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John George Hofmann
He Used "George"
 This information is predominately from the McHenry History 1885-1985, partially quoted below, along with edits from this writer.
John George Hofmann was born 27 March 1845 at Reippersberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. His wife Anna Karoline Huebner was born 24 January 1849 at Hollenbach, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. They were married In Germany. George arrived in New York in August 1872. His wife followed in June 1873.
Their only son, Herman K., was born in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois on 11 January 1876 and their oldest daughter, Thekla, was born in St.
Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota on 14 April 1878.
In 1880 the Hofmanns were in Moorhead, Clay County, Minnesota where George was working at a brewery, probably the large Red River Valley Brewery Company.
The Hofmanns were attracted to the Villard area of Dakota Territory by a land settlement promotion and thus became the first white settlers at Villard. Their traveling companions who were also attracted by the promotion were much disillusioned by the wild land and returned to where they came from.
On 2 June 1882 George was appointed postmaster at Villard making him the first postmaster in McHenry County. He carried mail from Bismarck to Villard, serving thirty-seven familes along the way.
In the 1885 Census, the family is listed in McHenry County where George is a brewer. He was also editor of The Villard Leader from 6 March 1886 to 23 November 1889.
Daughters Wilhelmenia (Minnie) born 14 April 1887 and May Caroline born 16 November 1889 were among the first white children born at Villard.
Because of the ill health of Mrs. Hofmann, the family moved to Dallas, Polk County, Oregon where George opened a meatmarket. In June of 1900 they were living in Astoria, Clatsop County, Oregon with George as a brewer. They then moved to Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon to be near a doctor where George died there on 28 April 1906. Karoline died in Portland on 2 March 1930.
Son Herman Karl remained in McHenry County. He married Goldie Violet Kuhnhenn on 13 May 1921 in McHenry County. Two children were from that marriage; Doris Karoline born 22 July 1922 and George Darrel born 18 September 1925. Hermann had various farm lands in Villard, Wager, and Karlsruhe Townships.
The three Hofmann daughters married and each raised one son. Thekla married Henry J. Gernand on 9 January 1914 in Vancouver, Clarke County, Washington. They had one son George Henry born 23 March 1908 and died on 1 September 1996 in Multnomah County, He was married to Nellie and they had one daughter Evelyn. Henry died 30 September 1943 in Portland.
Wilhelmina (Minnie) married Phillips Beck and they had one son Frederick A. born 18 July 1915 in Portland and died 1 June 1993 in North Bend, Coos County, Oregon. Minnie died in Portland on 22 October 1951 and Phillips died 9 April 1957 in Portland.
May Karoline married Earl Eugene Ware but they were divorced by the 1930 census. They had one son Eugene Hofmann born 17 March 1915 and died 4 December 1969. Eugene was a U. S. Navy Chief Boatswain Mate serving in World War II and Korea. May died on 27 December 1976 in Portland. There is no burial record for May.
George Burial
Karoline Burial
Herman Burial
Goldie Burial
Doris Burial
Henry Gernand Burial
Minnie Burial
Phillips Burial
Frederick Burial
Eugene Burial
Anyone interested in saving their McHenry County ancestor family information on this NDGenWeb McHenry County website please contact Mike Peterson - lineage40@cox.net. I would be happy to do what I can to publish it for you within our Families Section.
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