Hoffman, J. N. "Nick" 1844-1935

HOFFMAN, DIMMER

Posted By: Plymouth CC
Date: 2/13/2004 at 21:22:23

Aged Pioneer is Called by Death
J.N. Hoffmann Was One of LeMars First Residents.

J. N. Hoffmann, better known by his many friends as "Nick", and one of Le Mars' first citizens passed away at his home at 18 2nd Avenue S.E. early Tuesday morning. Mr. Hoffmann was around talking to his friends Friday evening but Saturday morning he did not feel like getting up, and remained in bed Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Early Tuesday morning he passed peacefully from this life. Mr. Hoffmann was a member of a family of 10 children, seven boys and three girls, and was the last of the seven boys to pass away.

J. N. Hoffmann was born on September 2, 1844, in Berghem, Luxembourg, and at the time of his death he reached the advanced age of 90 years and 11 months.

In 1873 he was married to Katherine Dimmer at Council Bluffs, Iowa, and to this union five children were born. In 1870 he and his wife with his brother, John, and Leo Kramer, came to Le Mars, and farmed seven miles west of town. Later he returned to Le Mars and started a dray line which he operated until 1887, after which he was employed in the Dubuque house for nearly five years. In l892 to 1897 he farmed the Black homestead which he bought in l891. About 1898 he moved to Louisiana where he farmed three years before moving back to the old Black farm. Here he farmed until 1918 when he retired from active farm work. Mr. Hoffmann was a member of the first volunteer fire department of Le Mars. He was one of the oldest subscribers of The Globe-Post, receiving the paper since its origin.

He was preceded in death by one son, John, who died four years ago and his wife who passed away two years ago this summer.

He leaves to mourn his passing, three sons,C. A. Hoffmann, J. P. Hoffmann and Nick Hoffmann; one daughter Kate Hoffmann, all of Le Mars. Three grandchildren and one greatgrandchild. Two sisters, Mrs. John Lax of Yakima, Washington, and Mrs. Kaate Merkle of Laverne, Minn., are the only two members of his family living.

Funeral services will be held on Friday morning at 9 0'clock in the St. Joseph's Catholic church with Msgr. J. D. Fisch officiating. Wiltgen's funeral directors are in charge of the arrangements. Interment will be made in the St. Joseph Cemetery.

The pallbearers who will carry Mr. Hoffmann to his final resting place are.: Eugene Beaufils,John Poeches, Frank Hentges, Peter Gaasch, Leo Hoffmann and Ben Ernsterhoff.

In the passing of Mr. Hoffmann this community loses one of the early pioneers, who braved the hardships and the dangers of the west in building this community into one of the leading agricultural districts of the world. He was a good member of the Catholic faith and in his younger days tooks an active part in community enterprises.