Joseph Hoffman
1851-1914

Laurel and Lowell’s great-grandfather (father’s mother’s father) was Joseph Hoffman. He is pictured above with his wife Marie Kolar (this is the only photograph we have of either one of them. Joseph was born 11 Jan 1851 in Netunice, Bohemia (see his birth certificate on the Hoffman Genealogy page), the third child of Bohemian immigrants Joseph Hoffman and Marie Matas.

Marriage, 1872

After emigrating to the US with his family in 1865, Joseph married Marie Kolar, also from Bohemia, on 3 Jun 1872 in Chicago, as shown in their marriage record below from the Catholic registers.

FamilySearch: "Illinois, Chicago, Catholic Church Records, 1833-1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-XHG3-1G4?cc=1452409&wc=M66P-5ZS%3A40444701%2C40638801 : 20 May 2014), St Wenceslaus Parish (Chicago: DeKoven St) > Baptisms, marriages 1871-1886 > image 143 of 173; Catholic Church parishes, Chicago Diocese, Chicago.

The Hoffman Family in the 1895 Iowa Census

Joseph and Marie had nine children between 1875 and 1896 while moving from Chicago to Minnesota and then Iowa. Below is the family listed in the 1895 Iowa Census from New Oregon Township in Howard County, when there were seven children. Our grandmother Julia was the oldest, while her older sister Kate was already married. The last child Arthur “Archie” would be born the following year.

"Iowa State Census, 1895", New Oregon Twp., Howard County, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VT3C-CJX : Sun Mar 10 04:54:52 UTC 2024), Entry for Joseph Hoffman and Marie Hoffman, 1895.

Map of Iowa

This county map, produced for an atlas for the Columbian Worlds Fair in 1893, shows the area where the Hoffmans were living after they moved from Chicago in the early 1880s and before they went west to Oregon in the early 1900s. If you enlarge (click on the image and then zoom in) you can locate:

  • Fort Atkinson, Winneshiek County, where son Joseph was born in 1884

  • Cresco, Howard County, where sons Edward (1886) and James (1894) were born

  • New Oregon, Howard County, 1895 census

  • Protivin, Howard County, where son Archie was born in 1896

  • Chickasaw County, where daughter Kate and husband Vinnie Shores settled

Learn more about the children of Joseph and Marie Hoffman in the Hoffman Siblings section on the Hoffman Cousins page.

David Rumsey Map Collection, https://davidrumsey.com, Iowa in the “Columbian World's Fair Atlas,” George F. Cram & Co, 1893 : downloaded 1 Dec 2025.

Moving to Oregon, 1902

Joseph purchased property in the town of Scio, Linn County, Oregon, on 21 Jan 1902. In 2018 our cousin James Hoffman obtained copies of the deed and the deed map. The map is shown below, and you can click on the image to view the deed as well.

Albany County Courthouse, Old Deed Books [Record of Deeds], vol. A-Z, 27-87, 1854-1907, obtained by James Hoffman, October 2018. See https://sos.oregon.gov/archives/records/county/Pages/linn-inventory.aspx.

The Hoffman Family in the 1910 Federal Census

The 1910 US Census shows Joseph, Marie and three of their sons, Joseph, James and Archie, living on their farmland in Linn County. Joseph Jr. (age 25, not 35) was a jeweler, James “Jim” (16) helped out on the farm and Archie (13) was in school

Ancestry.com, 1910 United States Federal Census > Oregon > Linn > Santiam > District 0190, image 6 of 14 : downloaded 25 Nov 2024.

Ancestry.com, 1910 United States Federal Census > Oregon > Linn > Santiam > District 0190, image 6 of 14 : downloaded 25 Nov 2024.

Joseph Hoffman’s Death in 1914

Joseph Hoffman died on 16 Jul 1914 in Scio. His death certificate below shows he died of cancer (his mother’s maiden name is incorrect). He is buried in Franklin Butte Masonic Cemetery in Scio.

FindAGrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17372272/joseph-hoffman, death certificate attached in the memorial : downloaded 25 Nov 2024.

Marie Hoffman in the 1920 Federal Census

The 1920 US Census shows the widow Marie Hoffman, age 68, living with her youngest son Arthur “Archie” and his wife Mabel, ages 23 and 18 (they had married the previous year).

Ancestry.com, 1920 United States Federal Census > Oregon > Linn > Santiam > District 0298, image 12 of 17 : downloaded 30 Nov 2025.

Joseph Hoffman in Court

Nov 1911: Joseph Hoffman is accused of stealing turkeys.

Hoffmans in the News

Newspapers.com, Albany Evening Herald, 12 Nov 1911, p. 1 : downloaded 30 Nov 2025.

Marie Hoffman Donation

Dec 1918: Marie donates to the Bohemian National Alliance.

Historic Oregon Newspapers, The Scio Tribune and Santiam News, Consolidated, 12 Dec 1918, p. 1 : downloaded 30 Nov 2025.

Stanley Hoffman Dies

Nov 1922: Obituary for Stanley Hoffman, oldest son of Joseph and Marie.

Historic Oregon Newspapers, The Scio Tribune, 30 Nov 1922, p. 1 : downloaded 30 Nov 2025.

Marie Kolar Hoffman’s Death in 1927

Joseph Hoffman’s wife Marie “Mary” Kolar Hoffman died on 14 Nov 1927 in Lebanon, Oregon. Her death certificate and newspaper articles with her obituary and estate are shown below. We know she was born in Bohemia, not Chicago, but we do not yet know the true identities of her parents. She is buried in Franklin Butte Masonic Cemetery in Scio.

Death Certificate

Obituary

Estate

FindAGrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17372274/mary-hoffman,
death certificate attached in the memorial : downloaded 25 Nov 2024.

Newspapers.com, Albany Democrat Herald, 16 Nov 1927, p. 1 : downloaded 13 Apr 2016.

Newspapers.com, Albany Democrat Herald, 26 Nov 1927, p. 1 : downloaded 21 Jul 2025.