As you can see on the passenger list for the ship, Minerva, the John Weinrich family arrived in America in 1853.

There is some confusion about the arrival of the Weinrich”s because the Friedenberg Remembrances books says this family came to America in 1852 aboard the ship, Leonidas. However, this family is not found on that ship, but they are found on the Minerva. Since the Friedenberg records are ones that were recreated after they were destroyed in a fire, I trust the evidence of the above passenger list.

The character from that Weinrich family that will be highlighted today is also named John Weinrich. He is not even shown on the passenger list above, but is the son of the 22 year-old son also called John Weinrich. You could make an argument that today’s John Weinrich could be called John Weinrich III. To add to that argument, you might have to take into consideration that today’s John Weinrich had an older brother named John Weinrich who died before he was born. That son could also have been John Weinrich III.

Johann C. Weinrich was born on March 6, 1865, the son of Johann and Margaretha (Bergmann) Weinrich. He was baptized at Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg, so we cannot view a baptism record for him. Some information is found in the Friedenberg Remembrances book about John.

John is found in his first census in 1870 at the age of 5. His father was a farmer in the Cinque Hommes Township of Perry County.

John was a teenager when the 1880 census was taken. This census must have been taken right about the time of John’s confirmation.

Now, we will turn our attention to John’s bride, who also is our birthday girl for today. Emilie L. Bingenheimer was born on November 29, 1872, making today her 149th birthday. She was the daughter of George and Elizabeth (Reinemer) Bingenheimer. Emilie also has an entry in the Friedenberg Remembrances book. I doubt that Emilie was baptized there.

Emilie is found in her first census in 1880 at the age of 7. Her family was living in the Apple Creek Township of Cape Girardeau County. Emilie was the youngest child in her family. Her father was a farmer.

That census would be the only one in which we find Emilie as a single person. On February 21, 1895, John Weinrich married Emilie Bingenheimer at Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim. Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, was on February 27, 1895. Perhaps this couple wanted to get married before there was a moratorium on marriages during Lent.

We can take a look at the marriage license for this pair.

The German Family Tree lists 4 children born to this couple. The first one was baptized at Peace Lutheran Church in Friedenberg in 1897. The other 3 were baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Longtown, which had been established in 1897, although John Weinrich is not listed as a charter member of that congregation. When the 1900 census was taken, we find the following Weinrich household. Although it looks as if the Weinrich’s were members of Zion, Longtown in 1900, they were living in the Apple Creek Township in this census entry.

When the 1910 census was taken, we find John Weinrich back in the Cinque Hommes Township. All 4 children were in his household. Emilie’s mother, Elizabeth Bingenheimer, who was a widow, was also living in this household.

The 1915 plat maps for Perry County show the John Weinrich farm located west of Longtown. There were other Weinrich farms in the neighborhood.

Next, we find the Weinrich family in the 1920 census. This entry spills over 2 census pages. John was always a farmer, and his mother-in-law was still living in his household at this time.

The 1930 census looks very similar, with the same children living in the household. The exception is that Emilie’s mother is no longer included. She died in 1927.

The last census we can view is the one taken in 1940. John, at the age of 75 no longer has an occupation, but two of his single sons are said to be farmers.

John Weinrich died in 1944 at the age of 79. His death certificate says that he died at St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

Emilie Weinrich died in 1952, also at the age of 79. We can also look at her death certificate.

John and Emilie Weinrich are buried together in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Longtown.

There are 36 gravesites in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery that include the surname, Weinrich. There are 7 gravesites that include Bingenheimer. They include both of Emilie’s parents and one of her brothers and his wife. Next year, Zion Lutheran Church will celebrate their 125th anniversary. When that celebration takes place, I suspect there will be many descendants from the Weinrich family there.