JOHN HOEFLING

Sacramento County

Biographies

JOHN HOEFLING

JOHN HOEFLING.—Among the highly respected orchardists of the new Prague district of Sacramento County is John Hoefling, owner and proprietor of a highly productive orchard of eighteen acres at Rio Linda. Mr. Hoefling came to Rio Linda in 1913 in the interest of six families at New Prague, Minn., and located on seventy-two acres, which he developed to orchards of olives, almonds and pears, spending nine years in its development; irrigation for this tract was obtained from deep wells. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, June 4, 1863, the youngest of eight children. He received a good education in the schools of his native country and at an early age became interested in horticulture; and after leaving school he learned a trade. In 1882, in company with his brother Adam, he left Germany for America. Arriving in Philadelphia, Pa., Adam Hoefling remained there and our subject went on to Ohio, and later he went to Nebraska, spending some time as a range rider. In March, 1883, John Hoefling was a member of a party who started for South Dakota with a four-horse team; they passed through Aberdeen, S.D., when that city was a mere village of a thousand people. Fifty miles from Aberdeen the party located on land; later John Hoefling sold his interest to his brother Valentine, and returned to Dayton, Ohio. However, the following year he returned to South Dakota, and he and his brother took up 320 acres of government land, which they farmed together for four years. Many were the hardships and privations of those sturdy pioneers of the Northwest. In the fall of 1889, Mr Hoefling decided to go to eastern Minnesota; so with one team of horses, a yoke of oxen, a pair of colts, and other stock, he started. While en route he passed through forty-one towns. After a short time he returned to South Dakota to work in the Black Hills for the railroad on construction of tunnels.

On November 28, 1891, Mr. Hoefling was united in marriage with Miss Katherine Nicoloy, born in Luxemburg, Germany, who came to America in 1887 and located at New Prague, Minn. In December, 1891, Mr. and Mrs. Hoefling located at Harvard, Nebr., where they engaged in farming until 1894, when they sold their farming interests and were returning to Minnesota when Mr. Hoefling received the news of his brother Valentine’s accidental death. For the next four years, Mr. Hoefling removed to Montgomery, Minn,(sic) and for eleven years conducted a feed mill, when he sold his business and returned to New Prague, Minn., and for two and a half years operated a feed mill business. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hoefling; Annie resides in Sacramento; Margaret is the wife of Charles Lipold and has one son and resides at Rio Linda; John W. is married and has one son, and resides in the Robla district; Phillip is associated with his brother John W.; Ambrose and Gertrude are at home with their parents. Mr. Hoefling is affiliated with the Catholic Foresters.

Transcribed 8-6-07 Marilyn R. Pankey.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Page 988. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.