The Junghen Family in Niederasphe, Germany Since the 1500s

Note -- Genealogical investigations in the early 2020s by Mark Terry Youngkin of San Francisco, CA, building upon earlier work by Ray and Audrey Younkins of Butler, PA and the late Donna (Younkin) Logan of Thurmont, MD, have thrown open a larger window into the understanding of our ancient Junghen roots in Germany. What's clear is that our family line has lived in Niederasphe since about 1530. They continuued over six generations of family until the 1730s when our direct ancestor-brothers Johann "Heinrich" Junghen and Johann "Herman" Junghen migrated to the American colonies and settled in eastern Pennsylvania.

Writes Mark: "The Protestant Reformation occurred at Niederasphe in 1527 when the Catholic church became a Lutheran parish. I believe Herman's father migrated to Niederasphe following the Protestant Reformation between 1527 and 1530 when Herman was born."

These discoveries were sparked by Donna's visit to Niederasphe in 2000 and meeting a distant cousin who lived there, Hans-Wilhelm Junghenn and his wife Elisabeth and then follow-up with the Junghenns in 2001 by Ray and Audrey. Mark obtained copies of the original handwritten Junghen marriage, baptismal and death records in 2020 from the Evangelische Kirche Von Kurhessen-Waldeck from the Landeskirchliches Archiv. Writes Ray Youngkins:

The Niederasphe Church is a landmark as the oldest building in the village. The steeple was erected in the 13th century and the oldest parts of the building in the 15th century. The town today is within the municipality of Münchhausen in the Marburg-Biedenkopf district of central Hesse.

GENERATION 6 - JOHANN HENRICH (or HEINRICH) "Henry" JUNGHEN, son of Johannes Junghen and Elisabeth Wagner, was born on 31 Jan. 1717 in Niederasphe. His godfather was Herman who lived "uber dem Bach" meaning beyond the creek. Henry was landless in Germany and immigrated to America in 1750. Henry died on 20 Feb. 1787 at his homestead in the Tohickon Valley, Haycock Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He married Catharina Scherer on 25 July 1753, at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Upper Saucon Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.

GENERATION 5 - JOHANNES JUNGHEN, son of Weygant and Agnes Junghen, was baptized on 18 Feb. 1672 in Niederasphe. His given (middle) name may be Henrich or Heinrich. He built a new half-timbered house in Niederasphe and owned farmland outside of town. Johannes married Maria Elisabeth Catarina Wagner on 23 Jan. 1694 in the Lutheran Church at Niederasphe. Maria, daughter of Johannes Wagner and Catharina Bayer, was born during 1683 in Siegen. The Wagner family had lived in Siegen for many generations. Johannes died on 26 Sept. 1727 in Marburg- Biedenkopf. Maria died in 1739-1740 in Marburg.

GENERATION 4 - WEYGANT JUNGHEN, son of Andreas Junghen and Elisabeth Hensen, was baptized 03 August 1628 in Niederasphe. Weygant is believed to have owned a house and farmland in Niederasphe. Weygant's wife was named Agnes. Agnes and Weygant died 10 days apart with Weygant's death on 2 Oct. 1676 and Agnes' death on 12 Oct. 1676. They had four children:

GENERATION 3 - ANDREAS JUNGHEN, son of Weygand Junghen and Eylad, was baptized on 28 October 1600. Andreas married Elisabeth Hensen, who was born in Münchhausen. They were married on 12 July 1627 in Niederasphe. Andreas is believed to have owned a house and farmland in Niederasphe. Their children include:

GENERATION 2 - WEYGAND JUNGHEN, son of Herman Junghen, was born around 1555 in Niederasphe. His name may also be spelled Weigand. Weygand married Eylad. Eylad died on 19 Oct. 1629. Weygand is believed to have owned a house and farmland in Niederasphe. Children of Weygand and Eylad include:

GENERATION 1 - HERMAN JUNGHEN, parents unknown, was born circa 1530 in Niederasphe. Wife's name is unknown. Herman's death was in 1603. Herman is believed to have owned a house and farmland in Niederasphe and he may have been the oldest son. Children:

Baptism for Michel Junghen, labeled by Landeskirchliches Archiv staff: "Junghen Taufe Von Michel 1666"

Baptism for Catarina Junghen, labeled by Landeskirchliches Archiv staff: "Junghen Taufe Von Catarina 1669"

Niederasphe Church Records - 1672 to 1676

Baptism for Johannes Junghen, labeled by Landeskirchliches Archiv staff: "Junghen Taufe Von Johannes 1672"

Confirmation for Eulalia Junghen, labeled by Landeskirchliches Archiv staff: "Konfirmation von Junghen Eulalia 1674"

Death record for Agnes Junghen, labeled by Landeskirchliches Archiv staff: "Von Weigandt Tod Agnes Junghen 1676"

Niederasphe and Its Church Today

Approaching Niederasphe from the east. The town is obscured by the hills.

The left half of Niederasphe from the west. The church steeple is visible at far left.

The right-hand half of Niederasphe

Niederasphe nave and steeple foundation as seen from the churchyard.

Left: entrance to the Niederasphe Church yard and building. The yard in former times was a cemetery. Right: the church as seen from the west side.

Left: the entrance to the nave of the church. The red round circle at top right is an old sundial. Right: steeple foundation entrance to the chancel.

Left: the church altar. The wall text to the left reads: "Wer da glaubet und getauft wird der wird selig mieden: wer aber nicht der wird verdammt werden. Roughly translated into English: "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not will be condemned..." The wall text to the right reads (in part): "Go oft von diesem brot und von diesem kelch sollt ihe heren tod verkundiigem." Roughly translated into English: "Go oft of this bread and of this cup shall ye proclaim thy death unto the Lord..." Right: the church pulpit.

Left: the old baptismal font located in the passage between the chancel and nave. Right: a relic from the church's era as a Catholic house of worship -- the "tabernacle" which was locked box in which were kept the Eucharist (bread and wine) for the sacrament of communion.

Left: the organ (background) directly above the nave. Right: street sign in town showing Niederasphe as a midpoint to the globe with distances to such distant places as Berlin, Stockholm, Moskau, Peking, Hong Kong and Tokyo to the left, and London, Montreal, New York, San Francisco, Mexico and Hawaii to the right.

The Old Junghen Homeplace Today - the 'Hampelfarm'

The new dwelling-house (right) built about 1958. It was deserted in the early 2000s, with its owner away in an old-age home.

The old stable and barn of the "Hampelfarm" today, with solid old half-timbered buildings