Henry Gabriel (1812-1887)
Henry Gabriel was born in Germany in 1812, and traveled within it and neighboring countries in an effort to learn the woolen and cotton industries, before immigrating to America in 1836. In 1839, he started a woolen mill in Millerstown in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. He later moved to Allentown to establish another mill, which burned down in 1873, and was subsequently rebuilt.
He is believed to have introduced the jacquard attachment, allowing for the figured weaving of goods, into that area of the state. His known coverlets date from 1845 to 1846, many of which are undated. His corner blocks vary depending on where the coverlets were woven: in Millerstown they contain his name, location and date; in Allentown, only his name and location. He died in 1887.