Montgomery County PA Archives Biographies.....DeHaven, William January 17, 1839 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson jpatter@epix.net February 18, 2026, 3:08 pm

Source: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County Pennsylvania, T. S. Benham & Company and the Lewis Publishing Company, 1904
Author: Ellwood Roberts, Editor

WILLIAM DEHAVEN. The DeHaven family are among the oldest in 
Eastern Pennsylvania. Jonathan (grandfather of William 
DeHaven) was a native of Chester county, being of a branch 
of the family which has long resided in East Coventry 
township. He was educated in the schools near his home in 
Chester county, being employed in the intervals of school 
study in the occupation of farming. He learned the trade of 
coachmaking, which he followed for many years, removing to 
Trappe, in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He was a Whig in 
politics. He was a thorough master of coachmaking, and was 
very successful in business.

Among the children of Jonathan DeHaven was Valentine 
DeHaven, who was born at Trappe, on the homestead. He was 
educated in the public schools, and later learned the trade 
of wheelwright, which he followed all his life, removing to 
East Coventry township in Chester county. In politics he was 
an active Whig and Republican, and was deeply interested in 
all that concerned the welfare of his community, but he 
never sought or held office. He married Miss Mary Smith, of 
Montgomery county, who is also now deceased. 

They had the following children Margaret A., Dorinda, 
Jonathan and William, the subject of this sketch.

Hon. William DeHaven was born in East Coventry township, 
Chester county, January 17, 1839. He obtained a common 
school education, and on leaving school learned the 
coachmaking trade, which he followed until 1862, when the 
rebellion having broken out, he patriotically enlisted in 
the service of his country, becoming a member of the One 
Hundred and Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers. He remained 
in the United States service until the close of the war in 
1865, when he was discharged, having participated in many 
important actions. On his return from the army Mr. DeHaven 
went to his home in Chester county, where he was employed at 
his business of coachmaking for some time. Later he went to 
Philadelphia, where he purchased a business already 
established, remaining there for several years. 

In 1880 he removed to his present home at Linfield, in 
Limerick township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where he 
obtained employment in the Brownback Stove Works. He 
remained in that establishment until 1890, when he was 
appointed postmaster by President Garfield, and has held 
that position from that time to the present, except that he 
was removed during the Cleveland administration. He was, 
however, reappointed on the accession of President McKinley 
and the Republican party to power in 1897. Mr. DeHaven is an 
earnest Republican in politics. He has been a worker for the 
party from the time he became a voter. He became a candidate 
on the party ticket for the office of member of the house of 
representatives at Harrisburg in the election of 1900, and 
was elected. He was one of the most useful members of the 
legislature in the session of 1901, being a member of 
several important committees. He did not press his claims 
for renomination in 1902. He became a candidate before the 
Republican county convention of 1904, and was nominated. He 
is an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and 
of the Masonic Order. He and his wife are members of the 
Reformed church.
 
Mr. DeHaven married, in 1866, Miss Sarah, daughter of 
Archibald Towers, of Chester county, Pennsylvania. They have 
no children. Mrs. DeHaven is at present in charge of the 
postoffice at Linfield.

This file has been created by a form at http://www.usgwarchives.net/pafiles/

File size: 4.1 Kb