He spent 
his early years on the farm, and in teaching school, and entered the preparatory 
department of Pennsylvania College, Gettysburgh, in the spring of 1860, and 
graduated in 1865 – the valedictorian of his class.  He took a full course in 
the Theological Seminary at the same place, and was licensed to preach the 
Gospel by the West Pennsylvania Synod at Chambersburgh, in September, 1867.  He 
soon after became pastor of the Glen Rock Evangelical Lutheran Church, and 
remained there until the spring of 1877, when he entered his present field of 
labor as pastor of St. Matthew’s Church, which was organized in 1738.  It is the 
second church of that denomination, in point of age, in York County, and with 
its communicant membership of 725 persons, and nominal membership of over 1,000 
persons, is the largest congregation of the Lutheran denomination in the county.  
Mr. Koller is a faithful and earnest worker, a close student and a devoted 
pastor.  He was married to Alice C., daughter of William Heathcote, June 1, 
1869.  They have one daughter and three sons.