hegnauer.family
hegnauer.family
H0012 The study's number for this person. Cite it and it will always lead here, whatever the spelling.
· A life in the study

Leonard Hegnauer

Born at Prairie City in 1872 and died at Spokane in 1963.

born 22 Mar 1872 at Prairie City, Bates died 10 Nov 1963 at Spokane, Spokane

From Igis to the Pacific
Also written Leonhard Hegnauer Jr.

Leonard Hegnauer was born on 22 March 1872 near Prairie City, in Bates County, Missouri, a son of Leonhard Hegnauer, a Union veteran from Igis in the Swiss canton of Graubünden, and his wife Susanna Katharina Hirschi, of Canton Bern.1–4 He was the middle one of their five children who grew up, and a grandson of Luzius Hegnauer, who had brought his family to America in 1856.5–7 Leonard left the farm for school and college, and he spent his working life as an agronomist, first at the Oregon Agricultural College and then for many years at the State College of Washington at Pullman; he died at Spokane in 1963, aged ninety-one.2, 8–9

Bates County

He grew up on the family's farm in Pleasant Gap Township with his elder sister Mary and brother Christian, his younger sister Katherine and, from 1887, his little brother Robert Lucius.5–6 Their mother bore seven children in all, and by 1900 two of them had died: a daughter, Margaret M., and probably an elder brother, Emil, born about 1870.4, 6, 10 A studio portrait of the family, taken when the children were grown, shows Leonard standing behind his parents.11

Leonard went to the Appleton City Academy, just over the county line in St. Clair County.2 In January 1891 he was playing solo alto in the Academy's military band, and at the commencement of 1 June 1893 "Leonhard Hegnauer, Jr." graduated, giving an oration titled "The True Spirit" and singing in a quartet.12–13 He went on to the University of Kansas, where he took an A.B. in 1900.2 That June, aged twenty-eight and still counted as a student in his parents' household, he was the census enumerator for his home township; one of his sheets, taken on 16 June, includes the household of his aunt, Barbara Kamm.6, 14

Agriculture

On 24 December 1901, at Watseka, Iroquois County, Illinois, Leonard married Clara Edith Baker, who had been born in Illinois in 1877.2, 15–16 He studied agriculture at the University of Illinois, which lists him with its class of 1906 as a Bachelor of Science in agriculture, and the couple were living at Urbana in 1910. Their elder daughter, Dorothea Virginia (Dorothy), was born on 14 April 1909, and a second daughter, Helen Edith, followed on 23 May 1911.2, 17

By June 1910 Leonard was working in Oregon as an agronomist and extension lecturer of the Oregon Agricultural College at Corvallis.8 By November 1916, when his father died, he had moved to Washington, and for the rest of his working life he was an extension agronomist of the State College of Washington at Pullman.4, 8–9, 18 The family lived at Pullman in 1920, 1930 and 1940; Clara went by her middle name, Edith. By 1930 they owned their house at 1904 Indiana Avenue, valued at $6,000, and Leonard gave his work as instructor at the college.19–21 In December 1933 their daughter Helen was married at Pullman to Richard W. Yeo.22

Spokane

In retirement Leonard and Clara moved to the Spokane Valley; in April 1950 they were living at Opportunity.23 Clara died at their home on North Ella in Spokane on 29 August 1951, after almost fifty years of marriage, and Leonard gave the particulars for her death certificate. She was buried at Pullman.16

Leonard lived on for twelve more years. For his last four he lived at the Sharon Arms in Spokane, and there he died of heart failure on 10 November 1963, aged ninety-one. His unmarried daughter Dorothy, who also lived in Spokane, gave the details for his certificate.9, 24 He was buried beside Clara in the City Cemetery at Pullman on 13 November 1963.9, 25 His obituary appeared in the Spokane Spokesman-Review on 12 November, naming among his survivors his daughters, Dorothy and Mrs. Richard W. Yeo, and his brother Robert.26

What we know

Proven

  • Birth at Prairie City, 1872
  • Graduation at Appleton City, 1893
  • Degrees, 1900 and 1906
  • Census enumerator at Pleasant Gap Township, 1900
  • Marriage to Clara Edith Baker at Watseka, 1901
  • Agronomist at Corvallis, 1910 and 1916
  • and 4 more
  • 10 homes, from the census and other records

What's still open

  • Sources. His Washington death certificate and his wife's were read on the images (Washington State Digital Archives), as were the 1880 census, the 1900 census sheet he signed as enumerator, the Appleton City Journal pages and the University of Illinois alumni record.
  • Career (to confirm). The alumni record describes him as "Professor & Chief", but the department is elided in the transcription made so far, and it gives an address at 915 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, of uncertain date.
  • Obituary index. com index of his obituary (Semi-Weekly Spokesman-Review, 12 Nov 1963), read on 27 Sep 2026, gives his residence as Spokane, burial on 13 Nov at Pullman, his children "Dorothy Hegnatier" [Hegnauer] and "Richard W.

