Hoffmeier Family <<--

Beda HOFMEIER

Generation 3

Beda was born June 30, 1842 in Solothurn Canton, Switzerland and baptized July 1 at the Catholic Church in Nuglar, Nuglar-Sankt Pantaleon. He was the first son born to Johannes and Maria and the only son to live beyond a year of age.

In the 1860 Federal Census, Beda is listed as "Peter", age 18, in the household with his parents and sisters in Franklin County, Indiana. He is working as a laborer. In 1870, he is listed as "Bettarg", age 27, with his parents and 2 youngest sisters. The family has moved to Harrison Township in Spencer County, Indiana. There is also a Peter Hofmeier listed in Ferdinand, Dubois County, Indiana in 1870. His age is 27, born in Switzerland, and he is working as a blacksmith. Significantly, in later census records and city directories, Beda's work is listed as blacksmith. Additionally, Ferdinand is close to the boundary of Harrison township.

Beda returned to the Cincinnati area and married Rosalia Hofmeier on February 18, 1873. Beda and Rosalia welcomed their first born on the 28th of March, 1874. Rosalia died March 4, 1877 per findagrave. Beda married Pauline GOEBELS on June 18, 1878.

The family was living in West Harrison, Indiana when the census taker came around on June 11, 1880. West Harrison is in Dearborn County, adjacent to Harrison, Ohio. Beda was working as a blacksmith. In addition to his son John, now age 5, Beda and Pauline have a new baby girl, Rose, age 1, born in Indiana. Less than 6 weeks after the census was taken, little Rose died. She is buried beside Rosalia in Saint John the Baptist Cemetery, Harrison, Ohio.

Beda and Paulina had 3 more boys and a girl. By the time the 1900 census was taken, they had moved to the city of Cincinnati. It was recorded that Beda and Pauline had both come to the U.S. in 1853, Beda born in Switzerland and Pauline born in Germany. In this census, Beda's occupation is listed as Machinist. It also states that he had not worked for 3 months in the past year. The two oldest sons were employed as News agents and the two youngest sons as Shoe cutters. Beda died in December 1900 and was buried in the cemetery in Harrison, with his first wife and little girl.

Although the oldest son, John, was enumerated with the family in Cincinnati in the 1900 census, he is also listed in Fayetteville, Fayette, West Virginia: John Hofmier, born Jan 1874, employed as a Coal Miner. It appears that John assumed the role of head of the family after his father's death. His step-mother Pauline and half-sister Lona, who was just 13 when Beda died, are living with John in West Virginia in both 1910 and 1920 census years.

John began drilling for oil in West Virginia. He was successful and eventually drawn to Texas. By the 1930 census, he is living in Fort Worth, married, working as an oil and coal operator. Pauline and Lona moved to Texas also. Pauline and Lona are in their own house in Fort Worth in 1930. Lona married later that year and eventually settled in Copus Christi with her husband. Pauline move back east and was living in Covington, Kentucky where her son Frank lived. She died in Covington in 1932 and was buried in the family plot in Harrison, Ohio.

Beda's children:

For more information, see the findagrave entries for this family starting with Beda

Beda Hoffmeier marriage 1873

Beda Hofmeier and Rosalie Hofmeier marriage record 1873