PageJacobHoffer1.html

Fred. Hoffer I b. 1844 Neudorf / Odessa, S. Russia: Children and Des..- Hoffer Genealogy, Remmick-Hubert Web Site

10 Oct 2002

Frederick Hoffer I and Johanna Rott's family continued......

Child #VI.

Jacob Hoffer

Jacob Hoffer b. 1 Jan 1883 Neudorf. d. 6 June 1975 Jamestown, ND, USA, son of Frederick Hoffer I and Johanna Rott, m. 29 Nov 1904 to Wilhamine Enze @ Tappen, ND

Jacob and Wilhlemin

Jacob and Wilhlemin, nee Enze, Hoffer

[See photograph enlarged, also, showing some of their children]

{Author unknown Story taken from the Streeter, ND. Jubilee Book]

Jacob Hoffer came to America with his brohters, Fred and John, when he was sixteen years old. The three brothers traveled with Mr. Jacob Schauer and family, as sons of Mr. Schauer's brother. A Mr. Schmeier also helped the boys to leave Russia by destroying any evidence of the true identity, even to tearing out fly-leaves on which their names were written, ad, also, omit their names in the books they happen to have. When the conductor on the train came looking for the three Hoffer boys who were reported as having left the village, Mr. Schauer answered his queries with the statement that there was o one in his group by that name. The conductor peered under the seats of the coach to see if the boys were hiding anywhere. But they were siting on the seats. After arrival in America, the boys resumed their own last name, Hoffer.

New Year's Day, 1883 was the date Mr. Hoffer's birth. After coming to America he worked in the vicinity of Tripp S. Dak. for five years. When 21, he came to N. Dak. and took a homestead. He still owns this land which is located just south of where Ed Braun now lives. He built a sod house and batched there that summer. In the fall he was married to Wilhamine Enze.

The first spring, as neither Fred Hoffer, whose homestead was fairly near, nor Jacob, had enough horse power for breaking the sod, they worked together. Putting all four houses on on plow, they broke five acres for Fred, then went over to Jacob's to repeat the process. As they started early one morning, Fred made the remark that "by tonight we will have your five acres all black". Little did he know how true this would be. The native grass was long and thick, greatly hampering the work. When they had a strip broken on either side of the stepped off field, they decided to burn out the grass between. The fire caught in the already overturned grass, then to the outer edge, and a prairie fire was in full bloom. For three days and two nights the brothers and neighbors fought the fire to prevent damage to anyone's home. But it was not extinguished completely until he reached the alkali lake much to the sought and east of it's origin.

That winder Mr. Hoffer as yet had no well so he hauled all the water for house and livestock from a wintering station on the north par to of the Gifillan ranch. This same station provided fuel for the winter, and for other settlers, also. The men would go there with stone boats and clean the barns, unloading again by forkfuls on the ground which clean the barns, unloading again by forkfuls which had good drainage. When the forked "cakes" were well dried, they were hauled home and stored under the cover for the next winter's use. Mr. Hoffer purchased no coal during the six years he lived on the homestead.

There were enjoyable visits with the brothers, or neighbors, during the winters, when nights were long and work was light. The talk would start in the early evening and many times last all night. The women and children would go to bed after a while, but the men continued their conversation. Around midnight they would prepare themselves a meal from what was ever was handy.

Mr. Hoffer's house was a little rommier than some of its counterparts on surrounding homesteads, so was used for church services. Some of the neighbors who came there were Jake and Gottfried Werre, Johan and Gottlieb Reuer, John and Fred Hoffer, Jacob Winkler, George Dockter, Jacob Schumaker and Karl Lang. One Sunday in June, as the men stood outside visiting after church services, the remark was made that they would build a church. Right then tasks were assigned to the different men, some were to go to Dawson the next day for lumber for the roof, and door, and some windows. Others were to start early the next morning, cutting squares of sod. By Tuesday evening the church had been built, and the next Sunday services were held here. By the next Sunday, it had been plastered with a mix made form the good earth and applied with bare hands.

In 1911 Mr. Hoffer purchase a farm sough of Dawson and moved there. One daughter had been born in the sod house. He lived on the farm near Dawson for five years, then moved into Streeter and went into business.

The year 1914 witness the purchase of an Overland car from P. I. Kaufman of Dawson. Mr. Kaufman delivered the car and suggested that Mr. Hoffer drive him back to town, thus taking instructions on operation of the vehicle, at the same time. With Jacob at the wheel, they started. Soon they reached a gate which had to be open. Mr. Kaufman alighted to do do this and Jacob opened the gate with power. On loudly proclaimed instructions he brought the car to a halt and the men repaired the damage. As they started again, Mr. Kaufman was at the wheel.

After arrival in Dawson, Mr. Kaufman told Jake to wait there a while and he would be back to give him further instructions. Time wore on, but he did not appear. Mr. Hoffer wished to get started for home, so thinking over what he had seen done, gas every lever and pedal a try to determine their uses before leaving town. Once home again, the buggy was pushed out of it's shed and the car driven into the shelter. Now he was curious as to how much gasoline was in the tank, so he removed the seat, turned the cap off the tank and lit a match to see. He still wonders as to why no explosion occurred. Realization of danger came quickly, the match was tossed away and the cap replaced before he hurriedly exited, as he still thought it might explode. However, it wasn't long before he was thrilling his children and his nephews with rides as fast as 30 miles her hour.

See photo enlarged

The two children were born while Mr. and Mrs. Hoffer lived on the farm, and one child was born in Streeter. Martha, the oldest, married Jacob Wentz of Streeter, has one daughter and is living inFargo. Theodore's wife is Martha Betch of Streeter, also. They, too, reside in Fargo and have two sons. Emma, Mrs. Merkle Jostad, makes her home in Superior, Mont., has two children and one grandchild. Leah is married to Terry Subia of Chicago, which is now her home town. They have two children and two grandchildren.

Mrs. Hoffer passed away in 1951, Mrs. Hoffer has been a director of the board of the Jamestown Hospital since its beginning. Since 1946 he was often hospitalized but between those times has visited his children in Montana and Illinois, attending the weddings of his grandchildren. He makes his home with his daughter, Martha.

1938