Analysis of 1938 Hagenbuch Reunion Attendance
As written previously in other articles, I believe myself fortunate that I grew up in an extended family which included great aunts, great uncles, my grandparents, first and second cousins of my father, and many other relatives. So, as a boy who was interested in family history, I would often ask these relatives questions about Hagenbuchs who I would find living not so far away from our Hagenbuch enclave near Washingtonville, PA. Among these places was the Bloomsburg area where I knew my great great grandfather, William Hagenbuch (b. 1807), had left in 1853. The answer I received was that the relationship with those Hagenbuchs was unknown. (For reference: William b. 1807 < Henry b. 1772 < Michael b. 1746 < Andreas b. 1711.)
Interestingly, at the first Hagenbuch reunion in 1938 which mostly represented the descendants of William Hagenbuch, there were some relatives present who were certainly not from William Hagenbuch’s direct line. And, there are names listed that I do not know; who were probably friends of some of those folks.
The attendees who are a mystery to me appear towards the end of the list: Charles S. John, John C. Steinruck, Mrs. Carl H. Hess, Corinne Hess, Mr. and Mrs. Leland Knepper, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Knepper, Ernest Richie, Ivan Richie. Although there are Hesses and Kneppers listed in my vast collection of family lines, these folks don’t seem to be directly related.
Two of the people who at first do not seem to be related – Mrs. Frank Harris and Miss Elsie Harris – are from the line of Samuel Hagenbuch (b. 1806), brother to William Hagenbuch (b. 1808). So, although my boyhood question concerning the relationship of Bloomsburg area relatives was answered with negatives, there were two people of that line present at the 1938 reunion.
The listed Mrs. Frank Harris was Susan “Stahl” Harris (b. 1880) and accompanying her was her daughter, Elsie who was 23 years old. Susan was the granddaughter of Samuel and Susanna “Hess” Hagenbuch. As for Mrs. Carl Hess and Corinne Hess, these are probably relatives of Mrs. Frank (Susan) Harris through Samuel Hagenbuch’s wife who was Susanna Hess. The Leland Kneppers and Lewis Kneppers could be relatives, since William and Samuel’s uncle, Jacob Hagenbuch (b. 1777), was married to Magdalena Knepper. Further research on this and the other unknown people (surnames of John, Steinruck, and Richie) will be done to decide if indeed they were related to the Hagenbuchs. It is also worth noting that on the list is Eleanor Sechler who was a first cousin to “Mrs. Clarence Hagenbuch” née Hannah Margaret Sechler (b. 1889).
The remaining names of people attending that first reunion read like a “who’s who” of the William Hagenbuch line. Many of these people were featured in the photo which accompanied the article on the Sunday School Picnic at Knoebels Grove in 1937. In fact, one wonders if the idea of a family reunion to be held in 1938 came to fruition because of that early picnic.
Members of the Hagenbuch family at a Sunday school picnic held at Knoebels Grove in 1937.
Some of those attending the reunion but missing from the 1937 photo were members of the Tilman and Mary Ann “Hagenbuch” Foust family, Mary Ann being a daughter of William Hagenbuch. The Foust family members are: the Bibbys, Fousts, Reeds, and “Mrs. Herbert Willis” (who was Alice Ethel Foust, granddaughter of Tilman and Mary Ann Foust).
Another Hagenbuch group not in the 1937 photo were represented at the reunion by Luther Hagenbuch, Sr. (b. 1896) and his wife Carrie “Beaver” Hagenbuch. Luther, Sr. was a grandson of William Hagenbuch. His and Carrie’s children attending were: James, Fred, Luther Jr., Mary Belle, John, and Glenn.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles White attended the reunion. Martha (Mattie) “Hagenbuch” White was a grand daughter of William Hagenbuch through his son Joseph (b. 1852) and first wife Sarah “Robbins” Hagenbuch. Joseph was a brother to Hiram, Sr. (b. 1847) whose children and their descendants make up the bulk of the reunion list. Hiram and Mary Ann “Lindner” Hagenbuch’s children who attended the reunion or were represented by descendants include: Kathryn “Hagenbuch” Roat, Julia R. Hagenbuch, Percy Hagenbuch, Israel Hagenbuch, Franklin Walter Hagenbuch, Clarence Hagenbuch, Hiram (Harry) Hagenbuch Jr., and Luther Hagenbuch Sr.
Also present at the reunion but missing from the 1937 photo were the Bogart and Beaver families, perhaps because they were not attending Oak Grove Church at that time. The two daughters of Percy Hagenbuch (b. 1880) were Bernice “Hagenbuch” Bogart and Mary “Hagenbuch” Beaver. Mary Beaver is present (Mrs. Lester Beaver) as is her husband and three sons. Although, Bernice’s husband and two children are present, she is not listed. Bernice was the historian of the family for many years, so it is suspected she was ill that day.
Other Hagenbuchs present in 1938 but not in the photo are: Hiram J. and William Hagenbuch, sons of Franklin Walter (b. 1890) and Pearl “Steinman” Hagenbuch; Walter, son of Israel (b. 1883) and Minnie “Keefer” Hagenbuch; John R. and Franklin, sons of Percy (b. 1880) and Gertrude “Hill” Hagenbuch; Mrs. Cyrus (Cleota “Marr”) Hagenbuch (wife of Cyrus Hagenbuch, a son of Percy) and their children Stanley and Jean; “Harry” Hiram, Jr. (b. 1886) and his son Roy Hagenbuch; Charles, son of Clarence (b. 1889) and Hannah “Sechler” Hagenbuch; and Julia R. Hagenbuch (b. 1884).
Three ladies need mentioning. Mrs. Pearl Zechman is Pearl “Steinman” Hagenbuch Zechman who was widowed in 1930 when her husband, Franklin Walter (b. 1890) died. By 1938 she had remarried John Zechman. Irene Faus and Augusta Spangler would marry brothers, Homer Hagenbuch and Wilmer Hagenbuch, respectively.
Finally, there is a listing which exhibits the far reach of Hagenbuch relationships – that of Mrs. Clara L. Reichard. At first, it was proposed that this was Emma “Hagenbuch” Reichard (b. 1854) daughter of William Hagenbuch and married to John Reichard. However, her name being Emma, “Clara L.” is not correct. Upon further research, Clara L. “Hagenbuch” Reichard (b. 1862) was found to be married to James Reichard. She lived in the Bloomsburg area and was the daughter of another William Hagenbuch (b. 1838) near Orangeville, PA. This William’s line is: William b. 1838 < Isaac b. 1801 < John b. 1763 < Andreas b. 1711. Here is even more evidence that Hagenbuchs of different regions were interested in knowing how they were related and wanted to join together in a common heritage.
The Hagenbuch reunion clippings hold important information, and it’s to the credit of the family that the reunions are still held to this day almost 80 years after that first gathering in 1938.
Note: As this article goes to press, information is being found concerning the relationship of some of the unknown relatives listed above. A future article will detail that information along with the attendance of the 1939 Hagenbuch reunion.
