We begin today’s post with the birth of a baby boy in Wittenberg, but this story does not end there. This boy ended up living in two other states during his life. That baby boy was named Curt Treumund Harnagel, who was born on April 5, 1896. That means today would be Curt’s 130th birthday. … More Curt Harnagel – Wittenberg to Toledo to Fort Worth (and an Easter Baby)
Maria Magdalena Hansen was born on April 27, 1875, so not only is she today’s birthday girl, but she would be celebrating a special 150th birthday. Maria was the daughter of Peter and Sophia (Poehner) Hansen. She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Perryville. We can take a look at her baptism record below. … More Emanuel and Maria – Perryville Hoffstetter’s
I am going to be telling the story of Maria Wilhelmine Gruenwald today. Maria was born on July 22, 1849, although there is a bit of debate about whether she was born on that day in 1848. This transcription of her baptism record from a parish in Germany says she was born in 1848. All … More Gerler or Ehrler?
I often use the term “empty nest”, and I am sure you are well aware of its meaning. Today, our birthday boy, whose surname was Vogel, which means bird in German, never had an empty nest. In fact, because he had 14 children with his 2 wives, and also took in some other children who … More August and His Nest Full
I am excited to write today’s story. It is a story that not only briefly touches my family tree, but it is also one the enters my neighborhood. When I bought my uncle’s property and moved to Altenburg 14 years ago, I became a neighbor of Elvira Weber, her son, Butch, and her daughter, Betty, … More Weber’s in My Neighborhood
When I wrote my book, Wittenberg ’04: Coming of a Railroad, I used a character named Jesse Hodge. Perhaps I should have done better research because Jesse’s surname was actually Hodges. I used the Hodge spelling because that is the spelling of his name that is found in our German Family Tree. I can tell … More Green Forest Girl Finds Wittenberg Wood Worker
On June 12, 1845, Carl Friedrich Gruenwald was born in Germany, so today would be his 178th birthday. We have evidence that his father was Friedrich George Gruenwald, but all we know about his mother is that she died in 1854 and has a grave marker in the Concordia Lutheran Cemetery in Frohna. She is … More Charles and Hanna – The Gruenwald’s
There are a lot of Roth’s living in East Perry County, and most of them can trace their roots back to the man who will be discussed in this post today. I will call him today’s birthday boy, but there is a bit of a debate about his date of birth. I will display evidence … More The ‘Riginal Roth
Let me set the scene for today’s story. Back in the 1880’s, some Perry County residents moved across the Mississippi River to form a new congregation in Jacob, Illinois that was named Christ Lutheran Church. Several other immigrants settled in that area and joined that congregation, but there always was a close connection between the … More Another Farrar-Jacob Duo
Today would be August Johann Kutscher’s 125th birthday. He was born on March 24, 1897, the son of Martin and Diamanda (Leine) Kutscher. A previous post, Diamanda’s Dozen, told the story of August’s parents. August was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in New Wells, but since I am away from Altenburg today, I am not … More Pocahontas Blacksmith
