Notes:

The Nashville News January 8, 2003 Obituary for Florence Hoffman.

Florence O. Hoffman, 92, of New Minden, passed away at 8:15 p.m. Thursday, January 2, 2003 at Friendship Manor Healthcare Center in Nashville.
Born on November 27, 1920 in New Minden, she was the daugher of Charles and Otillie (Collmeyer) Rinne. She was married to Henry Hoffman on August 22, 1937 at St. John Lutheran Church in New Minden by Pastor Koestering. Henry preceded her in death on February 16, 1976.
She is survived by a sister in law, Ruth Rinne, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Laura Rinne, a brother, Walter Rinne, and a brother in infancy.
Mrs. Hoffman was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in New Minden where she was a lifetime member of the Ladies Aid. She was also a member of the Lutheran Laymen's League, New Minden Coummunity Club, and the Washington County Farm Bureau
Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 5, 2003 at St. John Lutheran Church in New Minden with Pastor Tim Mueller officiating. Pallbearers were Mark Meinert, Ron Hoffman, Stanley Renth, Jim McQuaid, Bob Selle, and Henry Szopinski. Robin Rhine served as organist. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Lutheran Hour or donor's choice and will be accepted at the Styninger-Krupp Funeral Home in Nashville.

FLORENCE married HOFFMAN HENRY W. on 21 Aug 1937 in St. John Lutheran Church, New Minden, IL, Pastor Koestering officiating.(Obituary gave date as Aug. 22, 1937.). HENRY (son of HOFFMAN CHARLES C. and PRASUHN EMMA SOPHIA TIBBY) was born on 28 Sep 1902; died on 16 Feb 1976. [Group Sheet]

CHARLES married COLLMEYER OTTILIE. OTTILIE (daughter of COLLMEYER FREDERICK and ELLERBUSCH ELIZABETH) was born on 11 Oct 1877; died on 3 Sep 1963. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Nashville New Obituary for Florence Rinne Hoffman spelled her name as Otillie.

FREDERICK married ELLERBUSCH ELIZABETH. ELIZABETH died in in Died at age 60. [Group Sheet]

HERMANN married HOFFMANN SOPHIE MARIA ELIZABETH about 1838. SOPHIE (daughter of HOFFMAN JOHANN FRIEDRICH WILHELM and ENGEL ANNE MARIA) was born on 19 Oct 1813 in Rothenuffeln, Kries Minden, Germany; died on 8 Feb 1874 in Dod may be 1893?. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Elisabeth and Herman were among the group who came from Germany to the U.S. in 1838 and are believed to have been married in Germany. Their first home was Lancaster, Ohio, but in 1839 they heard of cheap land in Illinois and several of the men rode horseback to Illinois to investigate. Finding the stories true, they purchased land in Southern Illinois, in what is now Washington Co., between what later became New Minden and Nashville, Illinois. Our Washington Co. Historical Museum has a record of these purchases made from the Federal Gov't on Dec. 29, 1839, for $1.25 an acre.
The men then returned to Lancaster to bring their families to Illinois. They travelled in covered wagons, stopping along the way tow ash their clothes in creeks. They had hoped to reach their new home before the birth of Elisabeth and Herman's first baby but were only able to make it to the vicinity of Carlyle. Here their daughter Louise was born in a covered wagon. Elisabeth was attended by a Carlyle doctor and the baby was baptized by a Carlyle minister. After a layover of 3 weeks, the group continued their journey.
Elisabeth lived a long and useful life and was said to be a very pious individual, who, in later years, when her children and grandchildren came to see her, always had a little prayer with them before they left. The story is also told by some members of the family, that at the time of her death, the hired hand who was in the barn milking, knew she had passed away because a stream of light could be seen coming from Heaven to the house. The Collmeyers were able to provide a farm for each of their three sons - two of which are still in possession of their descendants.
From "Hoffmans 1662 - 1972"
compiled by Bernice Reinhardt