Although the gravestone reads that William Heinrich Huenefeld was born May 28, 1838, it is respectively suggested that he was born Heinrich Wilhelm Hünefeld, 06 Jun 1838, in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, OH, son of Johan Wilhelm and Anna Christina Elisabeth (Stienecker) Hünefeld. He was baptized on 10 June 1838 in the German Lutheran and Reformed Church in Cincinnati; his baptismal sponsors were Heinrich Wilhelm Schröer and Elisabeth Driftmeier. See birth and baptismal record image.
(Baptismal records for above: genealogist, Robert Rau, Cincinnati, St. John's German Protestant Church (LDS Film 1510039)

William's parents immigrated to America in 1837. After several years in Cincinnati, the family is said to have moved to St. Louis and then on to Hopewell, Warren County, MO. William's father died in 1852 when William was just 14. Mr. Huenefeld, Sr., was buried in Immanuel UCC Cemetery, Holstein, MO. After his father's death, William's mother married Wilhelm Heinrich Brüggenjohann on 04 Mar 1853.

Heinrich Wilhelm Hünefeld married Wilhelmina Schoppenhorst in Warren County, 11 Mar 1864. Before settling around Big Spring, Montgomery County, the couple lived in Higginsville, Lafayette, County, MO, where their oldest daughter, Elisabetha Maria Christina Huenefeld, born 1865, died 28 Sep 1869. This daughter was supposedly the first burial in Salem UCC Cemetery, Higginsville. This cemetery was in a field to the side of the Huenefeld home and farm. The Huenefeld family also experienced the heartbreaking loss of two other daughters who were buried at Hopewell, Methodist Cemetery, Warren County, MO: Lydia Juliana Huenefeld, born 1878, died 22 Oct 1881; and Alvina Emilie Cecelia Huenefeld, born 1882, died 04 Mar 1883.

Mr. Huenefeld's will was filed in Montgomery County, MO. Children listed were Emma, Mary, Benjamin, Paul, Gustav, Lee, Lorenz, William and Frieda. Wife Wilhelmine was to execute. Witnesses were Chas. Becker and P. D Gentry. The will, Bk 75, pp 96, 97, reads in part:

I, William Huenefeld of the County of Montgomery and State of Missouri, of the age of Sixty Nine years having been in delicate health for a space of time and now being in the decline, and desirous to regulate my affairs make publish and declare this as my last will and testament. …
---------

Mr. Huenefeld's obituary is believed to be from Der Christliche Apologete, nd (circa April 1907), and courtesy of Cathie Schoppenhorst; translation is by Laura Ann Terry and copy is in possession of Jane Denny:

HUENEFELD - In the evening of May 25th, at 11 o'clock, Mr. Huenefeld went to his eternal sleep; peaceful and quiet after a long suffering illness. He was born May 28, 1838, in Cincinnati. While still a child he moved with his parents to Holstein, Missouri. At the age of 13, he lost his Father due to death. On March 11, 1864, he married Wilhemine (nee Schoppenhorst). She survives and mourns him. This marriage brought forth 12 children; nine of them still alive. 21 years ago he resettled to Big Spring, where he has now finished his earthly endeavor. He was a loyal member, as well as its head at times, of our Evangelical Community. On May 27th we laid him to rest after a short memorial celebration at home and a benediction at the gravesite, the memorial service took place at the House of God. The undersigning local clergyman (Pastor) spoke words of consolation based on Hosea 6, 1, whereupon Mr. Pastor Hardy, from the Methodist Society, spoke in English to the mourners. The numerous participants at the funeral were a testimony of the respect and love from all who knew the deceased. Beautiful floral bouquets and wreaths decorated the casket and gravesite. May the Lord, who called him home, accept his soul into the eternal cottages of peace. Our prayer may be forever:

When I will have to depart,
When I will have to suffer death,
So come to me,
When my heart is the most scared,
So rapture me,
With your might from my fears,
Through the power of your own agony and suffering.

Max Bonitz, Evangelical Pastor
------

Funeral sermon:
Hosea 6:1
Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
--------

another birth date provided by researchers:
20 March 1838
--------

See photograph of Mrs. Huenefeld, circa 1900. Mr. Huenefeld's two brothers, two sisters, and his father were buried in Immanuel UCC Cemetery as was his mother; however, she rests in a different section.