Philip Hoeffner (Höffner) was the first of our Hoeffner branch in New York to emigrate to America. He was born on November 22, 1815 in the village of Medelsheim, which at that time was part of the Kingdom of Bavaria and today, in the region called, Saarland, Germany. Approximately 185 miles south-west of Frankfurt. Prior to emigrating he was resided in Krähenburg, in the Rhineland-Palatinate region. It has not been found when he immigrated to New York and not much information has been found on Philip, until April 19, 1840 when he married Katharina Frommel who also was living in New York. Katharina emigrated with her mother from Ittersdorf, which was part of Prussia, today Saarland. They married on April 19, 1840, at St. Nicholas RC Church in lower Manhattan in an area, once called “Kleine Deutschland” (Little Germany). In Fosters Meadow he farmed on the west side Elmont Road, and also on Hempstead Turnpike next to the toll house, which would today be a portion of Belmont Racetrack.. They had six children, Nicholaus, Henry, Margarethe, Anton, John and Maria. The first five grew to adulthood, married and had numerous children. Philip and Katherina died in Fosters Meadow and were buried in St. Boniface RC cemetery, Fosters Meadow.

The first son, Nicholaus, was born on April 9, 1842 in Middle Village, Queens, New York. He married Gertrude Kraus, daughter of Andreas Kraus and Marianne Schraut or Schraud (various spellings found), on May 7, 1867 at St. Boniface RC Church in Fosters Meadow, New York. He was a farmer in Fosters Meadow and they had eleven children. Five grew to adulthood, married and produced their branch of Hoeffners. Those five were Philip, Daniel, Katherine, Gertrude, and Andrew. Nicholaus and Gertrude, are buried at St. Boniface RC cemetery, Elmont, New York.

The second son, Henry, was born on May 28, 1844 in Middle Village, and was baptized at The Most Holy Trinity RC Church, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, on June 6 1844. Henry married Louise Stattel, daughter of Jacob Stattel and Marie Anna Felten on Nov. 8, 1870 at St. Boniface RC Church in Fosters Meadow, New York. Henry owned and operated the Hoeffner Hotel, on Hempstead Turnpike. Henry and Louise had 6 children, 4 grew into adulthood, Philip, Joanna, Nicholaus and George. Henry and Louise are both buried in St. Boniface RC cemetery in Fosters Meadow, New York.

The third child, Margarethe, was also born in Middle Village, Queens, New York, on September 12, 1846 and baptized at The Most Holy Trinity RC Church in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York on September 12, 1846. She received her First Holy Communion on May 15, 1858 at St. Boniface and was confirmed at the Parish Church at Strattonport, thought to be St. Fidelis in College Point, Queens, New York on October 28, 1862. She married Daniel Stattel, son of Jacob Stattel and Marie Anna Felten on November 8, 1870 at St. Boniface RC Church, in Fosters Meadow, New York. Interesting to note, is that both Henry and Margarethe both married into the Stattel family. Both marriages were on the same day at St. Boniface RC Church in Fosters Meadow. Margarethe and Daniel had a total of 12 children of which 11 grew up to adulthood, Jacob, Maria, Henry, Katherine, John, Daniel, Margaret, George, Frances, Caroline, and Philip. Daniel Stattel was a farmer in Fosters Meadow and Floral Park, New York. Margarethe and Daniel are both buried in St. Boniface RC cemetery in Elmont, New York.

The fourth child, Anton was born in the Township of Jamaica, New York, on April 6, 1849. He married Katherine Huttner on October 20, in 1874. Katherine Huttner was born on November 15, 1849 in Untersteinbach, Kingdom of Bavaria. She emigrated to America at the age of 16, and lived in Brooklyn with an aunt and uncle, Mary and Valentine Schwab. Anton and Katherine had a total of 8 children. Four grew up to adulthood, Mary, Anton, Henry and Jacob. Anton was a farmer in Fosters Meadow, New York. Anton and Katherine are both buried in St. Boniface cemetery, in Elmont, New York.

The fifth child, John was born on February 11, 1852 in Fosters Meadow and married Mary Anna Buck on April 14, 1884 at St. Paul Presbyterian church, Fosters Meadow, NY. Mary Buck was born in March of 1857, the daughter of Francis Buck and Christine Behrschwiner. They had two children that grew to adulthood, John and William. Sometime around 1915 the family moved to Yaphank, New York. John and Mary are both buried in Yaphank cemetery in Yaphank, New York.

The sixth and last child, Maria was born in 1855 in Fosters Meadow and died at the age of 10 in Fosters Meadow, New York. She is buried with her grandmother, Katherina Frommel, in St. Boniface Cemetery in Fosters Meadow, New York.

Submitted by Raymond Hoeffner

Email:RHoeffner@gmail.com