Working on Hansman ‘Chronicles’ & Genealogy
For the last few months I have been working on A.R. Hansman’s Chronicles and H. Hansman’s (Family) Genealogy. A.R. (August Robert) “Gus” Hansman was my husband’s maternal grandfather. In 1919 while ill waiting for surgery, he wrote the “chronicles” of his life. His uncle H. (Hermann) Hansmann compiled the Hansmann genealogy back to 1694. Hermann, an immigrant from Prussia, went back to Germany to do some of the research. Translations of early church records are included along with a hand-written copy of family history from their grandmother which is the documentation. A.R. was not an immigrant but his father was.
A.R. Hansman’s writings are fascinating and the man could write. A.R. or Gus, as many called him, was a journalist but had other interesting occupations. Like — a member of the Secret Service. Yes — the “real” Secret Service. His “chronicles” are 75-80 pages; Hermann’s hand-written genealogy & documentation is 90 pages.
My mother-in-law added some notes & headings to the margins of the “chronicles” and inserted some pictures. The latter did not photocopy well but I now have her documents, letters, journals, photos (which is h-u-g-e) and will find–eventually–the original pictures.
Creating three “books” for family
The first is the “Chronicles” with supplmental notes about the history & people. His description of Kansas City right after the Civil War is especially interesting. As people are mentioned, I’m researching about the individual to support A.R.’s writings. He knew some interesting people. And was very descriptive about events such as going to the World’s Fair as a child or getting lost in a sea of ladies crinoline skirts when very young.
The second is H. Hansmann’s Genealogy which is being entered in my genealogy software and supplemented. The early Hansmann’s were worked in pewter. One was a linen weaver. Another a shoe maker. One served in Napoleon’s army. Often there are three given names which seem to continue through the first generation after immigrating to America.
The third is the documentation H. Hansmann (and I believe others) compiled from “… church books and other sources”. For example, “1680 Sept. 28 the old Mrs. Hansmann from the Ovelgonne buried”. This must have been what was written (in German) because within the genealogy itself, her name is given. “Sponsors” of a baptism are mentioned when provided.
At the same time I’m delving into my mother-in-law’s letters–she carbon-copied almost all letters. Night before last I broke a small brick wall. Buried in a paragraph was after Mom married Ben … A.R. had died and we never could find a record of her marriage to John Madden which was the name we had. Turns out his name was not John at all. Like so many, he went by his middle name which was probably Benjamin “Ben”. And with that I found his full name, Michael B. Madden -and- a notice in the Los Angeles Times of their “Intent of Marriage” notice. Even though, “Ben” Madden is not a ‘relative’ of my husband’s line, it has always bugged me I couldn’t find a record of their marriage or anything about him. Thanks to my mother-in-law’s carbon copies and one just four little words, we now have the correct name.
So, I have been having fun. My desk is strewn with papers although I do have to reserve desk space for my “research assistant”. The books are using the Word non-fiction template which, for me, is easier to use than the Scrivener same-type template.