Mathias Joseph HOFFMAN

  General Notes:

Catherine and Mathias' marriage record indicates that Mathias was the son of Bartholemew Hoffman and his wife, Anna Veronica (Bings) Hoffman, who came from Denn in 1844.

Where Mathias was born is unknown. Mathias died 6/12/1854 in Gross Point, IL. In June of 1844 Bartholemew and Anna Hoffman left Denn, Prussia (which no longer exists), near Trier, and sailed with their family to America. In late summer they arrived in the Gross Point area and bought 100 acres of land for $6.00 an acre. There were five daughters and three sons, including Mathias Joseph.

  Death Notes:

In June of 1844 Bartholemew and Anna Hoffman left Denn, Prussia (which no longer exists), near Trier, and sailed with their family to America. In late summer they arrived in the Gross Point area and bought 100 acres of land for $6.00 an acre. There were five daughters and three sons, including Mathias Joseph.

Several letters were sent back to Denn between 1845 and 1855 by members of the family. Hand written copies of the letters were made in case the originals became lost in the mail. The copies were kept within the family and were eventually translated from German to
English. Of particular interest is a letter of February 2nd, 1855, from Franz Joseph Hoffman concerning the death of his brother.

What follows is an English translation of a part of that letter:

"I report the sad news of the death of my brother. He was killed by lightning on Monday, June 12, 1854. It happened at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. On that fatal day he was very nervous and disturbed. He would start to work on something and throw it aside to try something else. My sister Catherine and brother-in-law (John) Schmitz were close to the house when a thunderstorm came up. There were cattle grazing in the meadow including some stray cattle, because the place was not entirely fenced in. I sprang through the rain to see about the children. My brother Mathias said he had to go and bring the cattle in, though it was raining hard. He took an umbrella, lit his pipe, and with a smile on his face went out. After a little while we heard a terrible thunderclap. I said to those present how one can meet death and referred to cases of people killed by lightning back by the old home, not knowing that the same thing had just happened here. When he did not return, Schmitz went to look for him. He noticed something in the tall grass, went to it and found the body of Mathias Joseph. After the return of Schmitz, his mother and sister, and good
excellent faithful wife Catherine (Schneider), came to the house. You can imagine the scene, the crying and confusion my pen cannot describe. At his death he was fully clothed but they had been torn to rags. On his neck we noticed a small mark where the lightning had struck. Down his body and leg was a streak, and on one boot was a burn hole the size of a pea.

"After the accident became known many people gathered and carried the body in the house. I ran to the pastor, but he was absent on a vacation. Another priest was there, Pastor Zucker, just ready to leave. When I told him of the sad occurrence he immediately decided
to go with me. He himself put the body on the "Schof" and buried it the next day. At the grave he preached a beautiful sermon. This priest is from Dusseldorf. Well, Mathias is now at rest and may the Lord over life and death let eternal light shine on him."

Mathias married Catherine SCHNEIDER, daughter of Anton SCHNEIDER and Gertrude HUERTER, on 21 Apr 1853. (Catherine SCHNEIDER was born on 25 Nov 1832 in Kehrig, Prussia and died on 18 Nov 1907.)

  Marriage Notes:

Their marriage record indicates that Mathias was the son of Bartholemew Hoffman and his wife, Anna Veronica Bings, who came from Denn in 1844.

Mathias married Catherine Schneider, daughter of Anton Schneider and Gertrude Huerter, on 21 Apr 1853. (Catherine Schneider was born on 25 Nov 1832 in Kehrig, Prussia and died on 18 Nov 1907.)