52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks
Week 22
Prompt – Uncertain
The prompts for 52 Ancestors in 52
Weeks are made before the beginning of the year. I find it eerily
coincidental that this is a prompt in the midst of COVID-19. Uncertainty is up there with other new catch phrases such as;
unprecedented times and new normal. I have noticed how this
uncertainty is straining family and friends.
In isolation, surrounded by a mountain
of uncertainty about the future, I find myself being more absorbed
and comforted with my laptop and the genealogy in it. It has a
purpose. It has easily achieved outcomes and a sense of satisfaction
upon completion.. However it is also so easy to become unfocused or
maybe it is undisciplined in the direction I want to go. At times I
feel like I am bouncing around like a pinball – that is reacting to
pieces of information that I found that had nothing to do with whom I
was searching for. It is during these times that I become somewhat
overwhelmed with my family tree. I am uncertain where to go next and
what to work on.
So in total randomness I have chosen a
great uncle of Bill's to investigate. Frederick Hoffarth. This is
the oldest sibling of Bill's paternal grandfather – Rochus Hoffart.
Their parents were Jacob and Eva Hoffart who immigrated to Canada
from Malcoci, Romania in 1914. Within the 10 siblings in the family
their last name takes on different spellings. Hoffarth, Hoffort, and
Hoffart. I guess when you start over in a new country you can change
your name quite easily. Thus when I see a “Hoffarth” in my
tree I am pretty sure that Frederick was the progenitor of that
version of the name.
Frederick was born September 27, 1886
in Malcoci, Romania. He married his wife, Rosa A. Melle on September
11, 1911 in Malcoci. They immigrated to Canada arriving in Quebec on
May 11, 1913. They joined their families in Bergfield, Saskatchewan.
Frederick took out a homestead. They started their new life on this
farm working hard and starting a family.
For reasons unknown to me, Frederick
decided to move to Outlook, Montana from Bergfield, Saskatchewan. The
border crossing card states that they crossed over on June 15, 1923.
Frederick, Rosa, and their 5 children, Barbara, Roy, Mary, Cecilia
and Louis started over as farmers in Outlook,Montana.
On June 24, 1924, Frederick filed his
“Declaration of Intention” for naturalization in the state of
Montana of the United States. Although I do not have the paperwork, I
presume he was naturalized. His physical description, according to
the Montana Naturalization Paper, is described as 'White' in color,
Complexion Dark, 5 Foot 10 Inches, 210 Pounds, Brown Hair and Eyes.
Frederick and Rosa went on to have more
children. According to Rosa's Obituary she had two sets of triplets.
My information only shows one set of twins. Elizabeth and Frank are
the twins born in 1924, Jacob was born in 1925 and Evelyn born in
1929.
Unfortunately, Frederick Hoffarth died
in June, 1936 – just a few months shy of his 50th
birthday. His wife Rosa lived on to 1985 dying at 91 years of age.
Frederick and Rosa had at least 10 children, but probably more. Her
obituary said she 44 grandchildren, 82 great-grandchildren, and 5
great-great-grandchildren.
That is a wonderful legacy for Frederick and Rosa Hoffarth.
Wendy
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