My Genealogy Hound

JAMES W. MICKLEY, who is now deceased, came of an old and prominent family in Lehigh County, who traced their ancestry back to John Jacob Michelet, a Huguenot, who emigrated to America prior to the Revolutionary War. During that conflict he conveyed the old Liberty bell in his wagon when it was taken from Philadelphia to Allentown and hidden under the floor of the old Reformed Church in order to secure it from the British.

Jacob Mickley, the father of our subject, was born on the old homestead in Whitehall Township, March 27, 1794. His father, Jacob Mickley, Sr., participated in the Revolutionary War, and was a son of John Jacob Mickley, who was born in Lehigh County. His father, who also bore the name of John Jacob, was born in Alsace, France. The father of our subject in 1826 purchased the home farm, which he operated, and in 1851 he erected thereon a good dwelling, in which he lived until his death, in 1888. His good wife, Mrs. Anna (Kern) Mickley, departed this life in 1880.

James W. Mickley was reared on that farm, and early in life removed to Allentown. While there engaging as a clerk in a store, his leg was very seriously hurt, and he was obliged to go to St. Joseph’s Catholic Hospital in Philadelphia, where it was amputated. After recovering he came to Catasauqua, where he was teller in the National Bank and later worked in the interests of the Thomas Iron Company, being Superintendent of the ore beds located at Hokendauqua. Later he became a stockholder in that company, with which he was connected until his decease.

Mr. Mickley was a public-spirited man, who gave his aid and influence for the promotion of every enterprise which would benefit the community. He was particularly interested in educational work, and together with his brother Edward, secured the introduction of free books into the public schools. He was a Republican in politics, and represented his party at state conventions, and presided over the county conventions. He was very popular in Allentown and this city, and his death, which occurred in 1880, was deeply felt by his many friends in this locality. He was very patriotic in sentiment and action, and during the late war, when Pennsylvania was threatened by the enemy, he entered the service and was given a place in the commissary department. He lived an honorable and upright life, and was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church in Hokendauqua.

The lady to whom our subject was married, September 30, 1862, was Miss Annie Cooper. She was born in Mauch Chunk, and was the daughter of Andrew Cooper, one of the old settlers of that place, and one of the contractors in the building of the canal. He died when quite young. The mother of Mrs. Mickley was prior to her marriage Miss Eliza Kohler, and her ancestors were also French Huguenots. Mrs. Mickley was the youngest but one in a family of five children, and was reared in her native place, but later came to Catasauqua to make her home with her sister, Mrs. Laubach. One of her brothers, Charles Cooper, enlisted in 1862 in the navy under Admiral Farragut, and is now an officer in the United States navy. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Mickley has made her home in this city, having a comfortable residence located on the corner of Third and Pine Streets. She has three children, Mabel, Fred and Ralph. Like her husband, she is a member of the Presbyterian Church.