Sedgwick County KSGenWeb
Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.
Chapman Brothers 1888
Pages 573 - 574
JOHN HOHMAN. Among the sturdy and stalwart citizens of Sedgwick County, whose place of birth was in the far-away German Fatherland, and who, with the industry and thrift so natural to the people of their native land, are rapidly progressing toward that financial condition so much coveted by all, is the subject of this personal history. He is a native of Hesse, Germany, born Oct. 20, 1837, and is the son of Nicholas and Elizabeth (White) Hohman, who were also natives of the German Empire. His father, who had learned the trade of shoemaking in his native land, came to the United States when our subject was about five years of age, seeking beneath the folds of our starry banner the chance of bettering his condition in life, and raising himself above the condition to which he was doomed in his own oppressed country. The family settled in Fulton County, Pa., where the mother died, but the father of our subject is still living in Fulton County, in the Keystone State, having reached the advanced age of eighty-three years. Since coming to this land, the refuge of the poor of every nation, the elder Mr. Hohman has been engaged at his trade and in carrying on a farm, and on the latter the subject of our sketch was reared and received his training.
Young Hohman received his education in the excellent schools provided by the great commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the rising generation, and as he reached maturer years adopted the calling of farming. He remained a resident of the Keystone State, carrying on the labors of his chosen vocation among the hills and valleys of the picturesque portion of the State where he was reared, until 1878, when, with a natural wish to improve his fortunes and have more room in which to expand his efforts, he came to Kansas and settled in Sedgwick County. He at first purchased eighty acres of land on section 26, on which his home now stands in Eagle Township, and shortly afterward bought eighty acres more of the railroad company, adjoining it on section 23. Here he has made his home ever since, carrying on general farming and stock-raising. He rears quite a number of fine graded stock and purchases others for the purpose of feeding them, and besides supplying the home markets, has been engaged for three years in shipping cattle to Kansas City. Nearly all of the improvements upon his place, which are of a neat and substantial character, are the work of his own efforts, and with a foresight peculiar to the German race, he has set over an acre of orchard, including apple, pear, cherry and peach trees.
Mr. Hohman was united in marriage, Oct. 1, 1879, with Miss Harriet Swischer, a native of Fulton County, Pa., born Nov. 28, 1861, and daughter of Dennis Waltz. She was an adopted daughter of Henry Swischer, her maternal grandfather, her father having died when she was very young. Her mother died in 1883. By this marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hohman have become the parents of one child, Olive May, whose birth on the 23d of November, 1886, brought joy to the household, and brightened the existence of both father and mother. In his political views our subject coincides with the Democratic party, and in the discharge of elective franchise votes for the candidates offered by that organization. He is a consistent, sincere member of the Christian Union Church, and a respected and valued citizen of the community. His many virtues and pleasant ways have gained him hosts of friends.[ Home ]
|
