Family Folklore and the Tale of Hungry Sam Miller
Genealogists deal with more than names, places, and dates. They must also attempt to separate fact from fiction when it comes to the ever told family stories. I am always careful who I tell...
Category: History
A Picture’s Worth: Butchering Day Redux
“A picture is worth a thousand words” is an oft-heard phrase first coined in 1911 by newspaper editor Arthur Brisbane. In the article Butchering Day Memories From the Farm – Part 1, I mentioned...
Hagenbuch Coat of Arms
The Hagenbuch family has a unique coat of arms which even now is still used by the town of Hagenbuch in Switzerland. The coat of arms depicts a single beech tree surrounded by a...
Hagenbuchs Face Danger on Pennsylvania’s Frontier
It’s difficult to imagine the hardships faced by Andreas Hagenbuch and his family family upon their arrival in Pennsylvania in 1737. Outside of cities like Philadelphia, there were few amenities or protections. Frontier areas...
Sarah Foust: School Teacher in the Early 1900s
On November 1, 1984 Ethel Lillian Bibby, aged 75 years old, died in a nursing home in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. Unmarried, few of her immediate family were still living. Mark Hagenbuch, Ethel’s 2nd cousin once...
Expanding the Hagenbuch Homestead
The Hagenbuch homestead was established on November 4, 1741 when Andreas Hagenbuch received a land warrant for 150.5 acres. The homestead was situated in what is today Albany Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Read more...
Establishing the Hagenbuch Homestead
Having arrived in Pennsylvania in 1737, Andreas Hagenbuch, his wife Maria Magdalena, and their two children settled in Berks County in 1738. There, they acquired a land warrant for a 200 acre parcel in...
Andreas Hagenbuch Acquires Land in Berks County
Andreas Hagenbuch and his family landed in Philadelphia on September 18, 1737. By March 25, 1738, they had a warrant for 200 acres of land in what is today Berks County, Pennsylvania. As noted...
Christmas for the Hagenbuchs in Berks County
We all have fond memories of Christmases long ago. The snow seemed deeper, the stoves in our homes warmer, and the excitement of that special time seemed more intense. How did our early ancestors...
Settling in Pennsylvania in 1737
Andreas Hagenbuch and his family landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 18, 1737. They had endured many hardships during their months aboard the Charming Nancy, including poor food, disease, and cramped quarters. However, many...
