Amanuensis Monday ~ George Haessig's Memories

(Amanuensis Monday is daily prompt, developed by John Newmark at Transylvanian Dutch. It encourages bloggers to transcribe family letters, journals, audiotapes, and other historical artifacts. An amanuensis is someone employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.)

A few years ago, I started my blog,  This Hoosier's Heritage, for several reasons. One of which was to meet new relatives that would help in our quest to keep our heritage alive.

I have been rewarded so richly in this area! One of my first "new cousins" was so kind as to share this paper written by her grandfather, George Philip Haessig, a couple of weeks before his death.

George Haessig's Letter

George Philip Haessig is the brother to my great-grandfather, Henry George Haessig. Their parents are Henry (aka as Heinrich, Henri) and Sophia Kuntz.

The Haessigs-(seated) Sophia Anna Kuntz Haessig, Heinrich (Henri) Haessig. Standing - (L. to R.) George Philip Haessig, Caroline H. Haessig, Henry George Haessig, Emile Salome Haessig, George Jacob Eperle (stepson).

George writes of rafting and sailing on the Mississippi River with his brother, Henry. In all of my years, this is one story I had never heard! Lol

I have transcribed this paper from George below, with only one exception. I added my logo over their exact address for privacy reasons, and fixed a date at the bottom. Otherwise, I have made no changes.

***********************

                                                          November 5, 1961

                                              Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner

On June 17, 1877 in the vicinity of Sunman, Indiana a son was born to Sophia Anna and Henry Haessig. He was named George Haessig. He spent his early life on the farm. He attended school through the seventh grade. As a young man he and his brother Henry went to Mississippi to work in a sawmill his half-brother Jake and his wife had purchased. In their spare time they built rafts and sailed the Mississippi. After two years they were needed back on the farm so the two boys came back hobo-style, stopping at homes on the way for meals.

George met Mary Schutte when he worked on her Uncle Fred’s farm, at Schutte Corners, later named Lookout, Indiana.  Lookout is a little town in southern Indiana made up originally of the Schutte family. Mary worked in Indianapolis.  They were married at Adams Lutheran Church in a beautiful wedding ceremony. Their attendants were Carrie Schutte and Henry Haessig.  They were married by Rev. Tessmer.

George and Mary had their first home near Sunman.  George had his own business in Lookout, Haessig’s Saloon.  They were very happy and had six children, two of which passed on while they were still small.

In 1927, they brought their children Belle, (Isabelle), Betty (Elizabeth), George and Charlie (Charles) to Indianapolis where they settled at **** South Meridian Street.  George Sr. worked at Patrician Art Metals, Watchel and was retired from Stewart Warners. Mary passed away in December 1944 during World War II. Charlie and Virgil, their son-in-law, served in the armed forces (Navy) in the war.  Virgil also served during the Korean War. Mary lived to see all of her children married and to know and love three of her granddaughters: Mary, Barbara and Judy. She is buried at Adams Lutheran Cemetery.

He lived with Belle and Virg in California, the last 10 years coming to Indiana for summers.  He has flown by jet, gone by train and come by car in many trips. He has also traveled in many states including Florida, Texas and all points west.  He lived for two years on an orange ranch within walking distance of San Juan Capistrano, California.

As we enjoy this Pre-Thanksgiving dinner before he takes off for California, let us give thanks for having such a wonderful father, grandpa and great grandpa.

Marriage dates of children:

Betty Haessig to Leo Gallagher    June 9, 1951

George Haessig to Alberta Gamstetter   October 24, 1933

Charles Haessig to Virginia Parish   February 18, 1944

Isabelle Haessig to Virgil Vaughn  November 7, 1936

This was written a couple of weeks before his death, November 21, 1961. He flew home to California on November 18, and was returned to Indiana on November 25, 1961.  He is buried at Adams Lutheran Church Cemetery, beside the love of his life, Mary Schutte Haessig.

Now, How Is He Related to Me?!

