I am roughly 50 percent German, but I have not taken the time to research my mother’s family line, the Schulz’s.

I should, and I will … someday.

However, I have spent much time pouring over the German heritage of the Hormel family recently. Thanks to Steve Rowe, the great grandson of Ben Hormel, we are in possession of a very complete genealogy of George A. Hormel. Steve worked with a professional researcher in Germany to compile the two-book set which covers both George’s maternal ancestry (the Deckers and Boeckings) and his paternal line (the Hormels and Heisers).

At our recent Social Concerns program I presented the family history to a group who also made and enjoyed German Christmas cookies.

There are many interesting details in the German research documents. You may know that George’s interest in, and talent for meat packing, came mainly through his mother’s (Susanna’s) family. What I didn’t realize was that there were five generations of “Master Butchers” on her Decker side. The Decker’s chosen profession dates back to 1680 in Neuwied, Germany. According to one of our guests at the presentation, Neuwied is pronounced “Noyveet.”

I did my best with pronunciation but am definitely open to learning the proper sounds.

In Susanna’s maternal line, the Boeckings, there were three generations of “Master Butchers” and at least one “Master Baker” also from the Neuwied area. Neuwied was founded in 1653 and attracted new residents based on its toleration of religious differences. Today the population is a nearing 70,000.

George A.’s grandfather (Christian) was a master tailor. He broke the trend of following in his ancestors’ footsteps as his father and grandfather were listed as “Cowherds” and “Swineherds” dating back to 1722 in Schwalbach, Germany. The oldest reference to a Hormel family ancestor goes back to around 1630 with N Hormel living in Nauborn. The family then moved to Griedelbach before settling in Schwalbach.

Christian Hormel immigrated to America in 1834 when the population of Schwalbach, a farming community, had less than 700 people. Today, it is a suburb of Frankfurt and there are over 14,000 residents.

The two families that combined to produce George A. Hormel lived about 60 miles apart in the West central part of Germany.  It took crossing an ocean and settling in Buffalo, New York for them to meet.

Merry Christmas to everyone from the Hormel Historic Home.

Office Closed

December 24 and 25

 History Happy Hour

5:30-7:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 12, 2015

John Haymond, Mower County Historical Society, will present on the various architectural features in Austin.

Free for members of the MCHS, Friends of the Library, or the HHH. $5 for non-members.

Light snacks and cash bar offered.

 Austin Wedding Showcase

12- 3 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015

$4 per person