Following his mother's death(Emma Koenig), William lived with his grandmother(Mary Reichle) and his step-grandfather(Louis Reichle) until
he was 18 years of age in 1888(Src.:1880 Federal census).
William then came into Atchison and started an apprentice to learn the bakery trade at Matt Gerber's bakery. After he became a Master Baker he worked at Poebler's and John Meier's Bakeries in Atchison.

In the spring of 1893 Will Koenig and William Eiche formed a partnership and started a Bakery and Confectionery in Nortonville, KS. This was located in a brick building on Railroad Street owned by Hynum Green. In 1895 Will Eiche sold his interest to Charles Pardee. This partnership continued until December 1897 when Pardee sold out to W. C. Koenig and he became sole owner. His lease expiring the next spring he decided to move down to Main Street and rented a store room from the First National Bank and built a brick oven. He moved to this new location March 1, 1898.

On November 30th 1898, Wm Koenig and Clara Luse were married moving into a nice little home on West Main Street. This was a very severe winter, beginning with a blizzard on October 17 that lasted three days. One blizzard followed another until about April 1, 1899 with temperatures of 26 and 28 degrees below zero in February.

On June 12. 1900, Wm Harold was born, followed on September 3, 1902 by Charles Leroy. On February 9, 1905 Margaret Annabel, the first girl put in her appearance. This was another extremely cold winter, down to 26 & 28 degrees in February.

Two years later on February 14, 1907 Viola Maria was born. A precedent having been established, two years later on March 5, 1909 Mary Irene came along. Having out grown their five room house they bought the large Randolph house in the north part of town and moved in April 15, 1909.

Much to the disgust of the older boys, another girl arrived at the W.C. Koenig home on October 3, 1910 called Clara Wilhelmina. Two years later they rejoiced to welcome a boy, Walter Allen, born December 9, 1912. On September 8, 1916 Norman Frank was born. Dr. W.D. Groff officiated at all these eight births which was unusual.

The children all attended Nortonville Public School and six of them graduated from High School. Walter (Dick as he was called) was seriously injured while swimming and developed Cerebral Spinal Meningitis dying August 14, 1928.

On April 18, 1936 a fired destroyed the Bakery, ending their business affiliations in Nortonville. This was the time of the grasshopper scourge and no crops were raised.

Wm C and wife, Clara then went to Los Angeles to visit Charles and family. More grasshoppers in 1937 so they stayed until in December when Wm had a severe heart attack and died on December 22. He was brought back home and buried in Nortonville(Nortonville cemetery).(Src: Koenig Family History Letter written by Clara Agnes Koenig).

Obituary: W.C. KOENIG DIES FROM HEART ATTACK-Nortonville residents were shocked to learn of the sudden death of W.C. Koenig, which occurred at 2 a.m. Wednesday at Los Angeles, where they spent the last year at the home of their son, Charles. He suffered a heart attack. Mr. Koenig was born February 16, 1870 at Atchison and he was reared by his grandparents south of Atchison as his mother died when he was small. He came to Nortonville and opened a bakery in the building now used as a garage on Railroad Street. He later moved to the Bank Building, which was destroyed by fire April 19, 1936. He was in business here over 40 years. He was married to Miss Clara Luse of Nortonville and they reared their family here. He is survived by his wife and seven children: Harold of Chicago, Charles of Los Angeles, Margaret of South Dakota, Viola of Chicago, Mrs Mary Lloyd, Miss Clara Koenig and Norman, all of Topeka. Dick died in the summer of 1930. Funeral services will probably be held here Sunday afternoon at two o'clock.(Src: Nortonville newspaper, December, 1937.).