Taufscheine for Norman Hagenbuch and Maggie Linsenbigler

A few weeks ago, I was leafing through a book my father, Mark, had given to me: To These Parents: A Compendium of Pennsylvania German Taufscheine, Volume One. One Taufschein—a birth and baptism document—caught my eye. It was for Maggie H. Linsenbigler and featured a small drawing of a young girl. According to the document, Maggie was born on May 29, 1896 to Isaac S. and Isabella (Hillegass) Linsenbigler in Milford Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She was baptized a few months later on August 2nd by Rev. Thomas Leinbach.

A quick search in Beechroots showed that Maggie had married Norman Charles Hagenbuch (b. 1893) on June 30, 1917. Norman was the son of Andrew J. Hagenbuch (b. 1852) and Diana (Stroh) Hagenbuch (b. 1872). His Hagenbuch line is as follows: Andreas (b. 1715) > Henry I (b. 1737) > Henry II (b. 1786) > Joseph (b. 1811) > Andrew J. (b. 1852) > Norman Charles (b. 1893).

Taufschein for Maggie H. Linsenbigler (b. 1896) and inscribed by August Baumann. Credit: To These Parents, Volume One by Jon Charles Acker

Additionally in Beechroots, I found a small photograph of a Taufschein for Norman, which likely came from an online source that I foolishly forgot to cite. According to the Taufschein, Norman was born on November 17, 1893 in Lower Milford Township, Lehigh County, PA. He was baptized on February 18, 1894 by Rev. William B. Fox, who was a minister at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Pennsburg, PA.

The two Taufscheine used the same printed template that was made by the Eagle Book Store in Reading, PA. They were also inscribed by one individual who signed his name to both—August Baumann (b. 1840, d. 1906). Research shows that Baumann was a scrivener from Hungary. He spoke fluent German, and spent his time living in New York City and Allentown, PA.

Obituary for August Baumann from the Allentown Morning Call, December 18, 1906

During the last few decades of the 19th century, Baumann made a name for himself in Pennsylvania, which he would visit in the spring or fall. He was known for inscribing Taufscheine in the ornate Fraktur style that was popular with the Pennsylvania Dutch of Lehigh, Berks, and Bucks counties. Not only would Baumann fill in key information about the baptized child, parents, sponsors, and the minister, but he would then draw a small picture of a boy or girl on each document. Baumann’s artwork was a unique piece of history that connected Norman Hagenbuch and Maggie Linsenbigler before they had even met!

After marrying, Norman and Maggie lived in Spinnerstown, PA. Norman worked as a laborer and later as a machinist for Mack Trucks. The couple had three children together: Russel Linsenbigler (b. 1917, d. 2006, m. Frances Myers), LeRoy Linsenbigler (b. 1920, d. 1992, m.1. Miriam Evelyn Gehris, m.2. Dorothy Roeder), and Martine Linsenbigler (b. 1929, d. 2009, m. Richard Boorse). All three children shared the same middle name, Linsenbigler, which was their mother’s family name.

Also, you may have noticed that Russel was born the same year—1917— that his parents, Norman and Maggie, were married. In fact, he was born on June 25, 1917, five days before they married on June 30th!

Photo of a portion of the Taufschein for Norman C. Hagenbuch (b. 1893) and inscribed by August Baumann

Russel married Frances Myers (b. 1920) in August of 1946. According to his obituary, he served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and worked for Bethlehem Steel for 42 years before retiring. My father was in communication with him in 1980 and learned additional facts about his family. Russel and Frances had three children: Barry R. (m. Karen A. Fox) who lives in Victor, New York; Dennis L. (m. Mary M.) who lives in Valhalla, New York; and Karen (m. David H. Dunn) who live in Bethlehem, PA. Russel died on July 13, 2006.

Russel’s wife, Frances (Myers) Hagenbuch, died on February 8, 2015. From the information provided in her obituary, the couple has two grandchildren, Sean and Nicole, whose parents appear to be Barry and Karen Hagenbuch. Sean Hagenbuch is married to Margaret and the couple lives in Bangor, Maine with their children. Nicole Hagenbuch is married to Justin Sprinzen and the couple lives in Washington D.C. with their children.

Norman and Maggie’s next child, LeRoy, was born on January 7, 1920. He served in the Army during World War II, and then went to work for Mack Trucks. On October 21, 1950 he married Miriam Evelyn Gehris (b. 1924). Miriam appears to have been married previously since, when LeRoy died, his obituary mentioned that he had a stepson, Dennis F. Gehris, Sr.

LeRoy and Miriam had two children together: Faith Lynn (b. 1956, m. William Bogert) and Gary Lee (b. 1958, m. Jacqueline Baranowski). Miriam died of cervical cancer at age 35 on January 2, 1960. In 1969, LeRoy married again, this time to Dorothy Roeder who had several daughters to an earlier marriage. LeRoy died on August 31, 1992. He is buried with his first wife, Miriam, at Trinity Great Swamp UCC Cemetery in Lehigh County, PA.

Gravestone for LeRoy and Miriam (Gehris) Hagenbuch

Gary Lee and Jacqueline (Baranowski) Hagenbuch have two daughters: Tanya M. and Dawn Miriam. Sadly, Dawn was killed in a car accident on September 9, 2006. Faith and William Bogert appear to have several children and grandchildren.

Martine, the youngest child of Norman and Maggie, was born on April 7, 1929. She worked as a secretary and bookkeeper for the Milford Square Pants Factory in Quakertown, PA. She married Richard Boorse (b. 1928) on June 28, 1952, and the couple raised a family in Lansdale, PA. They had three children: Patricia (m. Michael Kracht), Susan G., and Richard C. (m. Deborah). Patricia and Susan were twins. According to Martine’s obituary, she has seven grandchildren: Jonathan, Andrew, and Adam Kracht, as well as Brian, Elizabeth, Alexandra, and Brennan Boorse. Martine died on June 13, 2007.

Taufscheine, like those inscribed by August Baumann for Norman C. Hagenbuch and Maggie H. Linsenbigler, are important sources of genealogical information. Yet, they are only a starting point for research. Obituaries, census records, and other documents help to more fully define a family and present their interesting stories.