Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record - Published 1894 by Excelsior Publishing Co., Chicago" Pages 372 & 375

Ernest Heidenreiter is an old settler and a representative farmer of Sheboygan County, who is well deserving of a place in this volume. He owns a well-equipped and fertile farm on section 16, Sheboygan Falls Township. A native of Buffalo, N. Y., he was born July 8, 1847, and is the only child of Edward and Mary (Suldan) Heidenreiter.

Our subject's father was a native of Saxony, Germany, while his wife was of Hessian birth, having been bora at Frankfort, on the Rhine. The former was a shoemaker and worked at that trade for thirty years. He died in April, 1878, and lies buried in the cemetery of Sheboygan Falls. The mother is still living near that place, is very active, happy and bright, and bids fair to live for many years.

When our subject was a lad often years, he left his native State with his parents, in 1857, and on arriving in the United States proceeded by way of the Great Lakes to Sheboygan, where he arrived in May. The old tumbled-down pier was yet standing, and there were some three frame houses in the city at that time. He made a settlement in Greenbush Township, buying forty acres of wild land of a Mr. Keach. For this tract a sum of $300 was paid, and until the wife and mother came from the Fatherland our subject and his father lived in a log house. Later the family sold out and removed to a place now owned by Hiram Dayton. There a house and barn were erected, and this was the home of our subject until he was twenty-six years of age.

The marriage of Ernest Heidenreiter with Miss Elizabeth Dassow was celebrated February 15, 1874. The sketch of the lady's family appears elsewhere in this volume. After his marriage our subject worked for two years in a factory in Sheboygan, and then, returning, became the owner of the farm on which he now lives. This was a place of sixty-eight acres, on which by way of improvement there was an old house. The farm has been placed under good cultivation and improved in many ways. A fine brick residence and a general air of thrift about the place prove the owner to be a progressive farmer.

Our worthy subject and wife have a family of three daughters and one son, who have been given the best educational advantages. Ernest is in the employ of the Mattoon Manufacturing Company of Sheboygan. Minnie is quite a musician, and has pursued her studies under the direction of Miss Mather, of Sheboygan Falls. Elsa, who lives at home, is also taking music lessons; and Alma is a bright little maiden of eleven years.

During the late war Mr. Heidenreiter enlisted in the First Wisconsin Cavalry, October 15, 1864, and was ordered to Louisville, Ky., under Gen. Wilson. He took part in the raid through Kentucky and Tennessee. His regiment then went to Georgia, and assisted in the capture of Jefferson Davis. Our subject was in two hard-fought battles, one at Elizabethtown, Ky., and the other on the road between Montgomery and Mobile. He was always ready and faithful at his post of duty, and could be relied upon by his superiors. On the 19th of July, 1865, he received an honorable discharge, as he was very sick with typhoid fever for eleven weeks. He did not recover fully for five years, and it was only by the tender and loving care of his mother that he finally was restored to health.

A Republican in politics, Mr. Heidenreiter has always supported the party since he cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. U. S. Grant. Possessing the confidence of the people, he has been chosen by them to fill various local positions—was Township Supervisor for four years, has been Clerk of the District for six years, and School Director for two years. He has the interest of the common schools deeply at heart, and is a true American in precept and practice. Religiously, he is a member of the Lutheran Church of Sheboygan Falls Township. He is a member of Richardson Post No. 12, G. A. R., and by his honesty and public spirit has won the respect of all his friends and neighbors.

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