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- BIOGRAPHY:
http://www.genealogy.com/users/c/h/r/David-Alan-Christianson/FILE/0004text.txt
FRED J. AND KATHARINA HOFF Katherina and Fred J. Hoff holding great granddaughter Neala Singer, 6 months old. Fred J. was born December 5, 1888, to Johan Hoff and Rosina, nee Heiser, Hoff in a sod house in rural Campbell County. Fred attended the rural school, had an eager interest in good health, and had dreams of becoming a medical doctor. However, the lack of a cash income kept him from fulfilling the dream of his youth. Katharina was born February 10, 1888 to George G. Neuharth and Christina, nee Goehring, in McPherson County. Being the second eldest, of fourteen children, she did not have the privilege of attending an English school--for she was needed at home. Her education was in the German language provided by her home and church. (Her father was a Sunday school teacher and church organist for many years.) Both the Neuharth and Hoff families were of German descent who had come to America from Kassel, South Russia, in 1874. On September 28, 1912 Fred and Katie were married at Eureka, and were lifelong members of the Eureka Reformed Church. They farmed eight miles southwest of Eureka. Fred owned a threshing machine. He and his crew threshed for many area farmers. He found pleasure in nature, such as planting fruit trees and watching them develop, and raising a vegetable garden. He also enjoyed playing his harmonica. Katie was a creative homemaker, who enjoyed raising flowers, crocheting, handiwork and reading. She also was the German teacher in the family. A heritage which her children are ever grateful for. Ten children were born to this union, five sons and five daughters. The six living today are: Esther, born January 15, 1915, married to Edward Lindemann, rural Mound City; Edwin F., born November 3, 1917, married to Bertha Kirschenmann, rural Eureka; Violet E., born July 8, 1922, married to Reinhold Lindemann, Eureka; Leah, born October 6, 1928, married to John Pfahl, Papillon, Nebraska; Gideon, born July 18, 1931, married to Priscilla Docktor, Lodi, California; Benjamin, born March 9, 1935, married to Loretta Docktor, Medford, Oregon. The four deceased are: Ella, born February 23, 1914; the late Mrs. R. Lindemann, died August 1974; Hulda, born February 16, 1916, the late Mrs. Walter Beck; Gottfried, born September 1920; and Alvin born January 4, 1925. The Hoffs were privileged to celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary on October 29, 1962. They both have passed away, leaving 23 grandchildren and 51 great grandchildren. HARRY H. AND LORENE HOFF Denise, Curtis, Harry and Lorene In 1879, Harry H. Hoff's grandfather, Michael Hoff, Sr., moved to Menno, South Dakota, from South Russia, where he lived with his family until 1889. Michael then took a preemption and timber claim ten miles east of Eureka in March 1889, and married Katharina Gohl on June 6, 1889. They had ten children, one being Henry, born October 3, 1900, who farmed with his family. On March 7, 1926, he married Lydia Kraemer of Ashley, North Dakota; after which he started his own farm. Henry and Lydia had two children, Eileen (Mrs. Dellver Burrer) and Harry. On July 7, 1957, Harry married Lorene Zimmerman, daughter of Edwin and Lydia (Kautz) Zimmerman of Artas, South Dakota. In 1958, Henry and Lydia moved into Eureka after farming thirty-two years. The land has been in the family for one hundred years. Henry drove out to help with the farming and Lydia helped at the Dellver Burrers and the Hoff farms, wherever she was needed. Harry and Lorene have two children, Curtis and Denise. Curtis was born July 8, 1958. He attended the Eureka School and after graduation, attended the Hub Area Vo-Tech in Aberdeen, while also helping with the farming. Curtis is the fourth generation on the homestead. On September 24, 1983, Curtis and Julie Pfeiffer, daughter of Norman and Viola Pfeiffer of Eureka, were married. She attended Eureka School and Stewart's School of Hairstyling in Aberdeen. Curtis and Julie live on the farm with Harry and Lorene and run a dairy and grain operation. Denise was born January 20, 1961. She attended Eureka School and after graduation, she attended Lake Area Vo-Tech in Watertown. On September 15, 1984, Denise and Kenneth Hier of McLaughlin, South Dakota, were married. He also attended Lake Area Vo-Tech. They are now living in Mobridge, South Dakota, where Denise is employed at Dady Drug as a pharmacy assistant and Kenneth is working with Web Water Development as a civil technician. The Hoff family has gone through hardships of drought, but they have had good prices and crops. Most of all they enjoy their family and friends. Lorene's brothers and sisters are Mrs. Frances (Milbert) Joachim, Mrs. Gladys (Floyd) Beck, Mrs. Rose Marie (Alvin) Wiest, LaVern, LeRoy, Steven, and Keith. They belong to the Eureka Reformed Church where Lorene is a member of the Ladies Aid.
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