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Jonas Oscar Henry                           1874-1955
Jonas was born on 2 Mar 1874, the son of Daniel K. Henry and Sarah Wagamann, at Stine's Corner, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Muhlenberg College, he attended The Philadelphia Theological Seminay, graduating in 1902, as an ordained Lutheran minister. He served as pastor in Topton, and Blandon, Pennsylvania, before becoming superintendent of the Topton Lutheran Orphans' Home, in 1909. He held this position untilhe resigned on 31 December 1945.

Ida Lisette Sefing                             1877-
Ida was born about 1877, the daughter of Leonard Sefing and Abigail Souer, in Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.
I have identified the following children.
  Karl Sefing Born 4 Jun 1905   Topton, PA  
Paul Jonas Born 17 Oct 1906   Topton, PA  
Leonard Daniel Born 21 Jun 1908   Topton, PA  

Birth of Parents
Jonas Oscar Henry b: 2 Mar 1874         Stine's Corner, Pennsylvania
son of Daniel K. Henry and Sarah Wagamann

Ida Lisette Sefing b: abt 1877               Pennsylvania
daughter of Leonard Sefing and Abigail Souer

Marriage
21 May 1903
Rev. Jonas Oscar Henry
Ida Lisette Sefing

Children
Karl Sefing Henry b: 4 Jun 1905               Topton, Longswamp Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania
son of Rev. Jonas Oscar Henry and Ida Lisette Sefing
Paul Jonas Henry b: 17 Oct 1906               Topton, Longswamp Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania
son of Rev. Jonas Oscar Henry and Ida Lisette Sefing
Leonard Daniel Henry b: 21 Jun 1908               Topton, Longswamp Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania
son of Rev. Jonas Oscar Henry and Ida Lisette Sefing

1910 Census 15 April 1910
Longswamp Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania
District 19, Page 19A
Lutheran Orphans' Home, Topton
Years
Married
Children/
Living
B I R T H     P L A C E
Person       Father      Mother
J. O. Henry
Ida (Wife)
Karl S.
Paul J.
Leonard
Plus 5 Boarders
Plus 90 Inmates
Age 36
Age 32
Age 4
Age 3
Age 1
Superintendent
Matron
6
6

3/3
Penna.
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Jun 1874
abt 1877
abt 1905
abt 1906
abt 1908

1920 Census 1 Jan 1920
Longswamp, Berks County, Pennsylvania
District 33, Image 37 of 40
Lutheran Orphans' Home
B I R T H     P L A C E
Person       Father      Mother
Jonas O. Henry
Ida L. (Wife)
Karl S.
Paul J.
Leonard D.
Plus 3 Teachers
Plus 7 Servants
Plus 161 Inmates
Age 45
Age 42
Age 14
Age 13
Age 11
Farmer Penna.
Penna.
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Jun 1874
abt 1877
abt 1905
abt 1906
abt 1908

1930 Census 1 Apr 1930
Longswamp, Berks County, Pennsylvania
District 150, Image 1 of 4
Lutheran Orphans' Home
B I R T H     P L A C E
Person           Father           Mother
Jonas O. Henry
Ida L. (Wife)
Karl S.
Paul J.
Plus 1 Teacher
Plus 11 Servants
Plus 157 Inmates
Age 56
Age 52
Age 24
Age 23
Superintendent Penna.
Penna.
Penna.
Penna.
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Jun 1874
abt 1877
abt 1905
abt 1906

Death
Rev. Jonas Oscar Henry 15 May 1955       Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
Burial: Greenwood Cemetery

The Morning Call, Allentown, PA, Tuesday, May 17, 1955
OBITUARIES

Rev. Jonas Oscar Henry; 81; 116 N. 13th St., Allentown; died Sunday night, Allentown Hospital; superintendent, Topton Lutheran Home, nearly four decades; 1903, married Ida L. Sefing; with wife assumed roles of foster father & mother, over 1,000 boys and girls; born1874, Kistler's Valley, Lynn Township, Lehigh County; son of the late Daniel & Sarah (Wagaman) Henry; 1899 graduate, Muhlenberg College; 1902, Mt. Airy Seminary gradate; May, 1902, ordained; 1902, assigned to Mission Church, Lake Erie; 1902, transferred to St. Peter's Church, Topton; 1902 to 1909, he served St. Peter's Church, Topton, St. Paul's, Fleetwood, Christ Church, Dryville; July 1909,
became 4th superintendent, Lutheran Home, retiring 1946; named superintendent emeritus; of 1,000 children the couple helped to rear, 2 became ministers, 18 are teachers, over 80 boys served in World War II; 1939, the Henry Building, Topton Home, dedicated; honored by Muhlenberg College 35 years after graduation, honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity; 1952; cited by Mt. Airy Seminary for 50 years of church service. Survivors: wife; sons, Rev. Karl S. Henry D.D., member, Board of American Missions, ULCA, Plainfield, N.J.; Rev. Paul J. Henry, pastor of Grace Church, Royersford, assistant superintendent, Topton Home, 1941 to 1946; Col. Leonard Henry, New York City; 4 grandchildren; great-grandchild; sister, Elizabeth, wife of William Sechler, Hymansville; brother, George Henry, Neffs.

Death
Ida Lisette (Sefing) Henry No Data

SPECIAL THANKS  to to Bruce Muirhead, of San Diego, CA, a descendant of James Muirhead (1795), for many of the details provided above.