Sources

Sources 1–4

1 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1872
2 The Alumni Record of the University of Illinois, entry 2681, 1872
3 Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1843
4 History of Bates County, Missouri, 1918

Sources 5–7

5 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Pleasant Gap Township
6 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Pleasant Gap Township, 1872
7 New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists, 1856

Sources 8–9

8 Newspaper items naming Leonard Hegnauer, 1910
9 Washington State Department of Health, Certificate of Death, 1963

Source 10

10 Find a Grave, memorial 78556009, 1870

Source 11

11 Studio portrait of Leonard Hegnauer, 2012

Sources 12–13

12 Appleton City Journal, 1891
13 Appleton City Journal, 1893

Source 14

14 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Pleasant Gap Township

Sources 15–16

15 Illinois, County Marriages, 1901
16 Washington State Department of Health, Certificate of Death, 1951

Source 17

17 United States Census, 1910, 1872

Source 18

18 Gone to His Reward, 1916

Sources 19–21

19 United States Census, 1920, 1874
20 1930 United States Federal Census, 1904
21 United States Census, 1940, 1872

Source 22

22 Washington, County Marriages, 1911

Source 23

23 United States, Census, 1950, 1872

Source 24

24 United States, Social Security Death Index, 1909

Source 25

25 Find a Grave, memorial 70188943

Source 26

26 U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s–current, 2026

Life in time

22 Mar 1872

Birth , Prairie City, Bates, Missouri, United States

proven Sources 1, 2, 6, 9, 25

How we know

  1. 1872 Birth 22 Mar 1872 · Prairie City, Bates · proven

    His own Social Security application (1948) and his University of Illinois alumni record give 22 Mar 1872 at Prairie City. His death certificate gives 22 Mar 1872, Missouri.

    His Social Security application, which he made himself in 1948, gives 22 Mar 1872 at Prairie City, Missouri, and names his parents Leonard Hegnauer and Susanna K. Hirsch[i]; the University of Illinois alumni record, published in his lifetime, gives the same day and place and names his parents in full; the 1900 census gives Mar 1872, and his death certificate and Find a Grave give 22 Mar 1872. The 22 May 1872 of the old family tree and of WikiTree is a misreading: the application, re-read on 27 Sep 2026, says March.

    Sources 1, 2, 6, 9, 25

  2. 1880 Residence Pleasant Gap Township, Bates · proven

    Leonard, son, 8, born Missouri, in the household of his parents Leonard and Susan, with his sisters Mary C. and Susan [Katherine] and his brother Christian.

    His parents and brother and sisters identify the household (image read in the survey of his father's records; the family is indexed as "Waguner").

    Source 5

  3. 1893 Graduation 1 Jun 1893 · Appleton City, St. Clair · proven

    "Leonhard Hegnauer, Jr." among the academic graduates of the Appleton City Academy; he gave an oration, "The True Spirit", and sang in a quartet at the commencement.

    The Appleton City Journal's account of the commencement names him with the suffix Jr., which separates him from his father; his alumni record says he was prepared at the Appleton City Academy. In January 1891 he had played solo alto in the Academy's military band.

    Sources 2, 12, 13

  4. 1900 Residence Pleasant Gap Township, Bates · proven

    Leonard, son, born Mar 1872, 28, single, student, in the household of his parents Leonhard and Susan K. Hegnauer, with his brother Robert L.

    His parents and his brother Robert identify the household; the index gives the birth month and year (index read; image not re-read).

    Source 6

  5. 1900 Degrees between 1900 and 1906 · proven

    A.B., University of Kansas, 1900; B.S. in Agriculture, University of Illinois (entered with the class of 1906 in the university's alumni record).

    His University of Illinois alumni record lists both degrees; no diploma or university register has been read.

    Source 2

  6. 1900 Census enumerator Jun 1900 · Pleasant Gap Township, Bates · proven

    Enumerator of the 1900 census for Pleasant Gap Township (Enumeration District 18); the sheet that includes his aunt Barbara Kamm's household was taken on 16 June 1900 "by Leonard Hegnauer".

    The heading of sheet 7 of the district, read on the image, names Leonard Hegnauer as the enumerator. Only one other Leonard Hegnauer lived in the township, his father, who was fifty-seven and deaf (1890 veterans' schedule); the son was then a student of twenty-eight.

    Source 14

  7. 1901 Marriage, with Clara Edith Baker 24 Dec 1901 · Watseka, Iroquois · proven

    Illinois county marriage record (FamilySearch indexes). The groom's birth is indexed as 1871 at Prairie City, Bates County, Missouri, and his parents as Leonard Hegnauer and Susan K. Hirschi. The register image has not been read.

    Two FamilySearch indexes of the Iroquois County marriage register give Leonard Hegnauer and Clara Edith Baker, married 24 Dec 1901 at Watseka, and name the groom's parents exactly as Leonhard and Susanna Hegnauer. His University of Illinois alumni record gives the same date: "Married Clara Edith Baker, Dec. 24, 1901." They were husband and wife in every census from 1910 to 1950, and he was the informant on her death certificate in 1951.

    Sources 2, 15

  8. 1909 Daughter born: Dorothea Virginia Hegnauer family event

    Their page →

  9. 1910 Residence Urbana, Champaign · proven

    Leonard, born about 1872 in Missouri, with his wife "Dora E." [Clara E.], born about 1878 in Illinois, and their daughter Dorothea V., born about 1909 in Illinois.

    FamilySearch's index of the 1910 census at Urbana; the wife's name is a misreading of Clara E., and the daughter Dorothea V. is the Dorothea Virginia born on 14 Apr 1909 in his alumni record. The image has not been read.

    Sources 2, 17

  10. 1910 Agronomist between 1910 and 1916 · Corvallis, Benton · proven

    Agronomist and extension lecturer of the Oregon Agricultural College (now Oregon State University), Corvallis, as reported in the Oregon press from June 1910.

