SAMUEL SEILER, a resident of Lehighton Carbon county, Pennsylvania, where during his active business career, which was devoted to various pursuits, he became well known for his integrity, enterprise and thrift, is now leading a practically retired life, only attending to his extensive real estate holdings, and is enjoying to the full the ample competence which he acquired by means of hard and honest toil. He was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, October 17, 1841, one of three sons—Benjamin, Daniel and Samuel—-born to Henry and Leah (Shuler) Seiler, both of whom were natives of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Henry Seiler (father) was born in 1801, a son of Henry Seiler, a farmer, who lived and died in Marlboro township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He was a prosperous agriculturist, and died in his native state in Marlboro township in 1876. Leah (Shuler) Seiler (mother) was born in 1812 and died in 1881.
The educational advantages enjoyed by Samuel Seiler were obtained in the schools of his native county, and in early life he was apprenticed to the coach making trade, at which he worked in his native county up to 1865, when he removed to Carbon county. He then secured employment with the Lehigh Valley Company in their car shops at Packerton, and this position he retained for eight years. At the expiration of this period of time, in 1873, he left the Valley people and turned his attention to butchering, which occupation he followed up to 1887, and which proved a profitable source of income. About this time he lost somewhat heavily by various speculations, and in order to save his property he also engaged in the hardware business in the borough of Lehighton, using this as a side issue. This enterprise proved most successful and remunerative, and he conducted it for two years. In 1889 he engaged in the real estate business, and he was largely instrumental in the growth and prosperity of the town. He erected about twenty-four houses, thirteen of which he still owns and rents, and the remainder he sold to parties on easy terms. He also disposed of a number of lots in the borough, on which have been erected modern residences, and this has added materially to the improvement and development of the community. Although not now engaged in any active business pursuits, Mr. Seiler is a member of the Lehighton Foundry and Machine Company, and is a director of the Lehigh Valley Building and Loan Association. He has served the borough as councilman and treasurer, proving most efficient in the discharge of his duties. He is a prominent member of the Lutheran church, and has held membership in that body for thirty consecutive years. He is affiliated with the Improved Order of Red Men, Knights of Pythias, and Knights of the Golden Eagle.
In 1870 Mr. Seiler was married to Elizabeth Graver, daughter of Lewis and Leah (Lauchner) Graver. Of the three children born of this union, two are living at the present time: Anna L., wife of Charles Schwartz; and Edgar L., a clerk in the employ of Cook Brothers, of Allentown, Pennsylvania.
