Joseph Hoffmann, 1899 Biography

HOFFMANN, HOFFMAN, GRETEMANN, GRETEMAN

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 2/15/2004 at 18:04:08

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 notes at the end. It reads as follows:

Joseph Hoffmann

This gentleman was born near Buffalo, New York, on 10 August 1859. When he was 4 years old he moved with his parents to Winneshiek County, Iowa, where young Joseph attended parochial school and afterwards became a farmer, helping his father on his parents’ farm. In 1874 he moved with his parents to Pleasant Valley Township, Carroll County, Iowa, where his parents purchased a farm. Mr. Joseph Hoffmann worked for his parents until he was 22, at which time he found employment on various other farms. In 1884 he purchased 80 acres in the same township which he worked on his own. On 21 February 1887 he married Miss Maria Gretemann, a virtuous young lady who was born in Winneshiek County, Iowa, on 30 September 1869. Later, Mr. Hoffmann increased his real estate by about 40 acres, and again by about 80 acres, so that today he possesses a farm of 200 acres which, by virtue of its location and the condition of its soil, can be counted among the best in the township. Mr. Hoffmann and his wife are known in the entire township and enjoy an excellent reputation. He was also elected Township Assessor and still holds this office today. Seven children were the fruit of this happy marriage, and their names are: Johann, Anna, Sophia, Franziska, Clara, Leo, and Joseph.

Notes: The article spells the names Hoffmann and Gretemann with with a double “n” at the end. I think the families today both spell the names with one “n” at the end.