Daniel Milson

Daniel Milson 1830 – 1905

Source:Lambert and Reinhard 1914. p. 298

Daniel Milson was born in Neath Glamorganshire, South Wales, February 28th, 1830, a son of Charles and Rachel (Thomas) Milson, the former born in England in 1783, and the latter a native of South Wales.

He was reared in his native country and educated in the common schools of his native town.

At the age of sixteen he started the boiler making trade with his uncle, Joseph Thomas, at Neath. He worked at the Neath Abbey Shipyards up to the year 1852, then came to this country, landing in New York after a long and dangerous voyage of more than three months. Shortly after his arrival he removed to Philadelphia, where he entered the employ of Merrick & Son, and later entered the service of the United States Navy Yard as a boiler maker, being one of the men who worked on the vessel that captured Mason and Slidel during the Civil War. In 1854 he came to Catasauqua and for two years was employed by the Crane Iron Company, and after dissolving this connection he was employed by the Thomas Iron Company in the erection of their furnaces at Hokendauqua. In the latter part of the year 1863, in company with David Thomas, Jr., he went to Ohio, where they erected a furnace of which he was assistant superintendent until 1865.

In the latter part of 1865 he returned to Catasauqua, and opened The Catasauqua Bolier Shop, Front Street on his own account, employing fifty men. He lived at Second and Chapel.

He retired from business in 1890 and took a trip to the scenes of his childhood, which proved a source of much profit and enjoyment. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua, and in his political affiliations was a staunch Republican.

Source: Jordan, Green and Ettinger, Vol 2, p. 230

DANIEL MILSON is one of the well-known men of Catasauqua, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, who have grown up with the town, and he is not only a loyal citizen of his adopted country, hut has been a promoter of its interests as well. He was born in Neath, Glamorganshire, South Wales February 28, 1830. a son of Charles and Rachel (Thomas) Milson, the former born in England in 1783, and the latter a native of South Wales. They were the parents of fourteen children, seven of whom are living, namely Charles, Mrs. William Richards, Daniel, Ann Margaret, Mary, Prudence, and Hannah, the first three residing in America, and the remainder on the other, side of the water.

Daniel Milson was reared in his native country and educated at the common schools of his native town. At the age of sixteen he arranged with his maternal uncle, Joseph Thomas, to learn the boiler making trade. This he accomplished, becoming one of the best mechanics in his own shire, and he could not be surpassed when he came to this side of the Atlantic Ocean. He worked at the Neath shipyards up to the year 1852, at which time he came to this country, landing in New York after a long and dangereous voyage of more than three months. Shortly after his arrival he removed to Philadelphia, where he entered the employ of Merrick & Son, and later, because of his superior workmanship, he entered the service of the United States navy yard as boiler maker, being one of the men who worked on the vessel that captured Mason and Slidell, during the Civil war. In 1854 he came to Catasauqua and for two years was employed by the Crane Iron Company, and after dissolving this connection he was employed by the Thomas Iron Company in the erection of their furnaces at Hokendauqua, becoming a stockholder in the company in 1862, which relation still exists, and from which he derives a goodly income. In the latter part of the year 1863, in company With David 'Thomas, Jr., he went to Ohio, where they erected a furnace, of which Mr. Milson was assistant superintendent, and which they conducted until 1865. In that year Mr. Milson returned to Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, and opened a boiler shop on his own account, employing a force of fifty men and executing the best work possible. He supplied the furnaces in the Lehigh Valley with the finest production of his skill, and after successfully conducting the shop for a quarter of a century he retired from active business pursuits having acquired a competency. In 1890, the year of his retirement, having decided that his system required a complete change and relaxation from business cares, he took a trip to the scenes of his childhood, and this proved a source of much profit and enjoyment. Mr. Milson holds membership in time Presbyterian Church of Catasauqua, and in his political affiliations is a staunch Republican.

Source: Jordan, Green and Ettinger, Vol 1, p. 502

The following appears under the bio for Daniel Milson’s son, Charles Edwards.

Charles Edward Milson. a capitalist with extensive and varied investments in enterprises of Catasauqua and the Lehigh Valley, is of English lineage, a grandson of Charles and Rachel (Thomas) Milson, natives of England and Wales respectively. The former was born in Bristol about the year 1791, and at an early age removed to Wales, where he engaged in the butchering business. He married and spent the greater part of his life in that country. About 1869, however, he came to the United States to visit his son Daniel, with whom he remained for seven years, returning to Wales in 1876. There his death occurred in 1884. His wife was a native of Bryncoch, Glamorganshire, Wales, and to them were born fourteen children, of whom seven are now living: Daniel. Prudence, Elizabeth, Mary, Margaret. Ann, and Charles.

