According to information provided me by my grandmother (Helen Klug Engel), John George ENGEL, born May 9, 1830, married Katherina HOFFMAN on April 4, 1853 in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio.

---

Katherina, the daughter of Heinrich HOFFMAN (b. March 5, 1804) and Margaret DOSCH, was born April 16, 1833 in Gambach, Hessen Darmstadt, Germany. Katherina immigrated to the U.S. with her family when she was 16 years old (approximately 1849), locating in Cincinnati, Ohio. Margaret Dosch Hoffman reportedly died in Cincinnati and is buried there, but I have not yet found the date and location, although I believe it to have been prior to 1870.

Katherina had two known sisters who also immigrated. Anna Margaret Hoffman was born in 1830, married Caspar Frederick, Jr., and was the mother of 11 children. She died in Arcola, Douglas County, Illinois in 1884. Elizabeth Hoffman was born about 1832, married George Schlosser, and reportedly had 10 children.

Henry Hoffman, age 65, appears with John and Catherine INGLE in the 1870 Douglas County, Arcola Twp., as family #258.

INGLE, John G. 39 M Farmer $15000 $2000 Hesse Darmstrad
Catherine 36 F Keeping house Hesse Darmstrad
Henry 14 M work on farm Ohio FM
Elizabeth 12 F Ohio FM
Anna M. 6 F Ohio FM
Mary M. 5 F Ohio FM
May C. 2 F Ohio FM
HOFFMAN, Henry 65 M Hesse Darmstrad FM
HOSSELL, Joseph 22 M Badin FM
MORRIS, Cal 17 M day laborer ILL

*The FM following the place of birth, shows that the father and mother are foreign born.

Henry HOFFMAN was found in the 1880 Douglas County, IL, Arcola Twp. census, family #53

CASPER, Frederic M 51 farmer Germ Germ Germ
Margaret F 44 wife keeps house Germ Germ Germ
Henry M 23 son farmer O. Germ Germ
Caroline F 17 dau lives at home O. Germ Germ
George M 15 son works on farm ILL Germ Germ
Peter M 13 son ILL Germ Germ
John M 11 son ILL Germ Germ
Frank M 9 son ILL Germ Germ
Lewis M 7 son ILL Germ Germ
Amelia F 5 dau ILL Germ Germ
HOFFMAN, Henry M 76 Fa Law Germ Germ Germ

NOTE: Although the above family is listed as Frederic and Margaret Casper, their correct names are Caspar and Margaret Frederick: brother-in-law and sister of Katherina Hoffman Engel. It appears they had moved to Illinois prior to 1865, since George, age 15, was born in Illinois.

Henrich Hoffman eventually moved to Platte County, Nebraska, to live with John George and Katherina Engel. He died in Platte County on February 13, 1885 at the age of 80 years, 11 months and 8 days. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery northeast of Columbus.

---

John George and Katherina Hoffman Engel had the following children while living in Ohio:

Henry, born February 1, 1856 in Ohio, married Magdalena Erb on November 3, 1887. Their children: George Henry (m. first Margeuritha Mueller and second Mrs. Bertha Andrews); Edward Michael (m. Lillie S. Settgast); Maisy Emma (m. W. D. Millner); William Andrew; Minnie May (m. Reno Henry Petersen); John Fred; Elizabeth K.; and Harry (m. Katherine M. Louis). Henry died August 5, 1924.

Elizabeth (Lizzie), born about 1858, first married Henry Yunker in January 1877 in Douglas County, Illinois and born to them was Anna Kathyrn (m. Frank Clyde Stevenson). After Henry's death, she married Frederick C. Gatz. Children born to Lizzie and Fred were Fred; Tina; Clara; Amelia; Bill; Edward; Clinton; and Charles.

Anna Margaretha, born October 28, 1863 in Lemon township, Butler County, Ohio, married Willis E. Anderson on April 12, 1884. The children of Anna and Willis Anderson were Alex D.; Robert; Edwin G.; and Willis Jr. She died about 1935 in California.

Malinda (Linda) was born about 1866 in Ohio. She married John Henry Krueger (b. May 28, 1860 in Jefferson county, Wisconsin) on November 6, 1881. They were the parents of Anna (m. Adolph Frank Rickert and later Arthur C. McGann); Minnie; Marie Kathryn (Katie); Elizabeth (Lizzie); Charlotta (Lottie); Ruth (m. ? Pearl); Grace; and Leonard. Linda died November 18, 1912.

Listed in the 1900 census in Douglas County, Illinois, Arcola Twp., taken 14 June 1900:

KRUGER, Henry head M Jun 1859 40 Wi Ger Ger Farmer
Linda wife F Mar 1866 34 OH Ger Ger
Anna B. dau F Nov 1882 17 Ne Ger Ger
Minnie dau F Sep 1884 15 Ne Ger Ger
Katie M. dau F Oct 1886 13 Ne Ger Ger
Lottie dau F Nov 1893 6 Ne Ger Ger
Ruth dau F Oct 1895 4 IL Ger Ger
Grace dau F Sep 1897 2 IL Ger Ger
SHOOK, Nathan ser M May 1881 19 IL IL IL

Henry and Linda (Malinda Engel) Kruger had been married 18 years, 7 children born, 6 living.