    Items in the Morning Oregonian (from 20 Jun 1910) and the Daily Astorian (1916) name Leonard Hegnauer of the Oregon Agricultural College; no other Leonard Hegnauer is known in the West. The items were found in a newspaper search but have not been transcribed, so the exact titles and years of his appointment are not recorded.

    Source 8

  11. 1911 Daughter born: Helen Edith Hegnauer family event

    Their page →

  12. 1916 Residence Nov 1916 · Washington, United States · proven

    "The son Leonard is a resident of Washington" (his father's obituary).

    His father's obituary, reprinted from the Rockville Booster in November 1916, lists the surviving children and their homes.

    Source 18

  13. 1920 Residence Pullman, Whitman · proven

    "Lonard" Hegnauer, born about 1874 in Missouri, head, married, occupation "Specialist" (Ancestry's index), with his wife Edith, born about 1879 in Illinois, and their daughters Dorothy, born about 1910 in Illinois, and Helen, born about 1912 in Washington.

    FamilySearch's and Ancestry's indexes of the 1920 census at Pullman; the names of his wife (Clara Edith, called Edith) and daughters identify the household, although the indexed age is two years out. The image has not been read.

    Source 19

  14. 1930 Residence Pullman, Whitman · proven

    1904 Indiana Avenue (3rd ward, precinct 64; dwelling 215, family 226), his own house, valued at $6,000; no radio. "Leonard Heynauer", head, 57, born Missouri, parents born Switzerland, married, age at first marriage 29; with his wife Edith and their daughters Dorothy and Helen.

    His age, Missouri birth and Swiss-born parents, his wife and daughters of 1920 and his work at the college identify him; his first marriage at 29 fits his marriage of Dec 1901 (index read 27 Sep 2026; image not read).

    Source 20

  15. 1930 Occupation Pullman, Whitman · proven

    Instructor at a college (the State College of Washington), a wage worker.

    His line of the 1930 census (index).

    Source 20

  16. 1940 Residence Pullman, Whitman · proven

    "Lennard" Hegnauer, born about 1872 in Missouri, with his wife Edith, born about 1878 in Illinois.

    FamilySearch's index of the 1940 census at Pullman; the wife Edith and his birth year and state identify him. The image has not been read.

    Source 21

  17. 1950 Residence Opportunity, Spokane · proven

    "Leanard" Hegnauer, born about 1872 in Missouri, and Clara E., born about 1878 in Illinois, at Opportunity in the Spokane Valley.

    FamilySearch's index of the 1950 census (Opportunity Township, Spokane County); the image has not been read.

    Source 23

  18. 1951 Residence Aug 1951 · Spokane, Spokane · proven

    North 2415 Ella, Spokane, where his wife died on 29 Aug 1951; he was the informant on her death certificate.

    His wife's death certificate, read on the image, gives the place of death and her usual residence as N. 2415 Ella, and names Leonard Hegnauer as the informant.

    Source 16

  19. 1959 Residence between 1959 and 1963 · Spokane, Spokane · proven

    The Sharon Arms, Spokane, where he had been four years at his death; the certificate gives his usual residence as East 1801 Upriver Drive, Spokane.

    His death certificate gives the place of death, the length of stay and the usual residence.

    Source 9

  20. 1963 Retirement before 1963 · proven

    "Ret. Extension Agronomist, Wash. State Univ." (his death certificate): he had retired as extension agronomist of the State College of Washington at Pullman, which became Washington State University in 1959.

    His death certificate gives his usual occupation in these words; newspaper items of 1917 and 1935 name him at the State College of Washington.

    Sources 8, 9

  21. 1963 Death 10 Nov 1963 · Spokane, Spokane · proven

    At the Sharon Arms, Spokane, at 12:30 p.m., aged 91; widowed. Congestive heart failure due to arteriosclerotic heart disease. The informant was his daughter, Miss Dorothy Hegnauer, of North 2313 Girard Road, Spokane.

    His Washington death certificate (state file 24507), read on the image, gives the date, place and cause; Find a Grave gives the same date, and the Spokane Spokesman-Review carried his obituary on 12 Nov 1963.

    Sources 9, 25, 26

  22. 1963 Burial 13 Nov 1963 · Pullman, Whitman · proven

    City Cemetery (Pullman City Cemetery), Pullman, beside his wife Clara Edith.

    His death certificate gives burial on 13 Nov 1963 in the City Cemetery, Pullman, and the index of his obituary gives burial on 13 Nov at Pullman; Find a Grave and BillionGraves record his grave in Pullman City Cemetery, where his wife was buried in 1951.

    Sources 9, 25, 26

  • proven
  • family event

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Places in this life

10 places, in order
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
  1. 1 Prairie City, Bates County Birth 22 Mar 1872
  2. 2 Pleasant Gap Township, Bates County Residence 1880 · Residence 1900 · Census enumerator Jun 1900
  3. 3 Appleton City, St. Clair County Graduation 1 Jun 1893
  4. 4 Watseka, Iroquois County Marriage 24 Dec 1901
  5. 5 Urbana, Champaign County Residence 1910
  6. 6 Corvallis, Benton County Agronomist between 1910 and 1916
  7. 7 Washington, United States Residence Nov 1916
  8. 8 Pullman, Whitman County Residence 1920 · Residence 1930 · Occupation 1930 · 2 more
  9. 9 Opportunity, Spokane County Residence 1950
  10. 10 Spokane, Spokane County Residence Aug 1951 · Residence between 1959 and 1963 · Death 10 Nov 1963

Hollow markers are placed approximately, at the town, county or region.

