Mr. Reis was born in Hamburg on May 19, 1831. He is the son of John Henry Reis, who is now living in the " old country ” at the age of ninety-two years.
Mr. Reis early manifested a liking for the jewelers and watch makers' trade, and after he left school, at the age of fifteen years, he became an apprentice to a jeweler and watchmaker in the City of Hamburg. He emigrated to this country in 1866 and came to the City of Davenport in 1867, reaching here on the third of January. He started into business for himself soon after his arrival here, and he has been engaged ever since in the same line of trade.
He is one of the most reliable jewelers and watchmakers in the city, being one of the most experienced and careful workmen . He has studied his trade conscientiously and earnestly, and has devoted to it all the skill that lay in his power. He has never been a public man in any sense of the word, nor has he ever traveled any since he arrived in the City of Davenport. He has been so attentive to his business that even Chicago has not been visited by him. He takes an active interest in public affairs, although he takes no part whatever in politics. He was formerly a Republican, but took exception to the course of that party in the matter of regulating the liquor traffic, and has become a staunch Democrat.
On the twenty-sixth of April, 1873, he was married in the City of Davenport to Sophia Schaeffer, a native of Hamburg, and whose death occurred in 1884. Of the children of this union, Lena died in 1889. She was born in 1878. Martha, aged twelve, is living with her father, and Mary was adopted into the family of John Hinrichsen soon after Mrs. Reis' death.
In 1890, on the first of January, Mr. Reis was married to Emelie Lemme, also a native of Germany, whose death occurred in 1892. There were no children born of this union.
As a business man and neighbor Mr. Reis stands well in the com munity of which he has long been a resident. He has seen Davenport's development from the time it was a mere village, and has always taken an interest in its growth . His close attention to his business has been rewarded by a large share of prosperity.
BIOGRAPHIES