Ok, a show of hands, please, if this has happened to you…

You have just uncovered a fascinating story about a relative, and can't wait to tell everyone. You begin the story, and you have your audience hooked...until someone says, “now, how are we related to him?”.

As you start to explain, their eyes start glazing over...and you know you've lost them!

I know, because it has happened to me. A while back, I discovered that one of our cousins would be acting alongside Daniel Radcliffe, in the film, “Imperium”. Exciting news that I couldn't wait to share with my son, right?!  And he was excited, until he had to go, and ask THE QUESTION.  (The answer by the way was my son’s 3rd cousin)

So, I hope this chart might help you, and your audience, as you discover new relatives, and old ancestors.

1. Find the common ancestor(s).

      (Ex. ~ In my story above, that would be Henry & Carrie Haessig.)

   2. Go right across the top blue row, filling in each generation until       reaching the one you are researching. Start with the Common             Ancestor’s child, grandchild, etc.

     (Ex. ~ Henry & Carrie > Ethel > Gene > Diane > My son. My son

     would be the 2nd Great-grandchild of Henry & Carrie.)

  3. Now, repeat Step #2 (going down the left blue column) with the           other line that you are researching.

      (Ex. ~ Henry & Carrie > Clara > Robert > R.G. > The Actor. The               Actor would also be a 2nd Great-grandchild of Henry & Carrie.)

     *I am being vague with some names for privacy’s sake.

     

  4. After finding the two relatives along the top blue row and the             left blue column, trace their lines until they meet in the chart.             This will tell you how two people are related.

      (Ex. ~ My son is 2nd Great-grandchild along the top blue row.              The Actor is 2nd Great-grandchild along left blue column.                     Where they meet in the chart, states they are 3rd cousins.)

I am sure this is as clear as mud right now, but it honestly gets easier each time you try it! I know it works best for me if I always try to keep my right pointer finger on my top row relative, and my left pointer finger on my left column relative. Then, I can just move my fingers until they meet.

You may need to write your relatives’ names in the boxes. Whatever works best for you is the best way to use this chart.

Now...a short quiz to test your newfound skills!

I am related to an Indiana Governor from the early 1900’s. His name is Winfield Taylor Durbin, and our Common Ancestor is Elijah Sparks.

Winfield’s line ~ Elijah >Eliza > Winfield

My line ~ Elijah > Hamlet > Mary > Anna > Carrie > Ethel > Gene > Diane

How are Governor Winfield Taylor Durbin and I related to each other?

The Family Reunion

In a few weeks, I will be heading to the family reunion in a small town in Indiana. In the last few posts, I have been writing quite a bit about my great-great grandparents, Henry & Sophia Haessig, and Thomas & Anna Hillman.

Today, I am turning the spotlight onto their children...and the following generation that brings us together in October to share our linked heritage.

Henry came to Indiana in 1871, and settled into farm life on the eastern side of Ripley County.  Henry, and his wife, Sophia, would have five children together: Caroline, Henry George, George Phillip, Emile and Louise. Sophia also had a son from a previous marriage, George Jacob (Jake).

Everyday, I am learning new things. But, at this moment, I don’t know much about Caroline, Emile, Louise and Jake.

George Phillip Haessig

George was only a name I saw on a few records here and there, until a reunion several years ago. At that reunion, I was introduced to a whole side of the Haessig family that I am getting to know better all the time. At this reunion, one of George’s sons, Charlie, was able to visit for the first time in decades with his first cousin: my 90-something year-old grandma!

Two of George’s grandchildren have been filling me in on interesting stories and Haessig research recently. I will have to share with all of you some of what I have discovered in future posts. But, suffice it to say, if his granddaughter hadn’t been introduced to my blog, I might not have heard about George and Henry rafting on the Mississippi!

Which brings me to my great-grandfather, Henry George Haessig.

Henry George Haessig

Henry met a neighboring schoolteacher named Carrie Mae Hillman. Carrie was the oldest child of Thomas and Anna Hillman. They were married over a century ago, and we still honor their memory today.  