Family

Father Leonhard Hegnauer 1843–1916 Mother Susanna Katharina Hirschi 1846–1918
This page Leonard Hegnauer 1872–1963
Wife · m. 24 Dec 1901 Clara Edith Baker 1877–1951
Daughter Dorothea Virginia Hegnauer 1909–1995 Daughter Helen Edith Hegnauer b. 1911
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Family tree Open this person's page

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Records

Search the archive →
Births and baptisms 1 record · 1872
Marriages 4 records · 1901–1902
  • 1901; 1911–28 probable Marriage register; deed indexes “(no name recorded)”, mentioned Iroquois & Champaign Cos., Ill.; Clark Co. FamilySearch Full-Text · O04102
  • 24 Dec 1901 confirmed Marriage “Leonard Hegnauer” Iroquois County, Illinois FamilySearch · O02691
  • 24 Dec 1901 confirmed Marriage “Leonard Hegnauer”, groom Watseka, Iroquois County FamilySearch · O02792
  • 2 Jan 1902 confirmed Marriage notice “Leonard Hegnauer”, groom Rich Hill, Bates County Newspapers.com · O06526
Deaths and burials 12 records · 1916–1963
Census, land and residence 7 records · 1900–1950
  • 1900 probable Residence “Leonard Hegnauer” Pleasant Gap, Bates County Ancestry · O00093
  • 1900 confirmed Census “Leonard Hegnauer” Pleasant Gap, Bates County FamilySearch · O02865
  • 1910 confirmed Census “Leonard Hegnauer” Urbana, Champaign County FamilySearch · O02955
  • 1920 confirmed Census “Lonard Hegnauer” Pullman, Whitman County FamilySearch · O02919
  • 1940 confirmed Census “Lennard Hegnauer” Pullman, Whitman County FamilySearch · O02758
  • 10 Apr 1950 confirmed Census “Leanard Hegnauer” Opportunity, Spokane Valley FamilySearch · O02393
  • date unknown confirmed Social program correspondence “Leonard Hegnauer” United States FamilySearch · O02329
Newspapers 20 records · 1889–1915
  • 10 Oct 1889 probable Newspaper item (school) “Leonhard Hegnauer”, student Appleton City, St. Clair County Newspapers.com · O06356
  • 1891 possible Newspaper item (Academy) “Leonhard Hegnauer”, mentioned Appleton City, St. Clair County Newspapers.com · O06360
  • 7 Mar 1891 confirmed Newspaper item “Leonard, jr. Hegnaer”, mentioned Butler, Bates County Newspapers.com · O06359
  • 1 Jun 1893 confirmed School commencement “Leonhard, Jr. Hegnauer”, graduate Appleton City, St. Clair County Newspapers.com · O06248
  • 1 Jun 1893 confirmed Newspaper item (commencement visit) “Leonard, Jr. Hegnauer”, son (graduate) Appleton City, St. Clair County Newspapers.com · O06520
  • 1896 possible Newspaper item (candidate) “Leonard Hegnauer”, mentioned Appleton City, St. Clair County Newspapers.com · O06361
  • 17 Jul 1896 probable Political announcement “Leonard Hagenauer”, candidate Butler, Bates County Newspapers.com · O06405
  • 18 Jul 1896 probable Political announcement “L. Hagenauer”, candidate Butler, Bates County Newspapers.com · O06406
  • 15 Aug 1896 probable Political announcement “L. Hagenauer”, candidate Butler, Bates County Newspapers.com · O06407
  • 24 Dec 1896 probable Newspaper item “L. Heg[n]auer”, mentioned Appleton City, St. Clair County Newspapers.com · O06457
  • 10 Mar 1898 probable Newspaper item (militia drill) “(Lieut.) Hegnauer”, mentioned Butler, Bates County Newspapers.com · O06416
  • 17 Mar 1898 probable Newspaper item (militia drill) “(Lieut.) Hegnauer”, mentioned Butler, Bates County Newspapers.com · O06417
  • 29 Dec 1898 probable Newspaper item (teacher) “(Prof.) Hegnauer”, mentioned Rich Hill, Bates County Newspapers.com · O06418
  • 20 Jul 1899 probable Newspaper item (teacher) “(Prof.) Hegnauer”, mentioned Rich Hill, Bates County Newspapers.com · O06419
  • 15 Aug 1901 confirmed Newspaper item (visit) “L. (Prof.) Hegnauer”, mentioned Rich Hill, Bates County Newspapers.com · O06524
  • 27 Sep 1906 confirmed Newspaper item (subscription) “Leonard Hagenauer”, son Appleton City, St. Clair County Newspapers.com · O06547
  • 24 Oct 1907 confirmed Newspaper item (subscription) “Leonard Hegnauer”, son Appleton City, St. Clair County Newspapers.com · O06561
  • 23 Jul 1908 confirmed Social item (visit) “Leonard (Prof.) Hegenauer” Appleton City, St. Clair County Newspapers.com · O06585
  • 26 Nov 1908 confirmed Newspaper item (subscription) “Leonard (Prof.) Hegnauer”, son Appleton City, St. Clair County Newspapers.com · O06592
  • 26 Aug 1915 confirmed Family reunion (social item) “Leonard [Hegnauer]”, son Appleton City, St. Clair County Newspapers.com · O06623
Other records 1 record · 1909
  • 1909 confirmed Alumni record “Hegnauer”, mentioned Urbana, Champaign County FamilySearch Full-Text · O04101
Also cited as evidence: 17 records filed under relatives
The evidence 20 facts with their grades, 26 sources, and the research notes

