HOFIUS, W. F.

HOFIUS, THOMPSON

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/10/2005 at 12:55:53

Biography reproduced from page 424 of the History of Kossuth and Humboldt Counties, Iowa published in 1884:

W. F. Hofius, one of the old settlers and well to do farmers of this county, was born July 18, 1830, in Hickory township, Mercer Co., Penn. When twenty years of age, he went to Jackson Co., Iowa, remaining two years, then traveled over the State for one year, and returned to the old homestead, staying one year. He married Oct. 18, 1854, in Eastbrook, Lawrence Co., Penn., Mary A. Thompson, born May 16, 1935, in Ireland, and coming, when quite small, with her parents to America. They had seven children, four of whom are living—Charles B., William C. James S. and George. After his marriage he moved to Rock Island, followed farming and carpentering five years, and in the spring of 1859 went to Marshall Co., Iowa, remaining through the summer. In the fall he came to Kossuth county, and laid a claim on the northwest quarter of section 25, township 96, range 29, moved on the farm in the spring of 1862, and lived there one summer, when, during the Indian scare, he moved to Algona and the following spring went to live one and a half miles from town, on Joseph Thompson’s place, in the first house ever built on the prairie in the county, now known as the Billings place. In 1863 he moved back to his claim, where he still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Hofius are members of the Baptist Church, and of the Grange. He has held several township offices.