The Story of A schuylkill Haven Family

I was born and raised in Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill County, PA. OK, I was actually born in Pottsville, but close enough.
I don’t live in Sch. Haven anymore, I live in South Manheim Twp., probably about 5 miles from my childhood home. Except for two years at PSU, I’ve lived only in Sch. Haven, Cressona(2 yrs.) and S. Manheim for the past 29 years.
Any link will take you to more of the story, and more pictures.
This post is the first in a series of 4, outlining my family history in Southern Schuylkill County, mostly Schuylkill Haven. I am going divide it by grandparents.

Anna Miller Geary

Brown and finally Moyer.

Ann Miller’s Pottsville High graduation photo(1941).

was the daughter of Anna(nee Luckenbill) and Clarence Miller(Momo and Popo for the rest of this story)

Momo and Popo (Late 1920s Early 1930s)

Born and raised in Mount Carbon, she moved to Sch. Haven around the age of 22, after her marriage to Earl Geary, and the birth of my mom and her brother.

Ann, Beth and Earl(1942-3)

Earl and family will be part 2.
The couple also had a son Tom and daughter Jane.
Ann also had a son Mark from her second marriage to Bud Brown.
Ann lived in Sch Haven, first on Tennis Ave, then on Columbia St., from around 1944 or 1945 until her death in 1992.

Anna Luckenbill Miller

Ann’s mother, Anna (nee Luckenbill) was born (1905) and raised in Schuylkill Haven. She was the daughter of Benjamin and Ella Luckenbill.

Anna, Ella, Benjamin and Ray Luckenbill(1908-9)

One of the great thing about Momo’s side of the family was their desire to take what I call generational photos. Most have 4 generations(as you will see), but I appreciate all that I have.

Mom, Ann and Momo (1955)

Momo was PA Dutch through and through. Always in a dress(as in the photo above), but usually with an apron. The woman loved to cook. Cakes, pies, candy, and alot of great food. She is probably the reason for my love of chocolate, sugar and butter(although I think she preferred lard).
She lived most of her adult life on top of the hill in Mt. Carbon, until her husbands passing. She then moved back to Sch. Haven, where she resided at the time of her passing in 1992.

Click here to read more on Ella Moyer
Click here to read more on Benjamin Luckenbill

Clarence Miller

Clarence Elijah Miller(Popo) was born (1900) and raised in North Manheim Twp (Hillside Area).

Popo and Mom.
He was the son of Mary (nee Kramer) and Joseph Miller.
To a seven year old, the man could do anything. He worked in Hamburg at a foundry, so, (according to my aunt or mom) made Momo’s candy pots an other cooking utensils. He could also shred the fresh coconut and shell and chop the peanuts for candy and cakes.
Popo mid 1960s
He lived in Mt. Carbon for all of his adult life, passing in 1976.

Click here to read more on Mary Rebecca Kramer.

Click here to read more on Joseph Miller.

I will end this section with 2 generational photos, the second being my absolute favorite.


My sister Cindy. Momo, Ann, Mom and an arrow pointing to me. 1965


Momo, my daughter Abigail, Me. Mom and Ann. 1990