Isidor W. Hoffmann, 1899 Biography

HOFFMANN, SEYLLER

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 1/28/2007 at 19:32:07

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. Words in quotations are original. Any information in brackets or notes at the end are my own explanations. It reads as follows:

Isidor W. Hoffmann

Mr. I. W. Hofmann was born on 10 March 1862 in Seitendorf, near Zittau, Kingdom of Saxony. In 1862 he came to America with his parents, who settled on a small 23-acre farm near Elkport, Clayton County, Iowa. He spent his youth there. In 1880 he came with his parents to Roselle Township, Carroll County, Iowa, where his father, Ernst Hoffmann, had purchased an 80-acre farm. He assisted his parents there until 1885, and he then took over the farm after his parents had moved to Hillsdale [Roselle]. On 7 February 1888, he married Miss Franziska Seyller. Their marriage produced three children, Leona and a pair of twins, but unfortunately the twins died at the age of six weeks. In 1892 he purchased another 40 acres, so that he now owns a well-outfitted farm of 120 acres. He has worked steadily as a teacher since May 1894, and since 1886 he has held the office of justice of the peace. In September 1892, he was appointed county surveyor, was reelected four times, and still holds the position today.