Hoppe Family History - The Pioneer Family

THE PIONEER FAMILY

Heinrich Friedrich Christian (Frederick) Hoppe was born on February 2, 1828 in Bantorf, Germany. He died on January 6, 1888 on the Jefferson County, Nebraska homestead after working it into a profitable living. He took ill in the fall of 1887 while working in the fields and never fully recovered. Before his death he also purchased an additional 160 acres lying in the northwest quarter of Section 3, north of the homestead.

Frederick was well thought of in the community. A local historian, A. V. Pease, wrote the following about him in a look back at some early pioneers: He was "one of the finest old Germans I ever knew . . . I knew him quite well and thot a great deal of him."

Friedrich & Sophie Hoppe Tombstone
"Here Rest in Peace Our Parents"
Cub Creek Cemetery, St. Paul’s Church

In 1882 several German and West Prussian immigrants held a meeting at the Hoppe home and there decided to organize a church. On September 4, 1882 the St. Paul United Church of Christ was organized with Frederick being one of fifteen founding members.

The church was built across the road from the Hoppe homestead on land donated by George Fillmore. Descendants of Frederick and Sophie held continuous membership in the church for nearly one hundred years. Frederick, his wife, and several descendants are buried in Cub Creek Cemetery located on the church grounds.

Engel Sophie Eleanora (Meier) Hoppe
1834-1911

Engel Sophie Eleanora Meier was born on September 10, 1834 in Wichtringhausen, where her father was a tavernskeeper. She died on October 1, 1911 while living with the family of her daughter, Louise (Hoppe) Conerus, in Fairbury. She was long remembered for her work as a midwife among the families in the surrounding area. Louise's daughter, Nettie, recalled the following memories of her grandmother:

Grandmother trained as Midwife in Germany, helped out where ever there was sickness, started her birth record 7 years after they came to the Cub Creek area, kept record 34 years, listed 253 births.

Went to many in the Russian settlement - she spoke low German which they understood. Used her spinning wheel, brought with them from Germany, to spin wool yarn for stockings and sox. Used molasses for sweetening, there was no sugar. Grandmother kept a complete record of the weather. She read a great deal, had a very keen mind and managed her own business affairs.

Cub Creek church was across the road from their homestead. She was a faithful member there. Her husband Frederick Hoppe being one of the Charter Members.

She drove to Fairbury often for a few days visit - that was a great joy to the Conerus family. Her buggy always contained fruits and vegetables from her garden and orchard which was her pride and joy.

Grandmother dressed very old-fashioned, always dark dresses with full skirts, a little bonnet and cape for church. Many times her only coat for warmth would be her grey wool shawl. For fancy dress she wore bordered silk aprons over her dress. I have her sunbonnet, little bonnet shawl and beautiful black silk apron. I loved my grandmother dearly, she lived her last two years in our home. I have many pictures of Grandmother, none was ever taken of Grandfather Frederick Hoppe according to Mother.

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