Facts

Fact Date Place Grade Sources
Birth 22 Mar 1872 Prairie City, Bates, Missouri, United States proven 1 , 2 , 6 , 9 , 25
Residence 1880 Pleasant Gap Township, Bates, Missouri, United States proven 5
Graduation 1 Jun 1893 Appleton City, St. Clair, Missouri, United States proven 2 , 12 , 13
Residence 1900 Pleasant Gap Township, Bates, Missouri, United States proven 6
Degrees between 1900 and 1906 proven 2
Census enumerator Jun 1900 Pleasant Gap Township, Bates, Missouri, United States proven 14
Marriage with Clara Edith Baker 24 Dec 1901 Watseka, Iroquois, Illinois, United States proven 2 , 15
Residence 1910 Urbana, Champaign, Illinois, United States proven 2 , 17
Agronomist between 1910 and 1916 Corvallis, Benton, Oregon, United States proven 8
Residence Nov 1916 Washington, United States proven 18
Residence 1920 Pullman, Whitman, Washington, United States proven 19
Residence 1930 Pullman, Whitman, Washington, United States proven 20
Occupation 1930 Pullman, Whitman, Washington, United States proven 20
Residence 1940 Pullman, Whitman, Washington, United States proven 21
Residence 1950 Opportunity, Spokane, Washington, United States proven 23
Residence Aug 1951 Spokane, Spokane, Washington, United States proven 16
Residence between 1959 and 1963 Spokane, Spokane, Washington, United States proven 9
Retirement before 1963 proven 8 , 9
Death 10 Nov 1963 Spokane, Spokane, Washington, United States proven 9 , 25 , 26
Burial 13 Nov 1963 Pullman, Whitman, Washington, United States proven 9 , 25 , 26

Research notes

  • Sources: His Washington death certificate and his wife's were read on the images (Washington State Digital Archives), as were the 1880 census, the 1900 census sheet he signed as enumerator, the Appleton City Journal pages and the University of Illinois alumni record. The censuses of 1900–1950 are FamilySearch and Ancestry index entries; their images have not been read. The obituary index entries and the Oregon newspaper items were seen as search results only.
  • Identity: The records are linked as one man by his birth date and place and his parents' names, which his Social Security application, his alumni record and his marriage record give (his death certificate's informant got his mother's name wrong: see below); by his wife Clara Edith Baker, who is named in the marriage record and the alumni record and whose death certificate names him as informant; by his daughters Dorothea Virginia and Helen Edith; and by the unbroken run of censuses at Urbana (1910) and Pullman (1920–1940).1, 2, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21
  • Birth date (corrected): 22 Mar 1872. The old family tree, the study's register and WikiTree had 22 May 1872, attributed to his Social Security application; the application, re-read on 27 Sep 2026, says March, as do the alumni record, the 1900 census (Mar 1872), the death certificate and Find a Grave.1, 2, 6, 9, 25 His marriage record's birth year, 1871, is an indexer's or clerk's slip.15
  • Parents on the death certificate: The informant, his daughter Dorothy, gave his father as "F. Leonhard Hegnauer" and his mother as "Magdalena Hirschi". His mother was Susanna Katharina Hirschi, as his own Social Security application and his marriage and alumni records show; Magdalena (Stocker) Hirschi was his grandmother. No other record gives his father a first initial F.9, 1, 15, 2
  • Census enumerator (1900): Sheet 7 of Enumeration District 18 is signed by Leonard Hegnauer as enumerator; his own household is on sheet 11 of the same district. His father, the only other Leonard Hegnauer in the township, was 57 and deaf (1890 veterans' schedule), so the enumerator is the son.14, 6
  • Career (to confirm): The alumni record describes him as "Professor & Chief", but the department is elided in the transcription made so far, and it gives an address at 915 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, of uncertain date.2 The Oregon and Washington newspaper items (Oregonian, 1910–1935) and the catalogues of the Oregon Agricultural College and the State College of Washington should give his titles and years of service; they have not been read.8
  • Brother Emil (probable): A son of his parents born about 1870, known only from a Find a Grave memorial in the Reform Cemetery; the argument is on his profile.10
  • Married daughter: One obituary index entry of Nov 1963 names a married daughter, "Mrs. Richard W. Yeo".26 Dorothy was "Miss Dorothy Hegnauer" when she gave the details for his death certificate, and the Washington county marriage index names Helen Hegnauer, daughter of Leonard Hegnauer and Clara Edith Baker, as the bride of Richard W. Yeo at Pullman on 5 Dec 1933, so Mrs. Yeo was Helen.9, 22
  • Obituary index: The Newspapers.com index of his obituary (Semi-Weekly Spokesman-Review, 12 Nov 1963), read on 27 Sep 2026, gives his residence as Spokane, burial on 13 Nov at Pullman, his children "Dorothy Hegnatier" [Hegnauer] and "Richard W. Yea" [Mrs. Richard W. Yeo, his daughter Helen], and a sibling, Robert Hegnauer.26 Robert is his younger brother Robert Lucius (1887–1969), the only Robert among Leonhard and Susanna's children (see his profile). The index is machine-extracted; the page itself has not been read.
  • To read: his obituary in the Spokesman-Review (12 Nov 1963) and the second index entry; the Illinois marriage register image (Iroquois County, 1901), which should give Clara's parents and residence; a history of the extension work of the Oregon Agricultural College and the State College of Washington, for the background of his career.
  • This profile is part of the Hegnauer one-name study.