Daniel Milson, the father of Charles E. Milson, is the only one of the children living in America. He was born at Neath, South Wales, February28, 18—, and when a young man sailed for the new world, taking passage in 1852 upon a westward bound sailing vessel which after a voyage of three months and three days dropped anchor in the harbor of New York. Before leaving his native country he had learned the boilermaker's trade as an apprentice to his uncle, Joseph Thomas, serving at the Neath Abbey shipyards in Wales. Making his way direct from New York to Philadelphia, he secured employment at his trade in the shop of Merrick & Son, and later worked in the ship department of the United States navy yard at League Island for about two years. In 1854 he came to Catasauqua, where he was first employed by the Crane Iron Company, and subsequently secured work at the plant of the Thomas Iron Company, aiding in the construction of their works. In 1863 he answered the emergency call for troops to repel the invasion of the Confederate forces into Pennsylvania, and served for two months. Not long after his military experience he went to Ohio with David Thomas, and after assisting in the building of a furnace there he returned to Catasauqua. In 1865 he established a boiler shop, and in addition to job work took contracts and built furnaces. He soon developed a large business, which he conducted with success for many years, but is now living retired.

Daniel Milson was married January 28, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth Davies, of Baltimore, Maryland, who was born in Neath, Glamorganshire, Wales, April 22, 1837. They became the parents of eleven children.

Source: Portrait & Biographical Record, Lehigh, Northampton, and Carbon Counties, 1894

DANIEL MILSON is one of the pioneers of Catasauqua and a successful and practical boilermaker, being proprietor of the Catasauqua Boiler Works. Formerly he was engaged in the powder works at Norristown, Pa. A native of South Wales, Mr. Milson was born in Neath, Glamorganshire, February 28, 1830, and in 1890, in company with his late wife, it was his great pleasure to make a trip to his native land and the scenes of his boyhood, where he spent over three months. His grandfather on his father's side was born in Bristol, England, and the family name was formerly spelled Milsom. The father, Charles Milson, was also born in Bristol, England, and followed the butcher's business until he retired from active life. His wife, Rachel (Thomas) Milson, was born in Bryncoch, Glamorganshire, and both parents, who were members of the Episcopal Church, are now deceased.

In a family of five daughters and three sons, Daniel Milson is the eldest, and now only five sisters and one brother are living. He was reared in Neath, his education comprising that of the common schools, and when only sixteen he was apprenticed as a boiler-maker with his uncle, Joseph Thomas, working in the Neath Abbey Shipyards until 1852, when he set sail for America, and after a tedious voyage of three months and three days landed in New York. Going to Philadelphia, he entered the employ of Merricks & Son, and later worked in the ship department of the United States Navy-yard in that city for about two years, making boilers, etc.

About 1854 the subject of this sketch first came to Catasauqua, and for two years worked for the Crane Iron Company, after which he was an employee of the Thomas Iron Company's works, which he helped to build, the furnaces being at Hokendauqua. In 1863 he enlisted in response to the emergency call, and was in the service for two months. Returning the same year, he went to Ohio with David Thomas, Jr., helping to build a furnace, and then returned to Catasauqua. In 1865 he started a boiler-shop, taking contracts and building furnaces. He did all the work in his line in the Crane Iron Company, and took contracts from all parts of the state, having as many as forty men engaged in working for him. He has been in business ever since. Its boiler works are situated on Front Street, and his borne is at the corner of Second and Chapel Streets.

The marriage of Mr. Milson of this sketch took place in Baltimore, Md., in 1861, to Elizabeth Davies, who was also a native of Wales, and they had eleven children. The eldest, Thomas H, is proprietor of the McKee & Milson Pipe Works, of Paterson; N. J. Charles E. is a practicing physician in Catasauqua, having graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the Homeopathic College at Philadelphia. The daughters in order of birth are as follows: Annie, Elizabeth, Minnie, Mabel and Eleanor. Two sons, David and Henry D. have departed this life, as has also the affectionate wife and mother, who died January 1, 1894. Mr. Milson is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of this city, in which he is a Trustee. In politics he is a stanch Republican.

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