In the year 1989, at age 109, Augusta Pagel of Medford, Wisconsin stood atop seven generations of offspring: a daughter Ella (aged 89), a grandaughter Anna (age 70), a great-granddaughter Betty (age 52), a great-great granddaughter Debra (age 33) a great-great-great granddaughter Lori (age 15) and a great-great-great-great-grandson Christopher (age 1 month). That’s seven living generations, the most ever recorded.

It’s unlikely Christopher ever sent Augusta a birthday card, because Hallmark has never produced a “Happy Birthday to my great-great-great-great grandma” card.

One might assume the women in this family have children at a very young age, but that’s not the case. Only one of the 6 mothers was a minor when she gave birth to the child who continued the generational chain. And Ella was nearly age 30 when she had her daughter Anna. The key to a multi-generational chain isn’t giving birth as a minor; it’s longevity. At 109, Augusta ranks among the oldest super-centenarians ever documented.

Her old age is especially surprising, given that her husband played the accordion. However, he died in 1952. Her second husband did not play the accordion.