My Genealogy Hound

DAVIS LONGACRE, a retired business man of Pottstown, was born September 26, 1832, in Chester county, Pennsylvania. He is a son of John and Mary (Walk) Longacre, who resided in Chester county, and later in Norristown.

John Longacre (father) was a carpenter by trade. Mrs. Longacre died first, at the age of fifty-six years. They are both buried at Norristown, in Montgomery cemetery. The couple had fourteen children, as follows: Elizabeth, Josiah, Nathan (deceased), Davis, Jacob, Susan (deceased), Mary, Isabella, Sarah, John (deceased), Henry (deceased) Isaac, William (deceased), Frank. John Longacre was a Democrat in his politics in his younger days, but later became a Republican. He and Mrs. Longacre were both members of the Reformed church, and also of the Methodist church. John Longacre (grandfather) resided in Chester county. He was a farmer by occupation. He was married and had nine children. Mr. and Mrs. Longacre both died at an advanced age, and both are buried in a cemetery in West Pikeland.

Davis Longacre attended the neighborhood schools until he was about thirteen years of age, when he engaged in the occupation of farming. Later he became an ironworker in Phoenixville, where he resided for three or four years. He then went to Norristown, of which place he was a resident for thirty-five years. He then removed to Pottstown, where he now resides, at the age of seventy-two years. He followed nail making most of his life.

Mr. Longacre married, in 1852, Hannah H., daughter of Samuel C. Reckfuse, who died very young. Mrs. Longacre’s father resided in Plymouth township at the time of his death. He came from Germany when a boy, and was a shoe- maker by trade. His wife survived him many years, and died at the age of seventy-two years. She married for her second husband David Vaughn. Mr. and Mrs. Davis Longacre’s children, eleven in number, were: 1. William H., who lives in Pottstown, he married Kate Corbett, and they have one child; 2. Elwood, resides in North Coventry, Chester county, he married Rachel Frick, and they have nine children living; 3. Samuel; 4. Katie, deceased; 5. Mary Ella, living in Mooresville, she married Joseph Wells, who is an engineer, and they have seven children; 6. Enos R., a nailmaker, residing in Pottstown, he married Catherine Wurtz, and they have one child; 7. Maggie, married John Hickey, a railroader living in Schuylkill Haven; 8. Edward, deceased; 9. George, married Sophia Chowers, and lives in Pottstown, he is a painter by trade, he and his wife have four children; 10. Frank, a bridgeman, living in Pottstown, he married Agnes Ronyan, who died a year ago, leaving one child; 11. Lizzie, married Davis Gilbert, who is a roller and lives in Pottstown, the couple have five children.

Davis Longacre is a Democrat in politics. He has been a member of the town council several terms, and is a member of the United Brethren church. Henry, his brother, was a soldier in the rebellion, being a member of the One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. He died soon after the war, and was buried at Bethlehem.