My Genealogy Hound

DANIEL MILSON is one of the pioneers of Catasauqua and a successful and practical boiler-maker, being proprietor of the Catasauqua Boiler Works. Formerly he was engaged in the powder works at Norristown, Pa. A native of South Wales, Mr. Milson was born in Neath, Glamorganshire, February 28, 1830, and in 1890, in company with his late wife, it was his great pleasure to make a trip to his native land and the scenes of his boyhood, where he spent over three months. His grandfather on his father’s side was born in Bristol, England, and the family name was formerly spelled Milsom. The father, Charles Milson, was also born in Bristol, England, and followed the butcher’s business until he retired from active life. His wife, Rachel (Thomas) Milson, was born in Bryncoeh, Glamorganshire, and both parents, who were members of the Episcopal Church, are now deceased.

In a family of five daughters and three sons, Daniel Milson is the eldest, and now only five sisters and one brother are living. He was reared in Neath, his education comprising that of the common schools, and when only sixteen he was apprenticed as a boiler-maker with his uncle, Joseph Thomas, working in the Neath Abbey Shipyards until 1852, when he set sail for America, and after a tedious voyage of three months and three days landed in New York. Going to Philadelphia, he entered the employ of Merricks & Son, and later worked in the ship department of the United States Navy-yard in that city for about two years, making boilers, etc.

About 1854 the subject of this sketch first came to Catasauqua, and for two years worked for the Crane Iron Company, after which he was an employe of the Thomas Iron Company’s works, which he helped to build, the furnaces being at Hokendauqua. In 1863 he enlisted in response to the emergency call, and was in the service for two months. Returning the same year, he went to Ohio with David Thomas, Jr., helping to build a furnace, and then returned to Catasauqua. In 1865 he started a boiler-shop, taking contracts and building furnaces. He did all the work in his line in the Crane Iron Company, and took contracts from all parts of the state, having as many as forty men engaged in working for him. He has been in business ever since. His boiler works are situated on Front Street, and his home is at the corner of Second and Chapel Streets.

The marriage of Mr. Milson of this sketch took place in Baltimore, Md., in 1861, to Elizabeth Davis, who was also a native of Wales, and they had eleven children. The eldest, Thomas H., is proprietor of the McKee & Milson Pipe Works, of Paterson, N. J. Charles E. is a practicing physician in Catasauqua, having graduated with the degree of Doctor Of Medicine from the Homeopathic College at Philadelphia. The daughters in order of birth are as follows: Annie, Elizabeth, Minnie, Mabel and Eleanor. Two sons, David and Henry D., have departed this life, as has also the affectionate wife and mother, who died January 1, 1894. Mr. Milson is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of this city, in which he is a Trustee. In politics he is a stanch Republican.