My Genealogy Hound

REUBEN R. DAVIDHEISER, Highway Commissioner of Pottstown, and a prominent citizen of that place, is a native of Montgomery county. He was born in Pottsgrove township, September 5, 1841. He is the son of Henry and Sarah (Reigner) Davidheiser, both natives of Montgomery county. They had eight children, six sons and two daughters, of whom four are now living, as follows: Ephraim, of Pottsgrove township; Reuben R., Mary Ann, wife of Henry Wise, of Pottstown; and Milton, of Pottstown.

Henry Davidheiser (father) owned a large farm in Pottsgrove, where he lived all his life. He died in 1885, at the age of seventy-one years. His wife survived him until 1891. She was seventy-two years old at the time of her death. He was a member of and an officer in the Lutheran church. His wife was a member of the Reformed church. Henry Davidheiser (grandfather) was a native of Montgomery county. The family came originally from Germany. He lived to be more than eighty years of age and had several son and daughters. Joseph Reigner (maternal grandfather) lived during the whole of his long life in Pottsgrove township, where he owned a farm, and at one time conducted a pottery. His wife’s maiden name was Kimmel. They had a large family.

Reuben R. Davidheiser was reared on his father’s farm, and attended the district schools. When he became of age he went to Pottstown and learned the carpenter’s trade, which he followed for many years, doing contract work for eighteen years. He has built many of the substantial buildings of Pottstown. In 1866 he married Miss Sarah Kepner, daughter of Abraham and Lydia Ann (Reifsnyder) Kepner. They had eight children, four sons and four daughters, as follows: Wilson, Mary, Olivia, Allen, Anna, Howard, Bertha and Milton Frederick. Wilson married Alma Engel. They live in Philadelphia, where he is employed in a machine shop. They have two children, Florence and Miriam. Mary married William Jones, of Pottstown. They have two children, Mildred and Anna. Olivia married John Bickel, of Pottstown. They have one daughter, Helen. Allen married Martha Mowry, now deceased. They had one daughter, Ruth. The other children are single. Mrs. Sarah (Kepner) Davidheiser died in 1897, at the age of forty-eight years. She was a member of the Lutheran church.

In November, 1899, Mr. Davidheiser married Mrs. Anna E. Schick, daughter of Harrison and Abigail (Slonaker) Skean. Mr. Davidheiser is a member of the Lutheran church, and his wife of the Reformed church. Politically he is a Democrat. He was school director for many years, and burgess of Pottstown for three years, retiring in 1900. He is now serving his second year as highway commissioner.