Working notes

  • Old tree 165462681: b. 22 May 1872 (SS claims 60901/9422559); wife Clara Edith Baker (H0250) m. 1901 Iroquois Co., Ill.; a married daughter "Mrs. Richard W. Yeo" in his 1963 obituary index (61843/754638097)
  • WA death cert 24507 (read): b. 22 Mar 1872 Missouri; retired extension agronomist, Wash. State Univ.; d. Sharon Arms, Spokane; bur. City Cemetery, Pullman, 13 Nov 1963; informant daughter Miss Dorothy Hegnauer (mother given as 'Magdalena Hirschi' in error)
  • SS claims index (own application): b. 22 Mar 1872, Prairie City (not 22 May)
  • 1909 University of Illinois alumni record: b. 22 Mar 1872 Prairie City; A.B. University of Kansas 1900; m. Clara Edith Baker 24 Dec 1901; daughter Dorothea Virginia b. 14 Apr 1909 (FamilySearch full text)

Sources

  1. 1

    "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007," database, Ancestry.com, Leonard Hegnauer, male, white, born 22 March 1872, Prairie City, Missouri; father Leonard Hegnauer; mother Susanna K Hirsch; name listed as Leonard Hegnauer in April 1948 (index re-read 27 September 2026). Also "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936–2007," database, FamilySearch. FamilySearch record 6KWB-GLFJ

    In the archive: O02329 Ancestry

  2. 2

    The Alumni Record of the University of Illinois, p. 384, entry 2681: "Leonard Hegnauer. B.S. in Agr.; Professor & Chief; b. Mar. 22, 1872, Prairie City, Mo.; s. Leonhard (b. Canton Graubunden, Switzerland) & Susanna Katherine (Hirschi) Hegnauer (b. Canton Bern, do.). Prepared in Appleton (Mo.) City Acad. ... A.B. Univ. of Kan., 1900 ... Married Clara Edith Baker, Dec. 24, 1901. Children, Dorothea Virginia, b. Apr. 14, 1909; Helen Edith, b. May 23, 1911. Address, 915 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, Ill." (listed with the class of 1906); in "U.S., Family History Books," database with images, Ancestry.com, image 163726_fl520025_tn-403857-00385.

    Ancestry

  3. 3

    "Switzerland, Catholic and Reformed Church Records, 1418–1996," database, FamilySearch, baptism of Leonhard Hegnauer [his father], 25 April 1843, Igis, Graubünden; born 25 April 1843; parents Luzius Hegnauer and Margreth Bernet. FamilySearch record 6F8C-L4C6

    In the archive: O01639 , O01733 , O02053

  4. 4

    [W. O. Atkeson], History of Bates County, Missouri (1918), pp. 719–721, sketch of Christian Hegnauer, son of Leonard Hegnauer, "a native of Switzerland and a Union veteran", listing Leonard Hegnauer's children: Mrs. Mary C. Hammer, Pleasant Gap Township; Christian; Leonard, Washington state; Mrs. Katie S. Link, Pleasant Gap Township; Margaret M., deceased; Robert L., Minnesota; scan shared by Susanna Vogt, "Bates History - Hegnauer excerpt," Ancestry member tree 37158608, 4 December 2023.

    Ancestry

  5. 5

    1880 U.S. Federal Census, Pleasant Gap Township, Bates County, Missouri, E.D. 160, dwelling 72, Leonard Hagn[a]uer [indexed "Lenerd Waguner"] (37, farmer, born Switzerland), wife Susan (34), children Mary C. (13, Ill.), Christian (11, Ill.), Leonard (8, Mo.) and Susan (2, Mo.); citing NARA T9; database with images, Ancestry.com.

    Ancestry

  6. 6

    1900 U.S. Federal Census, Pleasant Gap Township, Bates County, Missouri, E.D. 18, sheet 11, dwelling 225, family 230, Leonard Hegnauer (son, born March 1872, Missouri, 28, single, student) in the household of Leonhard and Susan K. Hegnauer, with his brother Robert L.; citing NARA T623, roll 839; database with images, Ancestry.com (index read). Also "United States Census, 1900," FamilySearch. FamilySearch record M3HK-FKQ

    In the archive: O00091 , O00093 , O02865 Ancestry

  7. 7

    "New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820–1957," database with images, Ancestry.com, manifest of the ship Chase [Chace], Le Havre to New York, list dated 30 September 1856 (the ship arrived 29 September), lines 155–161, "Hegemann" family: Lucie 36, Marguerite 37, Johann 15, Leonhard 13 [his father], Christian[e] 10, Martin 8, Christian 5, Swiss; citing NARA M237, roll 167; image NYM237_167-0280 (ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7488/images/NYM237_167-0280).