Mary (Mollie) Katherine, born April 5, 1868 in Middletown, Ohio, married Fred Luckey, Jr. on October 12, 1884. Children born to Fred and Mollie Luckey were Louis C. (m. Nellie Taylor); William Henry (m. Emma Elise Loseke); Charles; Louise (m. Herman W. Meyer); and Emil Fred (m. Mary Byrnes). Mollie died April 6, 1937 in Columbus, Platte County, Nebraska.

(John) George was born November 30, 1870 and married Emma Erb on January 28, 1895. They were the parents of Paul George (m. Donzella Ann Mack); Emma L. (m. Paul McDill); Charles D.; Henry Andrew (m. Ruth Tuening); David Harry (m. Roberta Pearl Campbell); Elizabeth May; Willie J.; Noah Erb (m. Lucille Burkeman); and Robert M. George died January 14, 1960.

William Carl was born January 15, 1873 in Douglas County, Illinois. According to his obituary, he came to Nebraska at the age of six with his parents and located on a farm seven miles northeast of Columbus. On November 30, 1893, he married Clara Rickert who was born December 18, 1875 in Colfax County, Nebraska to John Ludvig Rickert (Rickers) Sr. and Catherine Elizabeth Heibel. Children born to William and Clara were Katherine (Katie) (m. Otto Carl Mueller); and Siebert William (m. Helen Magdalena Klug). In the summer of 1923, William was seriously injured when he fell 40 feet from the top of a windmill on his farm. He had climbed the windmill to make repairs. Slipping, he fell through the air, alighting on his feet and then rolling over. He was removed to the Columbus hospital where it was found that one leg was broken and his back severely wrenched. He was a lifelong member of St. John's Lutheran church, where he was confirmed, and served a number of years on the church council. He also served on the District 44 school board. In 1951, William and Clara moved to 3017 21st Street in Columbus, Nebraska. They celebrated 67 years of marriage before William died on March 27, 1961 at the age of 88 years. Clara died October 30, 1969 at the age of 93 years.

It was noted in papers that I have that John George and Katherina had three children who died in infancy: Carolyn; John; and Katherine. It is not known at this time where they were born or buried.

John George Engel's death on July 30, 1889 was recorded in the paper as follows:

District 44 and Vicinity
J. G. Engel, who has been a great sufferer for the last two years, died quietly at his home just east of the schoolhouse last Wednesday at 6 p.m. The deceased was a quiet, inoffensive man who was liked by everyone that knew him; in his death the family lose their best counselor, a kind husband and father. The funeral was from the house last Friday at 2 p.m. His remains were interred in the German-Lutheran church yard on Shell creek, of which church he was a devoted member. At the funeral was noticed the following persons from the city: Mr. and Mrs. H. Ragatz, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Lewis, Mr. Hoffman, Mr. Greisen, L. Jaeggi, C. J. Hickok, and Rev. Geo. Morton of the Congregation church.--Columbus Journal, Wed., August 7, 1889, pg. 3

Katherina died March 14, 1923 in Platte County, Nebraska at the age of 89. Her death was reported in the newspaper as follows:

HEAD OF FAMILY OF 5 GENERATIONS DIES
Mrs. Catherine Engel, Nearly 90, Dies at Home of Son After a Week's Illness

Mrs. Catherine Engel, head of a family of five generations, died at 8:30 last night, at the home of her son, William Engel, 7 miles northeast of Columbus. Death was due to heart trouble and complications incident to her extreme age. She would have been 90 years old on April 16. For more than 20 years past her health had been feeble, but her final illness, confining her to bed, was of little more than a week's duration.

Mrs. Engel lived to know four generations of her descendants. Nearly two years ago she sat for her portrait with a daughter, a granddaughter, a great-granddaughter, and a great-great-granddaughter, the latter being the infant daughter of Mrs. Earl Kluck. Mrs. Engel's living descendants include three sons and three daughters, 36 grand children, 37 great-grandchildren and the one great-great-grandchild.

Born in Gambach, Hessen Darmstadt, Germany, April 16, 1933, she came to America when she was 16 years old, locating in Cincinnati. On April 4, 1853 she was married to John G. Engel. In 1872 they moved to Illinois, residing there 10 years, and then came to Nebraska in 1882, buying the home-place, 7 miles northeast of the city, where she made her home the remainder of her life with her youngest son, William Engel. Her husband's death occured July 29, 1889.

The sons and daughters who survive her are Henry, of Richland; George, of Central City; William, near Columbus; Mrs. Fred Gatz, of O'Neill; Mrs. Anna Anderson, and Mrs. Fred Luckey, of Columbus.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been definitely made, but the services will probably be conducted by Rev. Hugo Welchert at the Shell creek church Sunday.Columbus Telegram, March 15, 1923

Sherri Brakenhoff © 2000