Ernst Hoffmann, 1899 Biography

HOFFMANN, KERN

Posted By: David Reineke (email)
Date: 1/28/2007 at 19:33:54

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:

Ernst Hoffmann

Mr. Hoffmann and his wife are an old, esteemed married couple who enjoy universal respect. He was born on 25 July 1822 in Seitendorf, near Zettau, Kingdom of Saxony. He attended school there and then learned the trade of wooden shoe maker and also that of weaver. He worked at his trade until his 22nd year, and on 25 September 1844, he married the worthy Miss Anna Maria Kern. He continued to work hard at this trade and later also started a greengrocery. He immigrated to America with his family in 1866. They settled In Elkport, on the Turkey River, in Clayton County, Iowa, where the Hoffmnann family lived for 14 years and purchased a small property. In 1880 he and his wife moved to Roselle Township, Carroll County, where he purchased 80 acres of land that he later transferred to his son Isidor. He and his wife then moved to the friendly little town of Roselle, where he purchased a fine home and lived in retirement. On 26 September 1894, Mr. Hoffmann and his wife celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, and indeed on the very same day, their son Johann A. celebrated his silver wedding anniversary, so that it was a double anniversary celebration. The Anniversary Edition [of this newspaper] presents an excellent picture of this elderly couple, the original of which was taken on the day of their golden wedding anniversary.