Johann Michael 'the Elder' Heller, Sr.

DAR Ancestor A054351

Michael, the third son of Christopher, was born in 1724 and died in 1803. He did not arrive in America until the year 1749, eleven years after the arrival of his father. At this time, he was 25 years old, and whether married in Eu- rope or America is yet to be determined. His first child was born in 1751. He, in time, became known as Michael, the Elder (Alt Vater Mike). The date of his land warrant is July 31, 1750, less than a year after he arrived. The tract contained 250 acres and was the land now comprising the entire west side of the main street of Hellertown, on both sides of the creek. Its southern boun- dary was the road which divided it from the plantation of his brother Si- mon. He built thereon the old stone house standing in the corner opposite the old covered bridge in Hellertown, now known as the Stcver farm. Michael was a farmer of advanced ideas and never followed any other vocation, ahvajs conservative, honest in dealings with his follow men. He became known as Old Father Mike in contra distinc- tion to the other Michaels roundabout. Every family of Heller named one of their boys Michael, in his honor, and in due course of time it became necessary to designate them by some other terra than Mike or Michael. Finally, there was Alt Vater Mike and his son Michael lived along the creek and was known as Creeker Mike. Inen there was Mi- chael who was owner of a pottery and his distinguished title was Hefner Mike. Michael, the oil miller, was known as Oilich Mike, sometime earlier being known as Yunger Mike. After the next generation sprung into exist- ence, there was another bunch of ]VG- chaels and these flourished as Creeker Mike's Mike, Oilich Mike's Mike, Schwartz-kopf Mike and Kleiner Mike. There were more of these Michaels roundabout but they must have gotten away before another batch of names were handed out as we find nothing ad- ditional to their name Michael. Michael, the Elder, besides being responsible for all these Mikes, did service in the wars of his time. He was one of Colonel Anthony Lerch's Saucon cavalry that was the first to respond to the call for help in the Indian war in 1756 and which was the first body of armed men to reach the massacre of the Mora- vians above Lehigh Oap and compelled the Indians to remain above the moun- tains, thus saving Bethlehem, Nazareth and Easton. He was married twice, but of the names of these two wives the records are silent and probably their identity will nevei- be discovered. He lies buried at the Lime Kiln school house, the ancient Reformed burying ground, near Hellertown.

Johan Michael Heller, above mentioned, was a direct ancestor of William J. Heller, the subject of this sketch, and was known as Michael, the elder (Alt vater Mike). Early in life (1751) he purchased a farm on Saucon creek, in what is now the entire west side of the main street in Hellertown. In the same year he built a stone house which is still standing. He became the founder of Hellertown, and was an extensive land owner, prospering in all his business affairs, but lost very heavily through the depreciation of currency during the revolution, which, together with his contributions to the revolutionary cause, and his gift of several hundred-acre farms to each of his children, left him comparatively a poor man at the time of his death. His team was the first to leave Saucon Valley loaded with provisions for the starving army at Valley Forge. However, he gave not only assistance of this character, but rendered active service in behalf of the cause of liberty as a lieutenant in the army. His children were: David, born in 1751, served a period in the revolutionary war, and was a farmer in Lower Saucon township; Margaret, who married Jacob Kreeling; Heob (Job), born 1765, and was a farmer in Upper Saucon; Simon, born 1758, was a farmer, and settled near Plainfield church; Michael, who was known as "Creek Mike," was born in 1757, and always remained at the homestead, where he died in the year 1828.

GEDCOM Note

Lt. in Rev. War Sent supplies to Valley Forge

GEDCOM Note

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Mar 19 2023, 4:22:20 UTC