Valentine S. Truckenmiller received his early education in the common schools of his native township, later attending McEwensville Academy and a commercial college at Elmira, N. Y., from which he was graduated in 1863. Until 1874 Mr. Truckenmiller followed the business of cattle broker, being thus engaged in Chicago and other western places, and in that year he purchased the old Truckenmiller mill and homestead site in Delaware township, near Watsontown, where he has since been established. There are thirty-six acres of land attached to the mill property. When he purchased the mill he remodeled it throughout, installing the most modern machinery and bringing the capacity up to one hundred barrels daily, and he commands the principal trade in his line in the upper part of Northumberland county, producing high-grade flour, which he ships all over eastern and central Pennsylvania, the demand being particularly large in the coal regions. The popular brands are Satin, Boss and Queen, and five men are kept constantly employed. The mill is now conducted by the firm of V. S. Truckenmiller & Son, Mr. Truckenmiller's son Frank E. being in partnership with him. They also deal in grain and mill feed of all kinds. Mr. Truckenmiller has become interested in other business matters in his section, and was one of the organizers of the Farmers National Bank of Watsontown, of which he has been a director ever since. He has been active in various projects affecting the general welfare and is a leading citizen of his section. He is a member of the Presbyterian church at Watsontown, and socially belongs to Warrior Run Lodge, No. 401, F. & A.M., of Watsontown, and to Warrior Run Chapter, R.A.M. Politically he is a Republican, and during the Civil war he was in the Union service, enlisting from Watsontown in 1861 in Company B, 131st Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, with which he served nine months.
In 1870 Mr. Truckenmiller married Sarah E. Montgomery, daughter of William and Mary (Caldwell) Montgomery, of McEwensville, and to them were born two children, Frank E. and William S. Mrs. Truckenmiller died Nov. 7, 1890, aged forty-eight years, and is buried at Watsontown.Frank E. Truckenmiller, son of Valentine S. Truckenmiller, is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, and conducted a drug store at Williamsport, Pa., for five years. He sold out on account of his health, and since 1902 has been associated with his father, being the junior member of the firm of V. S. Truckenmiller & Son. He is a thirty-second degree Mason.
ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/pa/northumberland/bios2/f401423.txt
Obituary: Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, PA), Tuesday, April 27, 1915
Dies at Watsontown. (Northumberland County, Pennsylvania).
Valentine S. TRUCKENMILLER Succums at age 72 Years. (Special to Gazette and Bulletin.
Watsontown, April 26. -- Valentine S. TRUCKENMILLER died at his home in this place this morning of typhoid pneumonia, age 72 years. Mt. TRUCKENMILLER had not been well for some time, but had felt a little improved last week. For many years the deceased was engaged in the grain and merchant milling business, which a few years ago he relinquished to his son, Frank E. TRUCKENMILLER, and since that time had lived retired. He is survivied by two sons, Frank E. and William M. TRUCKENMILLER and a number of brothers.
He was a director in the farmers National Bank of Watsontown; a member of the First Presbyterian church, and the Watsontown Masonic Bodies. The funeral will be held from his home on the Watsontown-McEwensville road Thursady morning at 10:10 oclock,' and will be conducted by Rev. L. Norman Leith, pastor of the church, and the burial service will be conducted by Watsontown Lodge, No. 401, Free and Accepted Masons. Interment will be made in Watsontown cemetery. Gazette and Bulletin (Williamsport, Lycoming County, PA), Tuesday, Edition April 27, 1915.