The recent discovery of the tombstone of family Patriarch Peter Hasselbacher/ Hazelbaker points out that it is still possible to find or resurrect very old information about our families. I have to believe that there are still wonderful and illuminating old documents, artifacts, or historical knowledge out among us that are begging for an opportunity to be shared more widely before they become lost. The best part is that knowledge of every new piece of information opens the door to evermore rapid accumulation or new facts and even more meaningful associations between what we have. I want to use the opportunity of Craig Hazelbaker’s adventure to stimulate us to even more efforts of discovery.
I think that discovering my family history is one of the most exciting things I have ever done. It has given me an opportunity to learn and even stand where my roots came from, and to understand the forces that shaped my family development. I find that leaning about my own family history has also taught me more about the history of the world than I ever new! This literal voyage of discovery has given me the opportunity to travel to wonderful places. It is one thing to drive around the Old- and even the New-country as a tourist. It is quite another to ride a bicycle or walk through the same villages and countryside that your forefathers did 400 years ago. I cannot tell you how moved I was to be able to speak names aloud in prayers of gratitude to people who labored in difficult times enabling me to write this today. I think that for many I was saying names aloud for the first time in centuries. They have not been forgotten by us. This hobby has given me an opportunity to expand and use my interests in photography and computers– to play! Not in the least, I have had the opportunity to meet new family and friends, and to strengthen my bonds to old family. What I am getting at here is that we need to recruit more or our young (and old) folk into this activity that in its essence must be collaborative. This stuff is as fun and exciting as anything else we can do. I am forced to share the experience and opportunity. Help by getting more involved yourselves, and bringing your own family into the effort.
If you have old documents, photographs, or information, let me help you make them available to the rest of the family on this website. I guarantee you will get back more than you share: I always do. Just drop me a note and we will find the best way to do it.
I encourage you to leave a reply to this entry. That is why I put it here! Click the “Comments” button just below. What did you know about Old Peter’s Grave? What family treasures of information do you have to share? Let me know quickly if you have any difficulties doing so. I am learning how to do this too.
Peter Hasselbacher
Hi, I just discovered all this info on Peter Hazelbaker/Hasselbacher yesterday. He was my fourth great-grandfather. I have had a long time interest in my Hessian soldier ancestor., especially about his birth and parents he left behind in Germany. I believe the line descended through Peter’s son Daniel, then Henry and then my great-grandfather was John Wesley Hazelbaker who was an early pioneer in WY. His daughter Ida Mae Hazelbaker Proctor Swain, my grandmother, was a homesteader in WY in the early 1900’s.
I enjoy researching ancestry and am trying the free 14-days on Ancestry.com. Many thanks to the hard-working researchers who have presented this wonderful information. Joanne Best, Bethel, VT
I am a descendennt of Peter Hazelbaker through his son Daniel Hazelbaker. I have been to Washington County Pennsylvania when young and found some old Hazelbaker grave sites , but I could never locate the area where Peter Hazelbaker or his wife were buried. Glad some one in the family did. His Son my 3rd.Grt. Grandfather Daniel Hazelbaker married Elizabeth Johnson my 3rd. Grt. Grandmother. Elizabeth died in Pennsylvania. Daniel went to Blue Creek, Ohio . Then to Delaware County, Indiana 1n the 1840’s.
Sincerely ; David F. Walser
Anderson, IN.
Peter Hazelbaker is the grandfather of my great great grandfather Henry Hazelbaker, I am new to this but I am having a lot of fun finding new imformation on the family. Tamela lee Gentry Ar
As a descendant of John Shively Hazelbaker, 1820-1905, I was thrilled to read about someone actually doing what I had dreamed of for a long time. I had collected maps and areial views which had waited in my Hazelbaker folder for several years. I never found the opportunity to visit the area. Thanks for the effort and excellant article!
John Burton
Omaha, Nebraska
What else do we know about this old graveyard? It is said that Peter’s young son, Peter was buried next to his father. Is that his little stone alongside the obelisk we see in the photograph Craig shares with us. Who else is there? Is there a plot map of the graves? That is a precious piece of land. Who has something to share?
I am the 2G grandaughter of Margaret Hazelbaker Ralstin who is the great-granddaughter of Peter Hazelbaker. I came across this site looking for information on her son Henry Franklin Ralstin. I was thrilled with Craig Hazelbaker’s discovery of Peter Hazelbaker’s gravestone. I have enjoyed learning of the origins of the family. I am looking forward to discovering more.
Thank you so much for all of the effort you have put into collecting the information and putting it together in a way that can be shared.
Suzanne
Let me be the first to test the comment reply on the new site.
I do hope many reply and share stories. It haunts me that there MUST be some relics somewhere of Peter or his sons. It is fascinating history to look into, and I’m not done researching.
Craig