Born in Thaiernbach, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, William Thalhimerwas the oldest of Malke Simon and Goetz Lazarus Thalheimer’s sevenchildren. Having received a rigorous education in German and Hebrew,he set sail for the United States, settling first in New Orleans andthen, in 1840, in Richmond, the city that would be his home for theremainder of his life.

He found success asa merchant, while his extensive religious learning and knowledge ofHebrew meant that he was in demand at both of the city’scongregations—the Sephardi Beth Shalome and the Ashkenazi BethAhabah.

In 1845 he marriedMary Millhiser, like himself andimmigrant from Germany, and they had seven children.