Joseph J. Kehler and Mary Hepler Kehler       (Evening Herald, Frackville Edition, January 30, 1976)  Mr. Joseph J. Kehler was born in Eldred Township, January 19, 1849, a son of George H. and Sarah (Fetterholf) Kehler, He was raised on the old homestead in Eldred Township where he attended the public schools, and later attended the Eastman Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York.       At the age of fifteen he worked as a clerk in a general store in Ashland for one year and then was in charge of a general store in Eldred Township for five years. In 1872, he engaged in farming and operating a mill until 1887, when he moved to Frackville. Sitting on the porch: (unknown man), Mary Kehler, Dorothy Spence, Bob Hoppes, (unknown woman), Charles Hoppes, Ruth Hock, (unknown woman), George Hock; standing, (unknown woman), John Dyer, Jennie Dyer.       In 1871, he married Mary J. Hepler, a daughter of Elias and Elizabeth (Fisher) and they had four children: T. Webster; Elizabeth A. married to G.W. Hoppes; Jennie, married to John E. Dyer and Joseph J. Jr., who was principal of the Pottsville High School. In 1889 he established a clothing store on the corner of Balliet and Pine Streets and in 1905 was listed as having a general store at this location.       Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Kehler and children are listed on the second census taken in Frackville after its incorporation in 1880. He was a stockholder in and director of the First National Bank, of which he was one of the original organizers. He served one term on the Borough Council and was a member of Camp No. 66, Patriotic Order of the Sons of America. He was a zealous member of the United Evangelical Church and was superintendent of the Sunday School for many years.       He was sole owner of the Frackville Water Company in 1905 and sold out the same year and the name was changed to Mountain City Water Company. He owned 2000 acres of farmland in the Mahantongo Valley and had interests in several large timber tracts.       Many residents remember the great deed he performed in the summer of 1921 during the mine strike when he hired several hundred miners from town who were out of work and with no unemployment benefits. These men cleared timberland in town which was then readied for farming. This was their only means of earning a living until the mines reopened, In addition to giving these men a wage for their work, it is recalled that one meal was also served daily. Mrs. Dorothy Spence recalls preparing sandwiches for three hundred Frackville men at this time.       Mr. Kehler passed away December 25, 1922, and was buried at the Greenwood Cemetery with Rev. Mowry of the Evangelical Church and Rev. Schmigel of Shamokin officiating at the services. Mr. Joseph J. Kehler was the grandfather of Mrs. Dorothy Spence and Mary W. Kehler who reside in Frackville.