I’ve become very interested in genealogy as of late. My last name has always been a mystery to my family. It’s extremely rare, in fact I am fairly certain I know of every single person with the same last name, and I could count it on one hand.

So I always figured, we had not been settled long in America or at the very least seem to lack male children to carry it on at all. I also had no clue about the origin of my last name.

I was able to solve a lot of these questions, my family has been in America since the late 1600’s. We just couldn’t spell well at all. (Makes a lot of sense if you know me) So I’m just one of thousands now, but with a very rare misspelling.

So this sparked a huge interest in family tree research, I feel blessed because of at my age of 25, I still have a lot of older relatives around that I can ask information of. I tend to see in other genealogy circles that a lot of the crowd is older and they have few family relatives to ask for information.

I’ve found a lot of gems over the last few months:

1. Starting with a small family tree by a great aunt in 1977 which helped me find out the history behind my last name. (Including a relation to Jesse James!)
2. My wife’s side had a book from the 1930’s dedicated to one branch.
3. And lastly my mother and grandfather showed my the Herbst tree.

My maternal grandmother was a Herbst and in 1967 her brother Herbert Hoover Herbst compiled a family tree back to the landing in America in 1794, by our ancestor Johannes Herbst (b. 1770 d. 1832). (Not the Composer). Starting with one of Johannes’ sons, Herbert Hoover was able to compile a list of what I believe was every single relative up to 1967.

Now, I’d normally consider this fairly impressive. There was no “internets” in 1967, so he actually had to do research the old way. And he even found the name of the ship and the captain of it that sailed to America.

What blew me away, and still does a day later, is the pure beauty of it. It’s a circle with the Herbst coat of arms in the center with every single generation spiraling along the outside. It’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. And to be honest I’m a little disappointed in my relatives (i’m not sure if it was my mother or grandfather) for keeping such a wonderful thing hidden in a cardboard tube for fifty years. The thing should be framed and displayed.

I can’t understand how he did it. I doubt I could reproduce it on a computer, but they did it on what I assume is typewritters. It was printed in little old “Dallastown, Penna” in 1967. So how?

I’m going to attempt to get Kinkos to make some copies of it for me, so I can keep a copy of it and give some to other relatives who may be interest.

I’ve posted a picture of it and while it does it no justice, at least you can see what I’m talking about somewhat.

Herbst Family Tree Photo – Herbert Hoover Herbst 1967

If you happen to be a PA-Herbst and are on the tree and want a copy, shoot me an email.