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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company; Elwood Roberts, Editor.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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FRANKLIN B. DAVIDHEISER, of the firm of Davidheiser & Keiser, contractors and builders of Pottstown, is a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, where he was born January 19, 1861. He is the son of John and Mary (Bingerman) Davidheiser.

John Davidheiser (father) is also a native of Montgomery county. He is a farmer in Pottsgrove township. His wife is a native of Berks county. They have had eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, of whom seven are now living as follows: Franklin, Ephraim, Harrison, Howard, Annie Miranda, wife of Maurice Dotterer; Ida, wife of William Reppert, and Sallie, wife of Calvin Prutzman. John Davidheiser and his wife were Lutherans in religious faith. In politics he is a Democrat. They live in West Pottstown.

Samuel Davidheiser (grandfather) was born in Montgomery county, and was reared in Pottsgrove township. He was a farmer by occupation. He was blind for eighteen years before his death. He was twice married, his second wife being a Mrs. Eagle, whose maiden name was Levengood. They had a large family of children. Mr. Bingerman (maternal grandfather) lived at Pine Iron Works, in Berks county, for some time, but later went to Harrisburg, where he was accidentally killed on a railroad, when he was upwards of seventy years of age. He was a miller by trade. His wife was a Miss Hatfield. They had a large family.

Franklin B. Davidheiser was reared on a farm in Montgomery county, spending the summers in the usual way, and attending the district schools in winter. He worked at the carpenter trade three years, and then began contracting on his own account. Most of his life has been spent in Montgomery county, although he lived for some time in Kansas, and in the South. He has been a resident of Pottstown for the past eighteen years.

On October 30, 1887, he married Mary Emma, daughter of John and Rebecca (Burkey) Endy. Mr. and Mrs. Davidheiser have had six children: Harry, (died at the age of three months), Sallie Rebecca, Mary Ella, Charles E., Morris E., Hilary E.

Mr. and Mrs. Davidheiser are members of Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Pottstown. He belongs also to Stichter Lodge, No. 254, Free and Accepted Masons; and Pottstown Chapter, Royal Arch Masons. Politically Mr. Davidheiser is an Independent. He built his present substantial brick residence, No. 518 North Franklin street, in 1893. He owns several business lots.

Mrs. Davidheiser’s parents reside at Leesport, Pennsylvania. They lived for some time in Montgomery county. They had eight children, of whom six are now living, as follows: Mary Emma, Harry, Cora, wife of Oscar Hiester; John, Lizzie, wife of Milton Snyder; and Oscar. John Endy follows various pursuits. His father was David Endy. Mrs. Davidheiser’s maternal grandfather was Jonathan Burkey.

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This family biography is one of more than 1,000 biographies included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

View additional Montgomery County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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