Heinrich Friedrich August (F.C.) Hoppe
F. C. Hoppe Family
L to R:Ed, Mabel, Agnes, Frank, Ross, F. C., Sophia, Olive, Charles, John, Anna, Art and Fred
The oldest child, know as "Fred" or "F. C.," was born October 28, 1860 in Bantorf, Germany. He was eight years old when the family moved to America.
At the age of nineteen, according to the 1880 Nebraska Census, Fred was working as a hired hand on the farm of John McTurk Gibson, a Scottish farmer located one mile northeast of the Hoppe farm. On September 14, 1881 he married the farmer’s daughter, Agnes, in her home. Agnes was born August 24, 1863 in Marengo, Iowa. Her parents homesteaded in Jefferson County in 1868. It is said that Fred’s father did not approve of the marriage since Agnes was not German.
Fred and Agnes lived and farmed in the area until 1892 when they moved to Kansas in Phillips County. In Nebraska, five children were born to them: John Frederick, November 3, 1882; Sophia Leola, November 7, 1884; Charles Henry, September 30, 1886; Agnes Josephine, November 3, 1888; and Francis (Frank) Herman, December 24, 1890.
Fred was a rancher and farmer in the area of Gretna, Kansas. He raised registered Hereford cattle and was a prominent member of the national Hereford breeder’s organization, regularly attending meetings in Kansas, Nebraska and other states.
After moving to Kansas, seven more children were born into the family: Mabel Louise, January 24, 1893; Frederick Irving, January 19, 1895; Anna Margaret, March 6, 1897; Arthur William, February 7, 1899; Edwin Herbert, June 17, 1901; Olive Eleanor, October 14, 1903; and Ross Aaron, October 16, 1906.
Agnes died on September 24, 1926 and Fred died on May 8, 1943, both at their home. They are buried in Plum Creek Cemetery located across the road from their farmstead.
Copyright © 1998 by Weldon Hoppe