Hennig’s Story, an autobiography written by the Reverend Hennig von Bosse and published by the Robert E. and Evelyn McKee Foundation. The initial release of Hennig's Story began on April 10, 1994.  Copies of this limited, "First Edition" of 500 hand numbered book were sold by the Robert E. and Evelyn McKee Foundation as well as at Barnes & Noble in El Paso, Texas or by special order. The established pricing was $25.00 for the book plus the cost of packaging and shipping.

The original draft for Hennig’s Story was written for his descendants by the Reverend Urban Bernhard Frederic Hennig von Bosse during the mid 1950’s when he was ninety years of age. The manuscript of his life’s story and his collection of old photographs found their way into his daughter’s attic and were forgotten. While inventorying the property in their parents estate after the death of their father early in 1993, his grandchildren found Hennig’s manuscript and pictures in the attic of the family home. Bob Walczak, Hennig’s grandson, recognized the historical value of his grandfather’s words and decided to share them with others who might be interested.

With Bob Walczak’s permission, Lillian Bidal edited and end noted the manuscript, collected additional photographs from the descendants of some of the principal characters in the story and arranged through Mr. Louis B. McKee, president of the Robert E. and Evelyn McKee Foundation, for the publication of Hennig’s Story by the Foundation.

The authorization for a "First Edition" printing of the manuscript of Hennig's Story by the copyright claimant and all of the work necessary to bring this publication to reality, exclusive of the cost of copyright application, printing and binding, has been donated.

Any profits which may be derived from the sale of Hennig's Story after all expenses are paid will become assets of the McKee Foundation and distributed to non-profit, charitable organizations selected by the trustees of the foundation.

Hennig von Bosse was born on December 18, 1866 in Braunschweig, Germany. His story begins with a brief preface portraying events from his childhood in Germany. The first chapter opens with his arrival in America at the age of fifteen and details his next five years living with relatives in Missouri.

Hennig obtained employment with the Champion Cattle Company (CA Bar) on the southeastern slopes of the Sacramento Mountains in the Territory of New Mexico when he was twenty-one. The daily life of a cowboy in the roundup camps and on the cattle trails of the American southwest is pictured in great detail through the eyes of a greenhorn in chapters two through six. After filing a homestead claim on the Lower Peñasco in 1893 Hennig hung up his spurs. Chapter seven depicts the trials he experienced as a homesteader.

In his final chapter Hennig describes his life as a journalist with a local newspaper in Egg Harbor, New Jersey after leaving the territory in 1896. In 1898 he entered the seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Following graduation he served as the pastor of a Lutheran Church in Frankford, Pennsylvania for twenty years. The book concludes with an epilogue of his retirement years in Egg Harbor, New Jersey.

Hennig’s Story, though factual and informational, is told with great humor. A bonus to his written words are numerous, previously unpublished pictures of pioneer life in southeastern New Mexico. Hennig’s gift with words made him a successful journalist and a popular public speaker. He was equally talented when putting his thoughts on paper.

Many of the old timers of Chaves, Otero, Eddy and Lincoln Counties played a role in Hennig’s Story. The descendants of many are still living in the area.

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