Hoffmann, Mathias 1862-1931 & Elisabeth Kellen Family

HOFFMANN, HOFFMAN, KELLEN, FREYMAN, DONDELINGER, GREIFF

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 7/24/2022 at 11:34:59

Hoffmann, Mathias 1861-1931 and Elisabeth Kellen Family

This BIOS for the Mathias Hoffmann family was compiled by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Stories of the life and times of the pioneers can be read about in several Sioux County Books. “The Story of Sioux County” by Charles Dyk give a very colorful account of pioneer life with it's joys and hardships. The book “Siouxland A History of Sioux County” by Nelson Nieuwenhuis give a great historical account of the area. The “1908 Sioux County Atlas” also has historical accounts of the various townships of Sioux County.

From the St. Mary’s church book page 161, the family story of Matt and Elizabeth Kellen Hoffmann family.
Matt and Elizabeth Kellen Hoffmann came from St. Donatus Iowa in about 1900 and farmed south of Alton and then west of Alton until about December of 1906. Matt Hoffman was born in Berburg Luxembourg on August 3, 1861. he came to the United States as a young man. He lived in the Cherokee, Iowa and St. Donatus areas before moving to Alton and later to Hospers where he also farmed. Matt Hoffmann died March 11, 1931 at Hospers, Iowa.

Elizabeth Kellen was born December 13, 1865 at St. Donatus. She was the daughter of Nic and Maria Dondelinger Freyman Kellen, Ellizabeth died on January 9, 1942 at Hospers, Iowa. She married Matt Hoffman at St. Donatus Iowa on Jan 8, 1890. Their children are Mary, Michael, Nicholas, John, Alois, Emma, Clara and Rose.

1. Mary Hoffmann was born June 16, 1892 at St. Donatus, Iowa. She married Theodore Klein at Hospers, and died March 7, 1976 at Ashton IA. They had 10 children.
2. Michael Hoffman was born March 22, 1894 at St. Donatus and died at Bancroft, Iowa on January 19, 1975.
3. Nicholas Hoffmann was born June 27, 1895 at St. Donatus. He married Mrs. Josephine Gloden Reuter at Hospers and died in 1959.
4. John Hoffmann was born September 24, 1897 at St. Donatus. He married Mrs. Mary Steichen. He died April 27, 1976 at Hospers, Iowa
5 . Alois Hoffmann was born April 16, 1899 at St. Donatus, Iowa. He married Rose Nichel At Granville and died at Hospers in 1982. They had nine children.
6. Emma Hoffmann was born December 31, 1900. She married Art Blocker and is lived at Bancroft Iowa. She has three children.
7. Clara Hoffman was born in April 1902 at Alton Iowa. She married William B. Klein at Hospers, Iowa and died August 10, 1962 at Hospers. They were the parents of nine children.
8 .Rose Mary Hoffmann was born July 10 1906 at Alton . She married Nic Becker at Hospers and is lived in Hospers. She and Nic had four children. Nic had two children by a previous marriage.

OBITUARY of Hoffmann, Mathias 1861-1931
Source: Alton Democrat (3-20-1931) Born: August 3, 1861 Died: Mar1931
WELL KNOWN SIOUX COUNTY FARMER GONE--MATHIAS HOFFMAN DIED LAST WEDNESDAY AFTER A FEW DAYS ILLNESS
Mathias Hoffmann, aged 69, died last Wednesday at his home one mile north of Hospers, after being ill only a few days. The Friday previous to his death, although not feeling well he went to Hospers and still able to be up Monday when the doctor was called. It was pronounced pneumonia by the doctor and on Wednesday when the crisis came Mr. Hoffman passed away.
He was born at Berburg, duchy of Luxembourg, August 3, 1861, but at the age of 22 came to America to seek his fortune, staying first at Aurora, Illinois. He soon sought happiness further west, however, and settled at Cherokee. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Kellen at St. Donatus, Iowa on January 8, 1889, and they resided on a farm at Cherokee for a couple of years, then moving to St. Donatus where they affirmed for nine years. In 1900 the family moved to what is now the Louis Noethe farm in Nassau Township and they resided here for seven years, then moving to the farm a mile north of Hospers in 1907.Three years later he retired from active farm work and moved to Hospers where he had since made his home.
Mr. Hoffmann was the youngest of his family, one brother and one sister preceding him in death. He is survived by eight children, as follows: Mrs. Theodore Klein of Granville, Mike and Miss Emma Hoffmann, both of Bancroft, Iowa; Nick, John, Alois, Mrs. William B. Klein and Mrs. Nick Becker, all of Hospers and also by fifteen grandchildren.
Funeral services for the respected citizen, who counted his friends by his acquaintances were held at St. Anthony Catholic Church at Hospers on Saturday morning, with Requiem Mass by the pastor, the Reverend John Thoennissen.
Among the many from out of town who came to attend the last rites were the following: Nick Rolling, Perry, Oklahoma; Frank Hoffmann, Pretty Prairie, Kansas; John Clasen, John Homan, Ililda Homan, Mrs. Joe Sturn, Mrs. Chas Hilbert all of Springbrook, Iowa; Mrs. John Rolling and son Vincent and daughter Loretta, Bellevue, Iowa; Mrs. Susan Freymann, Mrs. Anna Kellen and daughters, Kate, Emma and Clara and sons Peter and Leo, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Kellen, all of Le Mars; Mr. and Mrs. Bert Schnurr, Alois Kellen, Mr. and Mrs. William Nijebel, all of Granville; Mr. and Mrs. Math Herrig and son Mike, Mrs. Mary Harens, Mrs. Catherine Herrig and daughter Celesta, Mike Gaspar Sr. and son Mike and daughters, Mary and Susan all of Alton. Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Berrig and on Lawrence, Peter Herrig and Miss Mary Herrig all of Iona, Minnesota; Mrs. Clem Diers and sons Frank and Gerhard and daughter Frances, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Hueser of Marcus, and Mrs. Eugene Webber and Frank Webber of Cherokee.

OBITUARY Mrs. Elizabeth Hoffman 1865 – 1942
Source Sioux County Capital of Jan 15, 1942
Mrs. Elizabeth Hoffman, after a short illness of but a few weeks, Mrs. Elizabeth Hoffman, 76, passed away at her home in Hospers on Friday morning at 2:15 a.m. All of her children were at her bedside.
Mrs. Hoffman; nee Elizabeth Kellen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Kellen was born on Dec 12, 1865 at Jackson County St. Donatus IA.
On Jan 8, 1889 she was united in marriage to Mathias Hoffman. To this union 8 children were born: Mary, Mrs. Theodore Klein of Ashton: Mike of Bancroft; Nick and John at home: Aloysius of Hospers, Emma, Mrs. Art Blocker of Bancroft; Clara Mrs. W. B. Klein and Rose, Mrs. Nick Becker both of Hospers.
She is also survived by 31 Grandchildren. Funeral services were held Tuesday in St. Anthony’s church.

Family picture taken from page 161 of the St. Mary’s Church book.

Sioux Biographies maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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