Hoffman, John

HOFFMAN, KRABER

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Plym. CC (email)
Date: 3/19/2005 at 11:40:57

John Hoffman

John Hoffman, a well-known and successful farmer and a former hotel proprietor at Remsen, was born in Luxemburg on December 10, 1848, the son of John and Mary Hoffman, also natives of Luxemburg, where they were married. The elder John Hoffman was a small farmer in his native land and he and his family continued to live in the Fatherland until 1871, when they came to Iowa and located in Mills county, where Mr. Hoffman purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land, which he developed and improved and there he engaged in general farming until the time of his death. He and his wife were prominent in the social and the religious life of that community, active members of the Catholic church and took much interest in church work. They were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are now living, but of whom John and his brother, J. N. Hoffman, are the only ones who reside in Plymouth county.

The junior John Hoffman received his education in the public schools of his native Luxemburg, and in 1862, when fourteen years of age, he went to France, where he worked as a farm hand for six years, at the end of which time he engaged in the butcher business and was thus engaged for two years. He was in the commissary department of the German army for a short time during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. During his residence in France Mr. Hoffman learned to read and write the French language and is now able to read and write in German, French and English In 1879 he decided to come to the United States. He located at Council Bluffs on January 3, 1871, and in that neighborhood was engaged as a farm hand for two years, after which he worked for his father for one year and was then married, after which he engaged in farming for himself. He rented a farm for four years in Mills county, after which he came to Plymouth county, locating on Deep creek, in Meadow township, where he rented for three years, after which he purchased one hundred and sixty acres in that township, paying for the same seven dollars and acre. He owned that farm a short time and then traded it for property in Remsen, where he established the well-known Hoffman House, which he conducted successfully until 1903, when he sold the place and engaged in the butcher business for two years. He then retired from the butcher business and bought eighty acres of land, a part of which is in the city limits of Remsen, and is considered the most valuable farm land in that section of the county. There he and his son are engaged in general farming and the raising of fine Jersey hogs, having some of the best hogs in the county. They take much pride in their stock, are careful of their breeding and give their hogs the best of care.

On January 7, 1874, John Hoffman was united in marriage to Margaret Kraber, and to this union eleven children have been born, eight of whom are living, Margaret, J. N., Lena, Mary, Francis, Henry, Katherine and Etta. Margaret Hoffman married Frank Wentz. Mary Hoffman married Doctor Stewart. Francis Hoffman is teaching school at Casper, Wyoming. Henry Hoffman lives at Los Angeles, California. Katherine Hoffman is a Red Cross nurse, serving with the United States army on the Mexican border, and Etta Hoffman is a trained nurse. The family are active members of the Catholic church and are prominent in the social and the religious life of the community, highly regarded by all who know them.

John Hoffman has always taken much interest in local affairs, and has ever advocated the maintenance of the best of schools. In the early history of the township he, with Mr. Aline and Martin Seibold, were instrumental in the establishment of the first parochial school in Remsen. Mr. Hoffman was president of the school board for nine years and served as trustee of the Remsen township for a number of years. He is identified with the Democratic party and is recognized as one of the substantial and successful men of the county. He is perhaps one of the best-known men in his section of the country and has a personality that identifies him as a man of ability and a leader in whatever he undertakes. He has had much to do with the development and the growth of the township and the city of Remsen, where he is so well and favorably known.

BOOK SOURCE:
History of Plymouth County, Iowa
Indianapolis, Ind.: B. F. Bowen, 1917