From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 225-226.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


BENJAMIN AARON BONNHEIM

Dr. Benjamin Aaron Bonnheim, rabbi of the Hebrew congregation at 
Wheeling, is a native of Prussia, born July 9, 1841.  His early 
education was received in a college at Marburg, and he subsequently 
for eight years, held the position of a government teacher.   His 
youthful inclination was to the profession of medicine, but not being 
able to obtain such an education he turned to the clerical calling, 
in which his father was prominent as a rabbi, and while teaching 
pursued theological studies at Marburg.   Emigrating to America, 
October 18, 1866, he landed at New York, October 31, and there gave 
private lessons for a fee, months, after which he removed to 
Baltimore and continued to teach until March, 1867.  He was then 
called to Columbus, Ga., where he served as pastor of the Hebrew 
congregation B'nai Israel for three years, at first, and then after 
an interval of four vears as pastor of the Hebrew Benevolent 
congregation at Atlanta, he was at Columbus, Ga., a second period of 
three years.  He was by this time able to preach in English as well 
as German.  In June, 1876, he obtained a leave of absence and visited 
his old home and his father, who has since died at the age of eighty-
seven years.  He returned from Germany to Columbus, Ga., in 
September, 1826.  In the following year he accepted a call to 
Columbus, Ohio, and he had labored there as a rabbi of the Hebrew 
congregation acceptably six years, when he determined to gratify his 
desire for the study of medicine, and consequently in the fall of 
1879, entered the medical college of that city, at the same time 
discharging faithfully his ministerial duties, where he was graduated 
in February, 1882.  In April of the following year he was chosen 
superintendent of the Hebrew hospital and asylum at Baltimore, Md., a 
position he held for five years, discharging his duties as such and 
as a resident physician in so able a manner as to win for him on his 
resignation numerous testimonials to his high character and 
professional ability.  His resignation occurred in January, 1888, and 
in the following April he accepted the call of the Hebrew 
congregation at Wheeling.  Dr. Bonnheim was married December 25, 
1871, to Pauline Hofmann, daughter of Rev. Dr. Hofmann, rabbi at 
Baltimore.  They have had six children: Solomon, now deceased; 
Hannchen; Theodore, now deceased; Agnes, deceased; Gustchen, and 
Arthur. Dr. Bonnheim is quite popular and has invigorated new 
religious life in his congregation, and is a member of the B'nai 
B'rith, the Royal Arcanum, and the A. 0. U. W.


(Linda Fluharty)