Blair County PA Archives Biographies.....Heims, Theobald Bentz January 14, 1821 - May 8, 1890 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Judy Banja http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00004.html#0000757 December 18, 2024, 5:41 pm Source: Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair Co, PA: Philadelphia, 1892. Author: Samuel T. Wiley THEOBALD BENTZ HEIMS, One of the pioneer citizens of Tyrone, was a man who, was highly esteemed for his strength of character and upright life. He was a son of Thomas and Anna (Bishop) Heims, and was born at Littlestown, Adams county, Pennsylvania, January 14, 1821. Thomas Heims was born April 5, 1788, at York, York county, and died at Tyrone. He married Anna Bishop, who was born at Littlestown, and died at York, in 1837. Her father, Philip Bishop, was a native and lifelong resident of Littlestown, Adams county, where he died. He was a prominent and active member of the United Brethren church. He erected the church of that denomination at Littlestown, of which he lived. His memory was long cherished at Littlestown, where he was so active in church affairs, and so liberal a contributor to the cause of Christianity. Theobald B. Heims was reared and received his education at Littlestown, this State. In 1847 he removed to Berryville, Clark county, Virginia, where he worked at his trade of shoemaker. His brother-in-law, P. Sneeringer, having removed from Littlestown to Tyrone in 1853, and other citizens, among them S. Berlin and the late E. L. Study, of the same place, coming to this growing town shortly after, Mr. Heims looked upon Tyrone as a better town than his Virginia home to adopt as a permanent place of residence. Accordingly he came hither in 1855, and for the first year here, he carried on his trade on Main street, in the house afterward owned by A. C. Zerbe. He soon gave up that work, however, to become interested with Mr. Sneeringer in general merchandising in Tyrone, and lumbering in Clearfield county. Thereafter he engaged exclusively in the lumber and shingle business and milling, for many years devoting his attention to the business in Clearfield county. In 1877 he extended his operations to Michigan, and carried on his business in that State until 1889, when illness forced him to relinquish all active work. He was a thorough business man, and was prosperous in what he undertook. Having been one of the earliest residents of this town, and having been highly respected for his strength of character and noble traits, Mr. Heims was several times honored by his fellow citizens with election to municipal offices, having been chosen at different times to the offices of councilman, school director, and justice of the peace. He was for many years a regular attendant at the services of the Methodist Episcopal church, and also took a great interest in the Sunday-school, which he delighted in visiting. A great searcher after the truth, and a patient student of the Bible during his life, he declared in his last days on earth his complete faith in the promises of his Master, and his confidence in a blessed future life beyond the grave. On March 28, 1847, Mr. Heims married Henrietta Brothers, of Littlestown, this State. To their union were born seven children: Jennie, widow of S. V. Haslett; Thomas C., married Lizzie B. Hess, and is a merchant and coal operator, and president of the Land and Lumber Company, of Clearfield; Lizzie, wife of J. K. Mills, an insurance agent and real estate dealer of Braddock, this State; Charles W., married Clara Leedy, of Harrisburg, who is now dead; Maria O. (deceased); Grace E., wife of Joseph E. Kolbenschlag, who is engaged in the clothing business at Coalport, this State; and May A. Mrs. Henrietta Heims is a daughter of Jacob Brothers, who removed from Pennsylvania to Baltimore, Maryland, where he died in 1828. He married, in 1812, Elizabeth Shriver, daughter of Andrew Shriver, Jr., who was born at Alsenborn, Germany, and in 1721, with his parents, Andrew and Anna Margaret Shriver, became a pioneer settler of Goshenhoppe, on the Conawago, where he married Magdalene Maus, and reared a family of nine children. After the death of Jacob Brothers, his widow married John McIlvain, who was prominent in the Methodist Episcopal church. On May 8, 1890, Theobald Bentz Heims passed away at his residence on Logan street, after an illness of fifteen months, and his remains are entombed in Tyrone cemetery. His death was appropriately noticed in the press, and one of the Tyrone papers said: that to his family "is extended the sincere sympathy of this entire community which recognizes that their loss is also its loss, for death has removed not only a beloved husband and father, but a useful and respected citizen as well. Additional Comments: Originally submitted 2001. Transcribed by Ruth Curfman rcurfman@home.com This file has been created by a form at http://www.usgwarchives.net/pafiles/ File size: 5.1 Kb