GEORGE M. WELLER

Portrait and Biographical Records ~ Pages 802 and 803

 Kindly submitted by: Pauline Anthony

GEORGE M. WELLER, one of the leading business men of Easton, is a representative of one of the leading families of the Lehigh Valley, a brief sketch of which is here appended.  Philip Weller, the first known ancestor of the family in America, was born in Germany in 1689, and came to this country in 1730, settling in Amwell, Hunterdon County, N. J. (Near Ringoe’s Tavern).  He moved with his family to Greenwich, Sussex County (now Franklin, Warren County) in 1742, where he purchased a tract of land of about two hundred acres on Pohatcong Creek, which land has been in the family up to this time, 1894.  Phillip Weller died June 25, 1761, aged seventy-two years, and is buried in Weller’s Graveyard, which is a part of the above-mentioned tract of land, and which was chosen by himself as a family burying-ground about one hundred and thirty-three years ago.  There is placed over his and his wife’s grave a large marble slab, with suitable inscription, and enclosed with a neat iron fence.  To himself and wife were born eight children, one of whom, Phillip Weller, the second, was born in Amwell in 1734, and was about eight years old when his father moved to Greenwich.  He lived on the land his father purchased, and in 1791 built a gristmill on the same tract of land, which is still in operation at this time (1894) and is called Weller’s Mill.  He died in 1812, and was buried with his wife in the above-named burying-ground.

Phillip Weller, the second, had two sons, Phillip and John P.  The former, Phillip Weller the third, in 1840 moved to Licking, Ohio, where he purchased a large tract of land.  He died in 1865.  John P. Weller, the grandfather  G. M. Weller, was born in 1778, on the tract of land above mentioned, and lived on it until 1830, when he moved with his family to Phillipsburg, N. J.  He died in 1856, and with his wife is buried in the Weller burying-ground.

A. B. Weller, son of John P. Weller, was born in 1829, on the tract of land on Pohatcong Creek owned by his father.  He moved to Phillipsburg with the family and lived there until 1850, when he moved back to the place of his birth and lived on the same tract of land owned by his father.  In 1876 he moved to Easton.  He was married to Thisbe B. Stout, of Everittstown, Hunterdon County, N. J.  They had four children: S. Frances, George M., William W. and Annie Musie.  S. Frances married Rev. J. H. Cooper, of Blain, Perry County, PA., and died October 8, 1883.  Annie Musie died October 9, 1880; and William W. Weller is now pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Geneva, N. J.

G. M. Weller was born on the 18^th of February, 1858, on the same land purchased by his forefathers.  He came to Easton with his father in 1876, and engaged with him in the market business until the time of his father’s death, when he succeeded to the business, and now has the largest  trade of any meat-dealer in the city.  His customers are the best people of Easton, and he has built a market next door to where his father commenced the business, which is especially adapted for carrying on the large trade which he is doing.  The market will compare favorably with any in the largest cities.  He also has a market at the corner of Spring Garden and Bank Streets, and a stand at the Circle (A public market-place).  He runs two wagons and employs eight men.

In 1880 he was married to Miss Anna Elizabeth Sampson, daughter of Joseph and Susan Sampson.  They have had four children: Helen F.; J. Goebel: George M., Jr.; and William W., deceased.  Mr. Weller and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian Church.  He is a member of the Common Council, serving his third term, having been elected by the Republican party.  Mr. Weller’s forefathers were Whigs.   He is Chairman of the Fire Committee, a member of the Highways Committee, and also of the Sewer Committee.  He takes a great interest in secret societies, being a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Malta, Order of the Golden Chain, Royal Arcanum and Independent Freemen’s Alliance.  He has in his possession a large clock which Phillip Weller, the first, brought with him from Germany in 1730, and which is running and keeping excellent time at this date, 1894.