The following tale is an augmentation of an article that appeared in the 1987 issue of the Hearthstone by Jan K. MacIlwraith of the Emmaus Shelterhouse Society.
In 1856, Mary Ann Amanda Giering, (a Great Granddaughter of Andreas Giering, the first resident of Emaus/Emmaus) then 22 years old married James S. Schumaker. In 1863, Col Schumaker was killed in the Civil War and thus Mary Ann became a widow for the first time. She was then considered a "fair catch" and was pursued by a number of local men looking for a wife. Two of these men were David Seem and William Keck. Following some courtship, Mary Ann made her decision; she and David Seem were married in March, 1864.
Less than a month later, on a Saturday morning at approximately 11:00 A.M. on April 2, 1864, William Keck jealously shot and murdered David Seem. This became the first Murder in the village. He was tried and convicted in Montgomery County (Lehigh County did not yet exist) Court. Here there are various stories. One version has Mr. Keck sentenced to be hung and the sentence carried out. Another story has him serving a sentence in the Montgomery County Jail, following which he returned to Emaus or went west.
In either event, both Murderer and Victim are buried side by side (Graves 311 and 311A) in God's Acre at Third and Adrian Streets in Emmaus. Thus ends the sad portion of this tale.
Now for the good that came from it. In 1854, Rebecca Matilda Giering - Mary Ann's cousin, also a great granddaughter of Andreas, married Joel Ritter, also of Emaus. On March 13, 1873, after delivering nine children, Matilda died in childbirth. This left Joel with nine children - one a five month infant - to care for, in addition to his everyday business. Mary Ann, having been close to Matilda, volunteered to help Joel with his problem. She and Joel became close and two years later - October, 1875 - they married.
Some time after the marriage, Joel Ritter and Mary Ann moved to Coopersburg and soon became interested in organizing a Moravian Church there, thus becoming two of the original founders of the church which now stands on Main Street. It is possible that later they returned to Emaus where Joel began a funeral business at the corner of Third and Main Streets; a place where a business now remains. Both Joel and Mary Ann died were buried in the Old Moravian Cemetery, Joel in 1902 and Mary Ann in 1906.
Complete details about Mary Ann's and Matilda's Great Grandfather can be found at the Giering web site
www.giering-family trees.org
Select, from the main menu, the "Index of Names" and then choose Andreas I, Mary Ann or Matilda or any other name and proceed. NOTE, to see the family tree chart(s) click on the family ID number at the top of the family page.