Biography of John Hoffelder, pages 859/860/861/861.  History of DeKalb 
County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914.



John Hoffelder

Among the substantial men whose labor and influence gave impetus to the 
agricultural interest and general material improvement of DeKalb county 
in years gone by and who today occupies a high place in the esteem of 
the community in which he lives is the worthy gentleman whose name 
introduces this article. Connected as he was for a period of years with 
one of the most important official positions in the county and 
prominently identified with the material growth of his locality, he has 
been a forceful factor in agricultural circles and a leading citizen in 
all the that concerns the public good.                John Hoffelder 
was born in 1843 in south Bavaria, Germany, and is the son of Francis 
Charles Hoffelder and wife.  The subject was reared in his native land 
and received a good, practical education in the schools of that 
locality, remaining at home until 1870.  In the meantime he had 
followed the vocation of a farmer and also learned the trade of a 
weaver, raising flax and hemp in summer and spinning and weaving it 
into cloth in the winter.  This was all done by hand, somewhat after 
the fashion of the early pioneers in this country, excepting that it 
was done by organized shop work.  In the summer of 1870 Mr. Hoffelder 
concluded to emigrated to America, the land of golden opportunities, 
and he reached Castle Garden in New York harbor on August 7, 1870. In 
November of that year he came to Smithfield township, DeKalb county, 
Indiana, coming directly to the German settlement, which was located in 
the midst of a dense tract of timber.  The following spring Mr. 
Hoffelder went to near Cleveland, Ohio, where for a season he was 
employed in farm work, but in November, 1871, he returned to DeKalb 
county and he and his brother-in-law rented a little place near where 
they now live.  In October, 1878, Mr. Hoffelder had about determined to 
go further west, but his landlord requested him to stay, offering to 
sell him the place on which he had been working.  Mr. Hoffelder had 
performed an enormous amount of hard work, interest rated were ten per 
cent, on an average and only part of his land was cleared.  He had 
worked hard on this land nearly seven years, and had has a struggle to 
make both ends meet. The low part of the land had not been drained and 
altogether conditions were not very promising for the near future. 
However, after much bargaining, in which Mr. Hoffelder showed good 
business judgement and sagacity, he closed the deal and secured the 
land.  It was a regular wilderness, but to its improvement he at once 
applied himself with a zeal and energy that soon showed definite 
results. Much drainage and ditching was required, but some of land 
which before had been the most worthless eventually became of the 
greatest value.  Mr. Hoffelder’s purchase comprised one hundred and 
twenty acres and to this he has during the subsequent years applied his 
energies with a soundness of judgement that has been productive of very 
gratifying results until today few farmers in his locality are held in 
higher esteem than be.  He has erected a comfortable and attractive 
residence, a commodious and well arranged barn, while the big yard 
surrounding the home has been set out with beautiful shade trees and 
shrubbery which adds greatly to the attractiveness and value of the 
place.  In the spring of 1912 Mr. Hoffelder planted six thousand 
nursery forest trees of various kinds.  The following summer was 
extremely dry and many of these trees were lost.  However, two thousand 
more were planted and fourteen hundred more will be planted in the 
spring of 1914, altogether covering about six acres of land.               
Politically, Mr. Hoffelder has been a life-long Democrat, and in 1888 
he as elected a member of the board of county commissioners and was re-
elected to this office, thus serving six years.  Mr. Hoffelder’s record 
as a county commissioner is one of which he has good reason to be 
proud. When he entered upon the duties of his office but little real 
system prevailed in the conduct of the county affairs.  Bridges over 
the county were cheap and flimsy and were rapidly wearing out, new ones 
being needed. Mr. Hoffelder had traveled over Germany while a soldier 
in the army there and had also seen considerable of the county since 
coming to America and knew pretty well what good bridges should be 
like. The commissioners determined to revoluntionize the methods of 
doing business and to this end they insisted on expert advice and exact 
and complete specifications, competition on bids and inspection of work 
being done, which should be approved before being paid for.  All these 
things tended to not only secure a better quality of work, but also 
saved the county many thousands of dollars.  For this work alone Mr. 
Hoffelder deserves the everlasting regard and commendation of his 
fellow citizens.                In 1873 Mr. Hoffelder married Frances 
Miller, who was born in Chicago. Illinois, the daughter of Francis 
Antone and Magdalene (Schmidt) Miller. Her parents were native of 
German who came to America and settled in Smithfield township, DeKalb 
county, Indiana, where they spent the remainder of their lives.    To 
Mr. and Mrs. Hoffelder have been born six children: Francis Charles who 
lives near the Barker church in Smithfield township, married Louise  
Dapp, and they have five children, Helene, Esther, John, Francis and 
Agnes; Catherine died at the age of sixteen years; John A. lives with 
his father; Lena is also at home; Frances is the wife of Emil Schiffle, 
who lives north of the Barker church in Smithfield township, and they 
have five children, Carl, Adolph, Raymond, deceased, John and Frances; 
Mary A. is the wife of Fred Brooks, of Cleveland, where he is a 
successful engineer, and they have one child, Mary; Peter H. is at home 
with his father. Mr. Hoffelder and his family are earnest, faithful and 
prominent members of the Catholic church, to the support of which they 
contribute liberally.  Mr. Frances Hoffelder died January 29,  1895, 
and in 1897 Mr. Hoffelder married Mrs. Mary S.(May) Gfeller, the widow 
of Frederick Gfeller, deceased.  Mr. Hoffelder and the members of his 
family are popular in the circles in which they move and are highly 
respected by all who know them. Mr. Hoffelder and the members of this 
family are popular in the circles in which they move and are highly 
respected by all who know them. Mr. Hoffelder has attained success in 
spite of most discouraging circumstances.  Coming to a new community 
with no knowledge of its language, he was not able to speak English 
until after fifty years of age, but he now is able to converse with 
considerable freedom and speaks well.  He has had a splendid career, 
including three months’ service in the German army, during which he 
took part in the war of 1866, in which his country separated from the 
Hapsburgs of Austria, and resulted in the welding of the various states 
comprising the present German empire under the Hohenzollerns.  
Personally, Mr. Hoffelder is a warm and true friend.  Fearlessness is 
one of his marked characteristics and he hesitates not to doe what he 
considers his whole duty regardless of the consequences. Above all, he 
has been a man of unquestionable integrity and unblemished honor and he 
will do nothing, which will lower himself in his own esteem or that of 
others.  His standard is high and he has always endeavored to live so 
that his example may be imitated by the young men of the rising 
generation. Ever ready to contribute of his means and influence to all 
objects for the material, charitable or religious welfare of the 
community, he is considered one of the most enterprising and 
progressive men of the locality, and in a large sense he is and always   
has been a true benefactor of his fellow men.



Submitted by: 

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com