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.
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.
Iowa Census, 1895
Joseph and Marie had nine children between 1875 and 1896 while moving from Chicago to Minnesota and then Iowa. Below is the family in Howard County, Iowa in 1895, when there were seven children, with our grandmother Julia being the oldest. Kate her older sister, was already married and the last child Archie would be born the following year.
"Iowa State Census, 1895", 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.
Moving to Oregon, 1902
Joseph purchased property in the town of Scio, Linn County, Oregon, on 21 Jan 1902. In 2018 cousin James Hoffman obtained copies of the deed and the deed map - the latter is shown below (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.
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.
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 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 obituary 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.
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.