Professor Henry G. Dornheim, formerly principal of the public schools of Elizabethville, Pennsylvania, was born in Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, 7 November 1859. He is a son of Rudolph H. Dornheim, and Mary [Row] Dornheim. His grandfather, Heinrich Dornheim, was a native of Germany. He studied medicine and practiced both in Germany and after coming to America. He died in Philadelphia while visiting some of his children. His wife, Johanna Eleanora Wilhelmina, born at Hagenbruch, was a descendant of a noble German family. She died at Gratz at the age of eighty-five. Their children were: Rudolph H. Dornheim; a son who died aged ten years; Henrietta Dornheim, deceased; and Frederica Dornheim, deceased.
Rudolph H. Dornheim, father of Prof. Dornheim, was born in Germany and came to America with his parents when he was seven years old. His father came first and settled in Gratz, Pennsylvania, and shortly after sent for his wife and family. Rudolph was educated in Gratz, where he learned cabinetmaking. This has been his occupation to the present time. He and his wife reside at Gratz. He enjoys the best of health, at the age of sixty-five. Their children are: Prof. Henry G. Dornheim; and two daughters, one of whom died at the age of sixteen and the other in infancy.
Henry G. Dornheim attended the common schools of his native place until he was fifteen, when he entered the Berrysburg Seminary. After attending that institution for three summers, he was graduated in 1879. During the winters he taught school; the first term in Upper Mahanoy Township, Northumberland County and several subsequent terms at Gratz and in ungraded country schools. In 180 Mr. Dornheim entered Millersville State Normal School, and was graduated in 1883. He also attended this school during the summer of 1878, After graduating from the Normal school, he became assistant teacher in the Lykens High School, and remained there from 1883 to 1884. He then opened the Elizabethville Seminary as its principal, and during the winter was principal of public schools, which position he held for three years,and then returned to Gratz and took charge of the high school for six years. At the end of this time, in 1894, Mr. Dornheim returned to Elizabethville and resumed his former position as principal of the seminary and public schools. He was an unsuccessful candidate for county superintendent of Dauphin County in 1892 and 1896. On 8 July 1896, he was elected principal of the school at Tremont, Schuylkill County, where he now resides.
Henry G. Dornheim was married in Lancaster County, Pennsylvnaia, 3 July 1883, to Miss Ellen W. Frey, daughter of John Frey, and born in Lancaster. Their children are: Susan Dornheim; John Dornheim; Frank R. Dornheim; Cora May Dornheim; and Oscar E. Dornheim.
Professor Dornheim is an independent voter. He is an active member of the Lutheran church, and is superintendent of the primary department of the Sunday-school. While residing at Gratz he acted for three years as secretary of the Gratz Driving Park and Agricultural Society.
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The above information was modified/edited from Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, published in 1896 by J. M. Runk and Company of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. A free download is available from the Internet Archive.
See also:
http://civilwar.gratzpa.org/2011/08/gratz-during-the-civil-war-rudolph-h-dornheim-cabinetmaker/
http://civilwar.gratzpa.org/2011/09/gratz-during-the-civil-war-rudolph-dornheim-properties/