| Notes |
- John Fred William Hoffmann purchased 55 acres for his son carl but he died shortly after coming to America.
This land then was donated to St. John's on the day of its charter, November 8, 1846. Deeds for the land are dated August 23, 1847 (10 acres on the west side), and March 5, 1862 (the other 45 1/2 acres). Most of this land is still owned by the Congregation today; the buldings are situated on the ten acres to the west.
Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Hoffmann was born Feb. 9, 1785, at Rothenufeln, in the Province of Westphalia, in Northern Germany. He was the only son of Johann Ernst Hoffmann and Anne Marie Christine (nee Blasen) Hoffmann. On June 18, 1803, he was married to Anne Marie Engel, who was born March 3, 1784 at Luttern, Bauerschaft, Haddenhausen, Germany. The groom was 18 years old at the time of their marriage and the bride 19.
They were the parents of ten children -all born in Rothenufeln.
They are: Johann Heinrich - Johann Friedrich Wilhelm - Johann ernst - Marie Christine - Sophie Marie Elisabeth - Friedrich Wilhelm - Marie Christine Louise - Christian Friedrich Wilhelm - Anne Marie Louise - Christian Carl Ludwig.
In 1838 a number of families from the Minden area left Germany and came to the United States. The leaders of this group, according to the obituary of Fred Ellerbusch, now in the possession of Miss Sarah Grefe, were Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hoffman, who already had two sons who had settled in America - one in New York (have no further information on this) - and one in Lancaster, Ohio.
The later was probably John E. as we have a copy of his naturalization paprs dated 1838 - record of his marriage in Lancaster in 1836 in addition to other things. Also know Frederick was married in Lancaster in 1839 so he also could have been there.
In the group was Fred Ellerbusch, the Herman Collmeyers and others. It is said the group stopped first in Lancaster, but upon hearing of cheap land in Washington Co., Illinois, decided in 1840 to move on. they traveled by covered wagon and got as far as Carlyle, Illinois, when they had to stop so Mrs. Herman Collmeyer, daughter of Fred Hoffman, could give birth to their first child, a daughter - Louise. After a delay of three weeks they moved on to Washington Co. and settled south of what is now New Minden.
Fred Ellerbusch had been a carpenter in Germany and when he settled in America, used this talent to build all the log cabins in the area. In one of these homes, believed to have been occupied originally by the Fred Hoffman's, now owned by the Carl Krughoff's, one can still see the log cabin, although the wall is now about 1 foot thick, having had several layers of other materials put around it over the years.
The Hoffman's and their descendants apparently acquired much farm land between New Minden and Nashville, as well as some north and west. this is not surprising as our Historical Museum shows much of it was purchased from the Federal Government for $1.25 an acre in 1840.
Herman Collmeyer had a farm for each of his 3 sons - 1 - the Melvin Collmeyer farm is now owned by the 4th generation Collmeyer. the other 2, which are adjoining are owned by Theodore Grefe, whose wife was a descendant, and the one to the north of it, now owned by Harold Reuter was until a few years ago, owned by Collmeyers. Across the highway from the Melvin Collmeyer farm is what was originally the Frederick Hoffman farm - now the Walter Nieman farm - also a Collmeyer descendant. Farms to the north and west are still owned by descendants of William Hoffman. To the northeast is the farm once owned by Frederick Hoffman and his wife Anne (my great-great grandparents.)
The meeting to organize a church and find a name for their new settlement was held on what is now the Melvin Collmeyer farm, November 8, 1846. The name chosen for the settlement was New Minden and St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church of New Minden came into being. Fred Hoffman Sr. donated a tract of land - said to be 55 acres to the congregation for a church and other buildings and a "burying ground". The deed is dated Aug. 23, 1847. I have been told this land was purchased for Fred's son, Carl, who had died at the age of 19 in 1846. this is Christian Carl Ludwig Hoffman who is buried on what is now the Carl Krughoff farm. Mrs. C. Krughoff remembers that there were at least two other grames there - probably the boys parents - Fred and Anne (nee Engel) Hoffman. Although we have searched - have not been able to locate these graves.
Following is the record of the deed of the property to St. John's. Since it is impossible to get a photostatic copy of this deed, I have tried to copy it and the sworn statement that the Hoffmans gave the ground willingly, exactly as it appears in Deed Record Washington Co., Book E, PP.436, as to wording, spelling, capital letters etc. Apparently Anne Marie could not read or write English as it has her mark.
Deed Record Washington County Book E page 436
This Indenture made and entered into this twenty third day of August in the year of OurLord one thousand eight hundred and forty seven by and between Fredrick William Hoffman Mary Engel Hoffman his wife of the County of Washington and State of Illinois of the first part and Frederick Hoffman Hiram Collmeier and William Hoffman Trustees of The Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Church in Minden Settlement, Washington County in the State of Illinois of the Second part witnesseth that the said party of the first part for and in Consideration of their attachment to Said church and their ardent desire for it's prosperity have given donated transferred and conveyed and by these present doth give donate convey and firever Confirm unto the Said party of the Second part ten acres off from the west side of the following tract or parcel of Land to wit the South west quarter of the North west quarter of Section Eighteen in Township one South of Range two west laying in Washington County and State of Illinois to be held by the Said Trustees and their Successors forever to the use and for the benefit of Said Church and a part to be used as a burying ground and the remainder of Said tract of Land after taking off the said ten acres the Said first party doth hereby give donate Convey Confirm unto the Said party the second part to be held by the Said Trustee and their Successors to the use and for the benefit of Said Church for School purposes the Said first party forever reserving unto themselves their heirs and assigns forever all the Stone or rock in or upon the whole Said tract of Land.
In witness whereof we the Said party of the first part hereunto set our hands and Seals the day of year above written.
Frederick W. Hoffman (Seal)
Anna X (her mark) Maria Engel Hoffman (Seal)
Atteste
Joseph Wells
State of Illinois
Washington County
Be it remembered that on this twenty third day of August A.D. 1847 personally come before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace within and for Said County Frederick William Hoffman and Mary Engel Hoffman his wife who are personally known to me to be the persons described in the above deed as having Executed the same who acknowledged the above deed to be their free and Voluntary act for uses and purposes therein mentioned and Mary Engel Hoffman wife of aforesaid being examined Separate and apart from her Said husband and the Contents and meaning of Said deed being fully explained to her acknowledged that She Signed the Same and relinquished her right of dower to the land described in Said deed freely and Voluntarily and without fear or Compulsion of her said husband. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above in written.
Joseph Wells (Seal)
Above information from "Hoffmans 1662 - 1972"
Compiled by Bernice Reinhardt
The names and dates of birth of the children of Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Hoffman and his wife, - nee Engel - were provided by Pastor Muller of Bergkirchen, Germany and taken from that church's records.
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