Oberhallau to Onondaga

Auer Family History

Die Mühle

The origin of Sketches can be found in the late 1970s when my wife, Nancy, and I sought to populate the branches of the Auer family tree. But, as more leaves appeared on the branches, I was drawn to explore further; to know the family in a more personal way, to gain a knowledge and appreciation of the places they lived and to synthesize a narrative of the manner in which circumstances at home and further afoot may have influenced their lives. The search for Signals had begun.

2. The Original 8, Marty Auer

My 2nd great-grandparents, Anna Maria Surbeck and Hans Martin Auer, immigrated to Syracuse, New York from Oberhallau, Switzerland. Their family included eight children, the Original 8, who serve as the anchor point for this family history. Sketches then look to the past and their ancestors and to the future and their descendants. Four girls and four boys: the Original 8.

3. It’s How You Look Coming In, E. Rugby Auer, Jr.

My Uncle Rug was one of the great storytellers in our family. Rug was one of the few people that could make my father laugh until tears ran down his face. I was disappointed when I first read this story. I saw it as a prescription for looking good even if you weren’t. Today, a little bit further down a spiritual path and a lot less hair on my head, I see this as a prescription for redemption.

4. Meet the Major, Marty Auer

Michael Auer, The Major, was the iconic individual among the Original 8. Cigar maker, firefighter, militia member, Civil War hero, sportsman, successful businessman, husband to Regina and father to Nellie, Nettie and Eva, The Major was bigger than life.

5. Trains, Amy Auer Ruff

Trains have long been a favorite among the Auer family. My great uncle, The Major, boarded a train out of Syracuse to fight in the Civil War. My grandfather entertained me with a Sunday morning trip to the train station and, later, a short ride from the Jamesville flag stop back to downtown station. My father flew from Syracuse to Duluth, MN to attend my wedding to Nancy, but refused to board the return flight; securing instead berths on Amtrak. Here, Cousin Amy channels the Auer love for trains, capturing the essence of a theme shared with her father and others family members.

6. Skate Like Zee Wind, Marty Auer

Those who knew him well would agree that by brother Michael was, in several ways, peculiar. He was perfectly normal in many respects: he was good looking, well liked, a decent student, an accomplished athlete and managed Auer & Co., the family business, through its 150th year. But when it came to interests beyond the walls of the warehouse, he was decidedly peculiar. Some would say obsessed, but in a peculiar way. Mike was obsessed with Fire Departments, walleye fishing on Oneida Lake and hockey. This Sketch relates the “Legend of Butterball”, Mike’s peculiar obsession with skating like ‘zee wind.

7. The Man in the Bow, Marty Auer

My Cousin Mark had a rough go of it. More downs than ups, but he secured redemption before passing in 2008. Kind of a “It’s How You Look Coming In” thing (see Sketches No. 3, written by his father).
Mark and I were quite a pair. We hung together as cousins do and had quite a time of it. I was only 9 months younger than Mark, but I really looked up to him. He was cool! Mark always had the cool o

8. Visiting the Browns, Bill Parrott

This Sketch is a first. The first to focus on New York’s North Country (see Backstory 1), the first to be written by an in-law (see Backstory 2) and the first to offer recipes. My brother-in-law Bill was born and raised in Syracuse, but his heart has always been in the North Country. In this Sketch, Bill takes us way up in the North Country: to Malone and Chateaugay, You can almost smell the French-Canadian Tourtiere cooking.

9. PLACE HOLDER, AUTHOR HERE

1. Some New York State Geography

2. In-Laws