Carrie Mae Hillman

I wish I had been fortunate enough to meet Henry. I have heard many good things about him, but I am sad to say that I never had the pleasure to meet him.

I know that I was extremely blessed to be able to spend a good portion of my childhood getting to know my great-grandma, and most of her children, well. I have been quite fortunate in knowing these wonderful people, and I will not forget these memories I have of them.

The first reunion began as a birthday party for my great-grandmother, Carrie, when she was 95 years old. I may have been a young girl, but I still remember her being able to visit with her little sister, Maude, who was 90 at the time!!

At past reunions, I have learned that four of Henry and Carrie’s sons were in World War II at the same time. I have also discovered that one of my dad’s 1st cousins served on the same Army base as Elvis Presley back in the day!  

Most of Henry & Carrie's children (and spouses). Carrie, the
matriarch, is sitting near the middle of the back row.

So, let’s see if I can discover anything new this year!    

And...I would love to hear what you have learned about your family this year! Tell me all about it!

Henry, Heinrich, Henri...Still a Haessig!

Henry, by any other name, is still a Haessig, right? (To slightly paraphrase Shakespeare! Lol) 

I think that I have procrastinated researching this side of my family tree, because I thought it might be a little harder than some of the others.  Honestly, who wants to start with doing the hard work!

But I am so glad that I have started looking into the Haessigs.  Although, first, I had to start by looking into a little bit of German history, and specifically the Alsace-Lorraine, area. Today's post will focus more on the Haessig family. But, I do plan on getting into more of that in a future post, because it is quite interesting.  It kept changing hands between France and Germany, and this affects some key details in your research.

I have to apologize a little here for just a moment. I have just moved, and have much of my paperwork still in boxes. But I can fill you in on what I have in one handy binder that I kept close to me in the move.  

The following picture is of my 2x-great grandfather, Heinrich, Henri, or Henry, Haessig (depending on what records you find!) and his family.  He was born in the Alsace-Lorraine area, and imigrated to the United States in 1871.  

The Haessigs-(seated) Sophia Anna Kuntz Haessig, Heinrich (Henri) Haessig. Standing - (L. to R.) George Philip Haessig, Caroline H. Haessig, Henry George Haessig, Emile Salome Haessig, George Jacob Eperle (stepson).

I was lucky enough to not only find the passenger list from when he landed in New York, but also from his departure in Hamburg, Germany.

Henri Haessig in the Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1850-1934

New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957, for Henri Haessig

"Henri's" info from N.Y. Passenger List

In these records, he is listed as Henri. In other records that must still be tucked into my boxes, I have found him listed as Heinrich. Later, after living in Indiana for several years, census records will list him as Henry. I am so very glad that they chose to name their son (my great-grandfather) Henry!

I am also very fortunate that my research has lead me to other descendents of Heinrich "Henry" Haessig that I had never met until just the last few years. 

• Charlie Haessig ~ son of George Philip Haessig. Among many accomplishments, Charlie was also a survivor of the bombing at Pearl Harbor. I was lucky to get to know this man at one of our Haessig Family Reunions.
• His four children are all wonderful, too. One of his sons has delved much deeper into the Haessig family history, and has been a godsend as I research our shared history.  (These are living relatives, and I will only add there names as I have permission.)
• I was also introduced to another of George Haessig's grandchildren recently because of this blog.  The "Haessig Researcher" cousin mentioned just above had told his first cousin to check out my blog.  I am glad that she did.  She has written me about some wonderful memories she had of her grandfather, and also filled me in on our family's quilting heritage.

As I started this blog, I had hopes of meeting new relatives as I discovered my heritage.  It looks like I am starting down the right path!  I hope that I meet many more!!

(As I unpack my other papers, and am in touch with more of my Haessig researchers, I will hopefully fill in a few more of the blanks within this post.

Next up, a quick lesson on general German history, and specifically the Alsace-Lorraine area!  Stay tuned!!