A second cousin of mine, Rose Fairchok, who I had never known, contacted me and filled me in on some things.
My Grandfather Raymond was son to "Frank Joseph Koenig, born October 24, 1873 in Reserve Twp., Pennsylvania, died March 19, 1960, was married on November 28, 1901 to Magdalene Emilie Wilhelmine Hoerster born January 24, 1880 in Heidelberg, Germany, died April 3, 1922," Rose says.
"Frank mostly went by his second name Joe. According to census records he was an Iron Worker and laborer in a steel mill. I was told he worked on bridges. According to his death certificate he died from "carcinomatosis - carcinoma of the tongue". He's buried in Holy Name Cemetery in Reserve Twp.
"Magdalene was known by her Americanized middle name Amelia. Using their second name is actually a pretty common custom for Germans. Amelia had asthma and according to my Aunt Emma died from an asthma attack. She came to America in 1888 with her parents and several siblings. I was told she almost died from an asthma attack while on the ship and at some point was in very poor health. My grandmother, Rosella, being the oldest daughter had to quit school to stay home to take care of the house and children."
The father of Frank Joseph was "Adam Koenig born May 6, 1829 (although the actual year is in question) in Pichlingen, Hesse, Germany, married Victoria Auth, born December 23, 1838 in Flieden, Kreis Fulda, Hesse, Germany, died on September 4, 1903. Both died in Reserve Twp., PA and are both buried at Holy Name Cemetery, Troy Hill, PA.
"Adam Koenig owned a dairy farm in Reserve Twp. They had 11 children. Frank Joseph was the 7th child.
"Parents of Amelia:
Carl Julius Frank Hoerster, Sr. born February 20, 1852 in Solingen, Rheinland, Pressen, Germany, was married on September 28, 1878 to Johanna Heck at Heilig Geist Katholisch, Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Baden, Germany, died on March 28, 1919 in Pittsburgh.
"Johanna C. Heck born May 9, 1858 in Hassmersheim (Carlsruh), Germany, died on May 25, 1944 in Pittsburgh.
"They had 9 children. Amelia was the oldest. Johanna is buried at St. Martin's Cemetery in the West End. Julius is buried at the Greentree Lutheran Cemetery also known as the Thirty-sixth Ward Cemetery. I'm guessing they weren't buried together because Julius was not Catholic. Julius was an artificial limb maker and I understand he was very good at his craft. Julius and Johanna Arrived in the U.S. on the S.S. Herman on April 6, 1888. Julius' occupation was listed as a Mechanic. The original destination was listed as Maryland.
"Your great great great grandparents:
"I do not know Adam's parents.
"Parents of Victoria:
Johann Benno Auth and Anna Margaretha (last name unknown). Victoria had at least one sibling: Augustin born August 27, 1836
"Parents of Julius Hoerster:
Karl Reinhard Hoerster born in Wupperhof, Germany married to Wilhelmine Veronika Dorerschel
"Parents of Johanna Heck:
Peter Heck and Magdalena Peters both born in Germany
"Peter owned a steamboat and plowed the Nechar River as a freighter near Hekdelberg, Geramny"
