Young men of
the past have often been deterred from devoting themselves to business
life because of the widespread impression that such a life yields no
opportunity for the display of genius. The time, however, has gone by
when, other things being equal, the business man must take a secondary
place to the lawyer, the doctor, the minister or the editor. In fact, as
a rule, let the business man be equally equipped by education and
natural endowment, and you will find him today in every community
exerting a wider influence and wielding a larger power than a man of
equal capacity treading other walks of life. The "men of affairs" have
come to be in a large degree the men upon whom the country leans.
The subject of this sketch -- a popular hardware merchant of Starrucca,
Wayne county -- is pre-eminently a man of affairs, and is now serving as
burgess.
Mr. Koehler was born in Indiana, March 11, 1852, a son of Dr. Philip
Koehler, a prominent physician now residing in Colorado City, Colo., who
has been very successful in the treatment of cancers, of which he makes
a specialty. He was born on the River Rhine, in Germany, and is a member
of a prominent family of that country, many of the representatives of
which have been distinguished soldiers and professional men. He married
Miss Magdalena Hilman, of the same place, and in 1848 they came to the
United States, first locating in Cincinnati, Ohio, whence they removed
to Indiana. In religious faith they are Presbyterians, and in politics
the Doctor is a Republcan. Their children are Ollie, Andrew, Kate, Emil,
Anna, Philip, Gustaf (deceased), and Jacob.
Mr. Koehler, the subject of the sketch, spent the greater part of
his boyhood and youth in or near Leavenworth, Kans., acquiring his
education in the public schools of that locality, and in his younger
years he saw much of the West. At the age of thirteen he began learning
the tinner's trade, at which he has since worked. He came to Starrucca,
Wayne Co., Penn., in 1873, and since 1885 has carried on his present
business here. His store, which is one of the best in town, 28 x 80
feet, two stories in height, and is divided into two rooms, the front
one being the general storeroom, while in the rear room are kept the
reserve stock and stoves. He carries both shelf and heavy hardware of
the best grades, and from the public receives a liberal patronage.
In 1873, Mr. Koehler married Miss Elizabeth Utter, a daugher of Dr.
Utter (now deceased), who for years was a well-known citizen of
Starrucca, where Mrs. Koehler was reared and educated. They have three
children: Magdalena, now the wife of John Woodmansee, of Starrucca; Emil,
who is engaged in the livery business in that borough; and Andrew, Jr..
Mr. Koehler is a prominent and influential member of the Republican
party in his community, and has served on the school board for five
years and as auditor for eight years. In 1897 he was elected burgess,
and is now acceptably filling that responsible position. He manifests a
deep interest in the welfare of Starrucca, and his influence and support
are given to all measures benefical to that municipality. Fraternally he
is a member of Knights of Honor. Loyal to all public duties, honorable
in all business relations, faithful to all the obligations of social
life, he stands as one of the leading men of Wayne county.
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