    Ancestry

  8. 8

    Newspaper items naming Leonard Hegnauer, agronomist and extension lecturer of the Oregon Agricultural College, Corvallis, and later of the State College of Washington, Pullman: Morning Oregonian (Portland), 20 June 1910, p. 15; 1 September 1911, p. 5; 20 November 1917, p. 18; 14 January 1935, p. 12; Daily Astorian (Astoria, Oregon), May 1916; Newspapers.com (found in a search of Oregon papers for "Hegnauer" during the survey of his uncle Christian Hegnauer's records; the items have not been transcribed).

  9. 9

    Washington State Department of Health, Certificate of Death, state file no. 24507 (1963), registrar's no. 2243, Leonard Hegnauer: died 10 November 1963, 12:30 p.m., Sharon Arms, Spokane, Spokane County (4 years there); usual residence E. 1801 Upriver Dr., Spokane; male, white, widowed; born 22 March 1872, Missouri; age 91; U.S. citizen; not in the armed forces; usual occupation "Ret. Extension Agronomist, Wash. State Univ."; father F. Leonhard Hegnauer; mother's maiden name "Magdalena Hirschi" [an error for Susanna Katharina Hirschi]; informant (daughter) Miss Dorothy Hegnauer, N. 2313 Girard Rd., Spokane; cause congestive heart failure due to arteriosclerotic heart disease; physician Roy T. Pearson, M.D., who attended from June 1960; burial 13 November 1963, City Cemetery, Pullman, Washington; received 11 November 1963; "Department of Health, Death Certificates, July 1, 1907–2001," image, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives (digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/C99EE2E92E41A84A0C8683A6E470BDE7), accessed 27 September 2026. Also "Washington, County Death Registers, 1881–1979," FamilySearch. FamilySearch record 6FYS-TR4J Also "Washington, U.S., Death Records, 1907–2017," Ancestry.com, Leonard Hegnauer, male, 91, residence Spokane, died 10 November 1963, Spokane, certificate 24507 (record 3498939; index read 27 September 2026).

    In the archive: O02087

  10. 10

    Find a Grave, memorial 78556009, Emil Hegnauer (1870 – unknown), Reform Cemetery, Pleasant Gap, Bates County, Missouri, linked as a child of Susanna Katharina Hirschi Hegnauer (memorial 56820862) (findagrave.com/memorial/78556009). Also "Find a Grave Index," database, FamilySearch, Emil Hegnauer, birth 1870, burial place standardised as "Prairie, Greene, Alabama". FamilySearch record QV2K-NN17

    In the archive: O03996 , O03279

  11. 11

    Studio portrait of Leonard Hegnauer, his wife Susanna Katherine (Hirschi) and their children Mary, Leonard, Christian, Katherine and Robert Lucius, about 1905–1910, its provenance given as a Stadler relative in Switzerland; shared by MaggieOhio, Ancestry member tree 9815048, 16 September 2012. The same portrait, labelled ("Leonard Jr. 1872-1963" standing third from the left), shared by gloriaroach866, "Leonhard Hegnauer and family," Ancestry member tree 56662186, 13 December 2016.

    Ancestry

  12. 12

    Appleton City Journal (Appleton City, Missouri), 29 January 1891, p. 1: "Leonhard Hegnauer, Solo alto" in the Appleton City Academy Military Band; indexed in "Missouri, U.S., Newspapers.com Stories and Events Index," Ancestry.com (read on the page in the survey of his father's records).

  13. 13

    [Appleton City Academy commencement], Appleton City Journal (Appleton City, Missouri), 1 June 1893, p. 2: a quartet by "Messrs. L. Hegnauer and Frank Gench"; an oration, "The True Spirit," by Leonhard Hegnauer; "Leonhard Hegnauer, Jr." among the academic graduates; "L. Hegnauer" among the graduates of 1893 in the new alumni association; image, Newspapers.com (newspapers.com/image/863193711). Indexed in "Missouri, U.S., Newspapers.com Stories and Events Index," Ancestry.com.

    Ancestry

  14. 14

    1900 U.S. Federal Census, Pleasant Gap Township, Bates County, Missouri, Supervisor's District 6, E.D. 18, sheet 7 (stamped 256 A), heading: enumerated 16 June 1900 by Leonard Hegnauer, enumerator; image 4118756_00517; database with images, Ancestry.com (image read in the survey of his aunt Barbara (Hegnauer) Kamm's records).

    Ancestry

  15. 15

    "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810–1940," database, FamilySearch, Leonard Hegnauer and Clara Edith Baker, married 24 December 1901, Watseka, Iroquois County, Illinois; groom born 1871, Prairie City, Bates, Mo.; groom's parents Leonard Hegnauer and Susan K. Hirschi. FamilySearch record KF2S-4KV Also "Illinois, Marriages, 1815–1935," FamilySearch FamilySearch record HSZL-LJMM; and "Illinois, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1800–1940," Ancestry.com (index entries; the register image has not been read).

    In the archive: O02792 , O02791 , O02691 , O02692 Ancestry

  16. 16

    Washington State Department of Health, Certificate of Death, state file no. 15217 (1951), registrar's no. 147, Clara Edith Hegnauer: died 29 August 1951, 7:05 p.m., N. 2415 Ella, Spokane, Spokane County, her usual residence; female, white, married; born 17 August 1877, Illinois; age 74; housewife; father "Unobt."; mother's maiden name Abbie Porter; informant Leonard Hegnauer; cause myocardial infarction (2 days) due to arteriosclerotic heart disease (15 years), with hypertensive cardiovascular disease; burial 31 August 1951, Pullman Cemetery, Pullman, Wash.; funeral director Sunset Memorial Chapel, Spokane; received 30 August, filed 25 September 1951; "Department of Health, Death Certificates, July 1, 1907–2001," image, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives (digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/AAB857A5CCBD970A2E86E47609B89A26), accessed 27 September 2026.

