Around these here parts, almost everyone knows Ben Kasten. Over the years, he has been the “go to” guy when you needed small engine work done or you needed to buy a new mower. Ben’s given name is Bob Kasten, but almost everyone calls him by his middle name, Ben. I soon discovered after moving … More The First Ben Kasten
Like yesterday, today you will read a story about a birthday girl who was called “Lena”. Caroline “Lena” Josephine Engelhart was born on March 19, 1879. Before I move on, let me discuss the spelling of this surname. I have seen it spelled either Engelhardt or Engelhart, with the “d” or without. Most go without … More An Engelhart-Kasten Couple
I mention Gerard Fiehler quite often in my blog posts. He is such an important asset for our museum and assists me so much when I am researching for these posts. Today, you will read the story of one set of his great grandparents. We might describe them as the Schilling great grandparents. Also, from … More Gerard’s Great Grandparents
The post today will tell the tale of two Heinrich Kasten’s, a father/son combo. I came across this story today as a result of Heinrich Johann Hermann Kasten being born on December 7, 1867, the son of Heinrich Johann Christoph and Theresia (Lueders) Kasten. We have this photo of Henry’s parents. Some Ancestry families call … More Copious Kasten Kids
The beginning place for this post is a birthday that took place on this day 150 years ago. Normally, such a starting point leads to that person finding a spouse, discussing a wedding, which is usually followed by the birth of several children, and ending with a husband and wife dying and being buried. This … More Kasten Caretakers
Several days ago, I wrote the post, The Kasten-Ludwig Couple. Today I will share a story with a similar title. However, the setting for today’s tale is different. The post written recently was set in Shawnee Township of northern Cape Girardeau County. Today, the story will be set in Union Township of Perry County. The … More The Kasten-Telle Couple
I found another person who would have been celebrating his 150th birthday today. Theodore Herman Kasten was born on October 11, 1870, the 6th child of Henry and Theresia (Lueders) Kasten. These days, if a couple has their 6th child, people might think they would likely be done having children. Not so with this Kasten … More The Kasten-Ludwig Couple
On May 20th, I wrote the story of Ole’ Ben Hopfer, who married Emma Vogel on that date back in 1906. Today, you will read an account of the life of Ole’ Ben’s little sister, Martha Hopfer. And it turns out that Martha married Emma’s older brother, John Vogel about 4 months after the other … More Ole’ Ben’s Younger Sister
Benjamin Hopfer and Emma Vogel were married on this date 114 years ago. Although Emma lived to the ripe, old age of 92, her husband, Ole’ Ben Hopfer, oulived her, making it into three-digit territory. We will take a look at this couple today. Benjamin Hopfer was born on November 10, 1882, the son of … More Ole’ Ben Hopfer
Today, you are going to read the story of an amazing woman who gave birth to 13 children. Yet she came short of outdoing her own mother, who had 15 children. That mother may have to be a story for another day, but today we will tell the tale of Julia Kasten who is also … More Mama Wunderlich
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