My Genealogy Hound

JOHN G. SCHILLING is one of the representative farmers of Allen Township, Northampton County, and a man of enterprise and influence. Like many of the best residents of this section, he was born across the water in Wurtemberg, Germany, the date thereof being June 5, 1841. He is the son of Henry and Barbara (Knoedler) Schilling, who were also natives of the Fatherland, where the mother passed away when John G. was only four years of age. The father emigrated to the United States about 1850, and lived in the state of New York until 1854, when he came to Pennsylvania, first locating in Bethlehem.

In 1854, when a lad of thirteen years, young Schilling crossed the Atlantic alone, taking passage on a sailing-vessel at Harve, France, and after a voyage of forty-one days, landed in New York, July 21, 1854. Thence he came direct to Bethlehem, where he joined his father. Since coming to America he has acquired a good English education, and when nineteen years of age learned the trade of a miller, and spent seven years in operating a gristmill. Subsequently he was employed in the rolling mills of the Bethlehem Iron Works, where he worked until the spring of 1885, and then settled on his present farm in Allen Township. This tract comprises seventy acres under excellent tillage; he has it stocked with good grades of animals, having a tine herd of Alderney and Guernsey cattle and of Chester-white hogs, and he manages in such a way as to bring him the best results.

Mr. Schilling was united in marriage in 1865, with Miss Catherine Knauss, and by her has become the father of four children: George, Charles, John and James, of whom the latter is deceased. The wife and mother passed away June 15, 1873, and Mr. Schilling was married a second time, the lady on this occasion being Miss Anna Maria Dech, daughter of Joseph C. Dech. She was born in Northampton County, April 8, 1843. To them have been born five children: Joseph, Arthur E.; Henry, deceased; Robert and Annie M.

Mr. Schilling is truly a self-made man; in politics is an ardent Democrat, and takes great interest in political matters; and, as one of the enterprising farmers of this section, is highly esteemed by all who know him.