Lawrence Winsheimer

LAWRENCE WINSHEIMER. Michael Winsheimer, founder of the family in America, after locating at Greensburg remained only a few years, when he removed to Indiana county, where he bought one hundred acres of woodland at two dollars per acre from the Holland Land Company, and on this tract he "settled," as one of the pioneers of that section. The tract was part of the primeval forest, abounding in immense timbers of various species, and inhabited by bears, deer and other wild animals of the larger type. He lived to be eighty-seven years old, while his wife died at the age of ninety years. Their remains are interred at the Five Point school house, north of the town of Indiana. He was the father of five children: Lawrence, George, Margaret, married John Smith; Mary, married Augustus Vogle; and Michael, Jr.

Lawrence Winsheimer was born June 1, 1817, near Nuremberg, Germany, and landed in America with his parents. Michael and Elizabeth (Karline) Winsheimer, December 30, 1837. The family located at Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where Lawrence continued to reside for a period of sixty-eight years, or until his death, which occurred October 28. 1905, his age being eighty-eight years, four months and twenty-seven days. He was always actively identified with the interests and progress of the town. He was a tailor by trade, and for over forty years was engaged in the clothing business. In politics he was a loyal Democrat, and never failed to attend the poles and cast his vote. He was honored by his party with election to the office of coroner of Westmoreland county for three successive terms, and on one of these occasions received the largest majority, over five thousand, ever given a Democrat in this county During his incumbency as coroner he officiated temporarily as sheriff, because of the technical disqualification of that official. He was mayor of Greensburg in 1872, and also served on the town council at other times. He was constable for several terms, and precinct register of the Second ward for the ten years preceding his demise, his successive elections being made almost unanimous because of his great popularity. He was an intelligent, exemplary, upright citizen, a lifelong and consistent member of the First Lutheran Church, and for many years an officer in the congregation. He enjoyed the fullest measure of esteem and confidence of all who knew him, and left an honorable and untarnished name as the richest eulogy to an exemplary and blameless life.

Lawrence Winsheimer married, February 15, 1845, Anna Margaret Zeise, which union continued for fifty-seven years, or until her death, which occurred January 18, 1903. She was a daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth Zeise, who came from Germany to America when she was an infant and also located in the vicinity of Greensburg. Their marriage was something out of the ordinary. The nuptials were performed by the Rev. M. J. Steck, and two other couples were married by the same ceremony, viz.: Augustus Vogle to Mary Winsheimer and Augustus Graff to Louisa Smith. Of the seven persons connected with this triple wedding Mr. Winsheimer was the final survivor. Lawrence Winsheimer was the father of six children: 1. George Stineman, auctioneer, living in Greensburg, born July 21, 1847, married Priscilla Blose Murray; father of four children: Eva Gertrude, married George Mendell, of Wheeling, West Virginia; Etta Rebecca, George Huff, mining engineer, and Archie Stewart, died at the age of three and one-half years. 2. Dr. William Jack, dentist, lives at Parker's Landing, Pennsylvania, born March 29, 1849; married Jennie C. Agnew. 3. Mary Elizabeth, born August 26. 1851; married James Filmore Steele, living in Greensburg. 4. Harriet Lucetta, born June 28, 1853, married John B. McQuade, living in Greensburg, and mother of two children: Catherine and Lawrence. 5. Thompson R., of whom later. 6. Dr. Edward Lawrence, born November 20, 1860, dentist, living at Parker's Landing, Pennsylvania.

Source: Page(s) 165-166, History of Westmoreland County, Volume II, Pennsylvania by John N Boucher. New York, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906.
Transcribed May 2007 by Nathan Zipfel for the Westmoreland County History Project
Contributed for use by the Westmoreland County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/westmoreland/)

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