William Heimbach (1866-1924)

Born: March 3, 1866
Died: Jan. 30, 1924 (Buried at Trinity Great Swamp UCC, Spinnerstown PA)
Parents: John Michael Heimbach & Catherine Emma Hunsberger
Spouse: Emma Brey
- Born: 1865
- Died: 1907
- Parents: Joel & Elizabeth Brey
Married: Dec 24, 1887
Children: Eva Ella, Katie, Cora, John Michael, William Franklin

William was the second child of John Michael Heimbach Jr and Catherine Emma Hunsberger, born on March 3, 1866. He married Emma Brey on Christmas Eve, 1887 in East Greenville. Thanks to ornate, handwritten records in a Bible that William gave Emma in 1888, we have these details of their marriage and the names and birthdates of their children.

In 1900, William was a farm laborer. He and his wife and their first four children resided with his parents, John Michael & Emma, in the town of Roeder, Bucks County.

By 1910 William was a widower, after Emma’s death in 1907. At this time, William was running his own farm, and several of his children lived with him at home.

By the 1920 census, William appears to have remarried someone by the name of Sarah (to date, no information on her has been found). Their marriage was not a long one, however, as William died on January 30, 1924 due to complications resulting from chronic Bright’s Disease.

William and Emma (his first wife) are buried at the Trinity Great Swamp UCC Cemetery.

Children of William & Emma

William and Emma had five children, several of whom died young and tragically.

Eva Ella was born on June 6, 1890 and married Josiah Wolf (1887-1979). She died July 3, 1963 and is buried with her husband at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Red Hill.

Katie was born Nov 13, 1891 And married Aaron Rosenberger. She died of Tuberculosis on January 31, 1920 and is buried at West Swamp Mennonite Cemetery in Quakertown.

Cora was born on April 24, 1894. She married Howard Frank. She died on June 12, 1934 and is buried at Trumbauersville Christ Union Cemetery. According to her death certificate, she died of suicide by drowning in a quarry in Trumbauersville.

John Michael, presumably named after his grandfather, was born on September 8, 1897. According to his death certificate, he was a machinist at Bethlehem Steel during World War I. He died of “congestion of the lungs” caused by influenza at the age of 21 on November 23, 1918, and is buried at Trinity Great Swamp UCC Cemetery. Interestingly, his death coincides with the influenza epidemic of 1918-1920, also known as the Spanish flu.

William Frank is discussed here.

Gravestone Photos