About This Blog
You’ve found my blog—welcome.
This is a personal space where I share family stories, ancestry research, local history, and the unexpected discoveries that emerge when you start asking questions about the past.
What began with curiosity about my own family gradually became something much larger. A name in an old document leads to a forgotten village. A family story leads to a historical event. A photograph raises more questions than it answers. Along the way, I discovered that family history is rarely just about one family. It is also about the places people lived, the communities they belonged to, and the events that shaped their lives.
Many of the stories on this blog come from conversations with relatives, family papers, photographs, church records, archives, and the occasional lucky discovery. Some questions have been answered. Others remain stubbornly unresolved.
Because I write about real people, I am mindful of privacy. Living individuals may be anonymised where appropriate, and some details may be omitted. Family history is not only about the past; it is also about the people who are still with us.
Why I Started Looking
This journey is dedicated to my uncle Walter.
He was the family historian before I was. He asked questions, collected notes, and tried to understand where we came from. After his death, I inherited his research and promised that I would continue the search.
Many of the answers he never found have since emerged. I only wish he had lived to see them.
Who is Esel?
Now, about Esel.
The blog is named after Esel—not just any toy donkey, but my lifelong companion. In German, der Esel is masculine, but Esel is neither male nor female—just Esel.
My friends know Esel. My family knows Esel. Esel is older than I am and, being a wise and somewhat blind toy donkey, has accompanied me through good ideas, bad ideas, moments of happiness, and moments of frustration.
Naming the blog after Esel seemed entirely appropriate.
How I Write
I prefer short posts. Most are under 500 words.
Some begin with a family memory. Others start with a place, a document, a photograph, or a question. Together they form a collection of stories about families, communities, migrations, forgotten lives, and the long past that still shapes the present.
Music occasionally finds its way into the blog as well, and some posts may borrow their titles from songs that resonate with the story being told.
Join the Journey
Whether you are interested in genealogy, local history, family stories, or simply the lives of ordinary people, I hope you find something here that sparks your curiosity.
Comments are welcome and will be moderated.
Thank you for visiting—and enjoy the journey.