Lorenz Joh. Hoffmann, 1899 Biography

HOFFMANN, HOFFMAN, KENNEBECK

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 2/15/2004 at 17:56:39

I translated the following biography from Der Carroll Demokrat, a German-language newspaper published in Carroll, Iowa between about 1874 and 1920. It was originally published in a special 25th Anniversary Edition of the paper on Friday, 20 September 1899. I have not changed the place or name spellings, but I have added some notes at the end. It reads as follows:

Lorenz Joh. Hoffmann

The bearer of this name has lived in Carroll County since 1874 when he moved with his parents to Pleasant Valley Township. He was born on 6 February 1853 in New York State, there attended parochial school, and after he received his First Holy Communion he devoted himself to farming and assisted his father in running his parents’ farm. In 1863, his parents moved to Winneshiek County, Iowa, and in 1874 they moved to Pleasant Valley Township, Carroll County, where his father purchased 80 acres of land. The son Lorenz Joh. worked here another three to four years on his parents’ farm, and then purchased for himself 40 acres of land in Roselle Township that he worked on his own. After a year he sold that land and purchased 80 acres in the same township, and Mr. Hoffmann lives on this farm with his family still today. On 9 February 1881 he married a virtuous young woman, Miss Anna Kennebeck, a well brought up lady who was born in McHenry County, Illinois on 27 February 1862. The young couple began their work with courage and dedication and soon had the satisfaction of being able to increase the size of their farm so that it is now 180 acres and is equipped with good buildings and a beautiful residence. This happy marriage has produced six children, namely: Franziska, Karl, Lorenz, Susanna, Heinrich and Rudolph.

NOTES: The article spells the name Hoffmann with a double “n” at the end. I think today the family spells it with one “n”. Anna Kennebeck was a daughter of George Kennebeck, Sr., who moved his family from Illinois to Roselle Township in the early 1870’s.