Kissin’ Cousins
Well I’ve got a gal, she’s as cute as she can be.
She’s a distant cousin but she’s not too distant with me.
We’ll kiss all night.
I’ll squeeze her tight.
But we’re kissin’ cousins ‘n that’s what makes it all right,
All right, all right, all right.–Lyrics to “Kissin’ Cousins” sung by Elvis Presley in the 1964 film of the same name
Because so many Hagenbuchs moved to Columbia County, Pennsylvania in the early 1800s—John (b. 1763), Christian (b. 1771), Henry (b. 1772), Andrew (b. 1785) and John (b. 1785)—one could state that by the late 19th century Columbia County was a hotbed of Hagenbuchs! Due to this and the close proximity of these Hagenbuch clans to each other, it’s no wonder that cousins might marry. And, they did!
A few weeks back as I was entering names into Beechroots, I was reminded of these Hagenbuch clans from Columbia County, Pennsylvania. Indeed, there are Hagenbuch “kissin’ cousins.”
Kiss Me Quick by Currier & Ives. Credit: D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts
Back in 1978, I found Ray K. Hagenbuch and his wife, Carolyn, living in Camp Hill, PA. I went and visited Ray (whose birth name was Rea) and over the next several years he helped me to update his family line. Ray and Carolyn moved to Lakeland, Florida in 1983. Ray died in 2002. Genealogically significant is the fact that Ray’s grandparents were both Hagenbuchs.
In 1801, two sons of Michael (b. 1746)—second eldest son of the patriarch Andreas (b. 1715)—moved to Columbia County, PA. These sons were Henry (b. 1772) and Andrew (b. 1785). Andrew was the paternal great great grandfather of Ray K. from Camp Hill. Ray’s line is: Andreas (b. 1715) > Michael (b. 1746) > Andrew (b. 1785) > Henry W. (b. 1812) > Andrew Creveling Hagenbuch (b. 1837) > Andrew Pierce Hagenbuch (b. 1881) > Ray Kirkendall Hagenbuch (b. 1906). It should be noted that Andrew (b. 1837) sometimes has his middle name listed as Clinton instead of Creveling.
In 1806, John (b.1763)—youngest son of the patriarch Andreas (b.1715)—followed his nephews, Henry and Andrew, and moved to Columbia County, PA. There, he and his wife Maria Magdalene (Dreisbach) Hagenbuch raised their eight sons. Their son Jacob (b. 1792) was the maternal great great grandfather of Ray K. Hagenbuch. Ray’s other Hagenbuch line is: Andreas (b. 1715) > John (b. 1763) > Jacob (b. 1792) > Jeremiah (b. 1814) > Margaret Alice Hagenbuch (b. 1843, m. to Andrew Creveling Hagenbuch) > Andrew Pierce Hagenbuch (b. 1881) > Ray Kirkendall Hagenbuch (b. 1906).
To explain it another way: Ray’s great great great grandfather Michael (b. 1746) was a brother to Ray’s other great great great grandfather John (b. 1763). This makes Ray’s grandparents, Andrew Creveling Hagenbuch (b. 1837) and Margaret Alice (Hagenbuch) Hagenbuch 1843, 3rd cousins. Actually, we could state that Ray K. is a 5th cousin to himself!
Kiss Under the Parasol by Ludwig Marold, 1895.
But, the cousin marriages don’t end there. Henry W. Hagenbuch (b. 1812) was married to Elizabeth Creveling. Not only did their son Andrew Creveling Hagenbuch (b. 1837) marry a Hagenbuch (Margaret Alice), but their second son, Thomas W. Hagenbuch (b. 1841) married a Hagenbuch, Esther Almira Hagenbuch (b. 1841)! Thomas W. and Esther had four children: Elmer (b. 1867), Rutter (b. c. 1870), Bessie Eudora (b. 1874), and Franklin (b. 1876).
Let’s follow the cousins’ line of Elmer (b. 1867). His paternal line is: Andreas (b. 1715) > Michael (b. 1746) > Andrew (b. 1785) > Henry W. (b. 1812) > Thomas (b. 1841) > Elmer (b. 1867). His maternal line is: Andreas (b. 1715) > John (b. 1763) > Daniel (b. 1803) > Esther (b. 1841) > Elmer (b. 1867). This makes Elmer’s parents 2nd cousins once removed. As is often stated in these cases of genealogical relationships: are you confused yet?
In both cases, the sons of Andreas—Michael and John—had descendants who married each other, keeping it all in the family. Whereas we are proud to be Hagenbuchs, these families can be doubly proud. Real KISSIN’ COUSINS!
