John Louis Hoffmann
The date and location of John Louis Hoffmann’s birth is still unconfirmed. His marriage certificate says he was born in Virginia, May 26, 1855. His gravestone states his birth date as 1854. I contacted the Virginia Historical Society and asked for help locating Janesville, Virginia which is the city stated as his birthplace in his obituary. They replied that there has never been a city of that name in Virginia. A visit to the Library of Virginia in Richmond yielded no record of his birth anytime during the 1850s.
The only relatives I have found living in Virginia at that time were his mother's two older brothers who lived around Berryville, Clarke County in northern Virginia.
The only relatives I have found living in Virginia at that time were his mother's two older brothers who lived around Berryville, Clarke County in northern Virginia.
His marriage record states that he had resided in New Ulm since 1865 and that his occupation was a wagon maker which was also his father's occupation.
One of the papers passed down in the family is John Hoffmann’s enlistment in the Governor’s Guard of the Minnesota National Guard January 1, 1876. He served through 1880. Family lore is that he was a member of a posse that pursued the James-Younger gang who robbed the Northfield Bank in September 7, 1876. New Ulm is in the vicinity of the pursuit. For a detailed description of the pursuit go to Following the Trail of Jesse James.
A New Ulm Weekly Review article from April 10, 1878 says "John Hoffmann will accept our thanks for a nice sample lot of Montana gold and silver quartz. He writes that our boys are doing nicely." So it seems he tried his luck in the Montana mines.
One of the papers passed down in the family is John Hoffmann’s enlistment in the Governor’s Guard of the Minnesota National Guard January 1, 1876. He served through 1880. Family lore is that he was a member of a posse that pursued the James-Younger gang who robbed the Northfield Bank in September 7, 1876. New Ulm is in the vicinity of the pursuit. For a detailed description of the pursuit go to Following the Trail of Jesse James.
A New Ulm Weekly Review article from April 10, 1878 says "John Hoffmann will accept our thanks for a nice sample lot of Montana gold and silver quartz. He writes that our boys are doing nicely." So it seems he tried his luck in the Montana mines.