  17. 17

    "United States Census, 1910," database, FamilySearch, Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois: Leonard Hegnauer (born about 1872, Missouri), his wife "Dora E" [Clara E.] Hegnauer (born about 1878, Illinois) and their daughter Dorothea V. Hegnauer (born about 1909, Illinois) (index entries; the image has not been read). FamilySearch record MKH4-5W5; wife FamilySearch record MKH4-5WR; daughter FamilySearch record MKH4-5WT

    In the archive: O02955 , O02956 , O02957

  18. 18

    "Gone to His Reward," obituary of Leonard Hegenauer [his father], reprinted from the Rockville Booster (Rockville, Missouri), November 1916: survived by his widow, sons Christian, Leonard and Robert and daughters Mrs. Fred Hammer and Mrs. Katie Link; "The son Leonard is a resident of Washington"; photograph of the clipping shared by jnel126, "Leonhard Hegnauer Obit," Ancestry member tree 154982007, 10 November 2018.

    Ancestry

  19. 19

    "United States Census, 1920," database, FamilySearch, Pullman, Whitman County, Washington: "Lonard" Hegnauer (born about 1874, Missouri), his wife Edith (born about 1879, Illinois) and their daughters Dorothy (born about 1910, Illinois) and Helen (born about 1912, Washington) (index entries; the image has not been read). FamilySearch record MHFD-711; wife FamilySearch record MHFD-WMM; Dorothy FamilySearch record MHFD-WM9; Helen FamilySearch record MHFD-XPD Also indexed on Ancestry.com, "1920 United States Federal Census," Pullman, E.D. 177.

    In the archive: O02919 , O02921 , O02920 , O02922 Ancestry

  20. 20

    "1930 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry.com, Pullman, Whitman County, Washington, E.D. 67, 3rd ward, precinct 64, 1904 Indiana Avenue, dwelling 215, family 226: "Leonard Heynauer" [alternate reading Hegnauer] (head, white, male, 57, born about 1873, Missouri; married, age at first marriage 29; owns his home, value $6,000; no radio; father and mother born Switzerland; instructor, college, wage worker), with Edith, Dorothy and Helen "Heynauer" (record 112944635; index read 27 September 2026; image not read). The wife's and daughters' lines are records 112944646, 112944651 and 112944670.

    Ancestry

  21. 21

    "United States Census, 1940," database, FamilySearch, Pullman, Whitman County, Washington: "Lennard" Hegnauer (born about 1872, Missouri) and his wife Edith (born about 1878, Illinois) (index entries; the image has not been read). FamilySearch record K9SP-DYK; wife FamilySearch record K9SP-DY2

    In the archive: O02758 , O02757

  22. 22

    "Washington, County Marriages, 1855–2008," database, FamilySearch, Helen Hegnauer (born 1911) and Richard W Yeo, married 5 December 1933, Pullman, Whitman County, Washington; bride's parents Leonard Hegnauer and Clara Edith Baker (index entries; the record image has not been read). FamilySearch record QPMP-J8R4; father of the bride FamilySearch record QPMP-J8RH

    In the archive: O03246 , O03247

  23. 23

    "United States, Census, 1950," database, FamilySearch, Opportunity (Spokane Valley), Opportunity Township, Spokane County, Washington, 10 April 1950: "Leanard" Hegnauer (born about 1872, Missouri) and Clara E. Hegnauer (born about 1878, Illinois) (index entries; the image has not been read). FamilySearch record 6X15-2PPN; Clara FamilySearch record 6X15-2PPD

    In the archive: O02393 , O02392

  24. 24

    "United States, Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch, Dorothy V. Hegnauer, born 14 April 1909, died 9 July 1995, Spokane, Washington. FamilySearch record V3KP-JJ8

    In the archive: O03349

  25. 25

    Find a Grave, memorial 70188943, Leonard Hegnauer (22 Mar 1872 – 10 Nov 1963), Pullman City Cemetery, Pullman, Whitman County, Washington (findagrave.com/memorial/70188943); the search listing was read, the memorial page not viewed. Also "Find a Grave Index," FamilySearch FamilySearch record QV2K-88KN; "U.S., Find a Grave Index," Ancestry.com; and "BillionGraves Index," FamilySearch, Leonard Hegnauer, 1872–1963, Pullman City Cemetery. FamilySearch record 2VWJ-WLS

    In the archive: O04018 , O03278 , O00092 , O00094 , O00095 , O00296 Ancestry

  26. 26

    "U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s–current," database, Ancestry.com, two entries for his obituary: (1) record 753966927 (AI-extracted; index read 27 September 2026): Leonard Hegnauer, male; residence Spokane; death about 1963; burial 13 November, Pullman, Whitman County; obituary 12 November 1963, The Semi-Weekly Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Washington); children "Dorothy Hegnatier" [Hegnauer] and "Richard W. Yea" [Mrs. Richard W. Yeo]; sibling Robert Hegnauer; (2) record 754638097, from which the old tree took a married daughter, "Mrs. Richard W. Yeo" (not read). The newspaper pages have not been read.

    Ancestry