Mangoes and Molasses, Or Maybe Not!
Here is a riddle: When is a mango not a mango and a bottle of molasses something else entirely? Earlier this month, I was on a video call with my good friend, Clint Shearer,...
Author: Andrew Hagenbuch
Family Politics
Like many Americans, politics has been on my mind recently. This led me to wonder: How did our Hagenbuch ancestors participate in the politics of their time? After a bit of digging, I stumbled...
Seeing Ghosts
Ghost (noun): an apparition of a dead person which is believed to appear or become manifest to the living, typically as a nebulous image. As genealogists, my father and I see a lot of...
Six Years On
In the late 1970s, historian James Burke hosted a documentary television program called Connections. In each episode, he traced the history of a modern scientific marvel from its humble beginning to fruition. For instance,...
Lithographs: Decorating Homes in the 19th Century
It’s easy to take for granted the reasonably-priced, high-quality art prints available today. Prior to the 20th century, our ancestors had limited options for decorating the walls of their homes, especially with color artwork....
Drawing Lines to Christian Hagenbuch
Genealogy can be tough, as we trace family lines from the people of the present to those of the past. And, there is no guarantee of success either. Sometimes documents are missing and information...
Making a Hagenbuch Grave Ornament and Finishing Forty-Nine Beans
Along with being an important genealogy resource, cemeteries enable us to remember and connect with those who those from previous generations. In my family, we enjoy visiting the graves of loved ones and picnicking...
Thoughts on Timothy Hagenbuch’s 1841 Letter to Daniel
In September of 1841, Timothy Hagenbuch (b. 1804) of Albany Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania mailed a letter to his brother, Daniel (b. 1816), who was living in Delaware County, Indiana. This letter and another...
Timothy Hagenbuch’s 1841 Letter to His Brother, Daniel
Late in the summer of 1841, Timothy Hagenbuch wrote a letter to his younger brother, Daniel. Daniel was 25 years old and living in Delaware County, Indiana. He had moved there in 1840 to...
Remembering James H. Hagenbuch: Final Thoughts
In late 2018, I stumbled upon the Find-A-Grave page for Private James H. Hagenbuch (b. 1922). That evening I wrote to my father: Hey Dad, While working on my article I found what is...
