Hoffman, Max and Rose 1982-09-16
The Hoffmans discuss their individual family histories, as well as their lives together in Umbarger.
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Max and Rose Hoffman
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: September 16, 1982
Location: Umbarger, Texas
Interviewer: James Seuseney
Length: 2 hours
Abstract
Tape 1, Side 1: Rose Hoffman,
Born Umbarger Texas (August 25 1910),
Wagon trains to Arkansas,
Grandparents,
Grandmother from Austria,
Grandfather from Germany,
Immigration,
Came to Schulenburg,
Married Magdalena Winkler,
Mrs. Hoffman,
Maiden name Stocker,
Father,
Blacksmith (first in Umbarger),
Move to Arkansas (1932), then to Oklahoma,
Reasons for coming to Umbarger,
Land,
Stocker family,
Size,
Transportation,
Buggies and spring wagons,
Range,
Livestock,
Growing feed,
Fencing, Pious Friemil,
Anecdote about bad weather (c. 1917),
Pious Friemil and wife,
Establishment of Umbarger,
Land agents,
Lifestyle,
Truck garden,
Transportation to market,
Evaporative cooling,
Processing of grain,
Fuel for stove,
Income sources,
Circuit livestock buyers,
Meat processing,
Salt and smoke,
Sausage,
Stored in lard,
Butchering,
Country store,
Trip to Arkansas by covered wagon,
Anecdote about crossing Canadian River in flood
stage,
Trail food,
Sleeping arrangements,
Water,
Jonesboro Arkansas,
Father had a farm there,
Return to Umbarger until Depression,
Finally settled in Oklahoma,
Pious Friemil (again),
Cattle feed,
Harvest,
Storage,
Agricultural economy of Umbarger,
Cattle,
Maize,
Land in Umbarger area,
Mostly grassland,
Ranches,
Friemil land,
U. S. land agents,
Hudson’s Ranch,
First automobile in area,
Umbarger Texas (history),
Beginning of Umbarger community,
Size of town at its peak,
Reasons for decline,
Highway 60,
Land prices,
Terms of purchase.
Tape 1, Side 2: Max Hoffman,
Dust storms,
Effects on agriculture,
Rain,
Lifestyle during drought,
Hoffman purchased land,
Highway 60 (again),
Crops raised,
Livestock,
Staple foods,
Livestock prices,
Wages,
Mr. Hoffman,
Immigration,
Price of passage,
Trip to Umbarger,
Santa Fe Railroad,
Language difficulties,
Pious Friemil’s sponsorship,
Rose Hoffman,
Household chores,
Coal burning cook stove,
Fuel,
Size,
Reservoir of water on cook stove,
Preparation of breakfast,
Food used,
Honey,
Jellies,
Orchards,
Wine,
Pious Friemil grapes,
Jelly (again),
Wine (again),
Grape growers,
Friemil’s interest in grapes,
Anecdote about planting seedless grapes,
Foods (again),
Butter,
Grandpa Friemil’s supper,
Churning.
Tape 2, Side 1: Rose Hoffman,
Butter (again),
Cooling,
Umbarger School,
One-room school,
Taught through 12th grade,
Advantages of one-room school,
Breakfast foods,
Corn grinder,
Lard and butter,
Seasonings,
Preparation of noon meal,
Foods served,
German cooling methods,
Sauces,
Milk,
Harvest,
Meals,
Typical supper,
Leftovers,
Bread and milk,
Children’s chores,
Homework,
Courses,
Parents help with homework,
Time schedule for children,
School (again),
Funding,
Teachers,
Clothing,
Conservation,
Homework (again),
Sausage making,
Shoes,
Baking,
Cakes,
Pies and pastries,
Strudel,
Cinnamon rolls,
Baking day,
Wash day,
Dances,
Vegetables planted,
Beer.
Tape 2, Side 2: Rose Hoffman,
German problems during World War I,
Language spoken in town,
Languages taught,
Problems with rationing,
Incidents involving Ku Klux Klan,
Community vigilance "trustees",
Effect on relations with non-Germans in Amarillo
and Canyon,
Anecdote about pigs bought in Canyon,
Germans deal with problems,
Communications,
Phonograph,
Father’s blacksmith shop,
Bands,
Instruments,
Feed for livestock,
Corn shucks,
Storage,
Wheat straw,
Storage,
Grain,
Harvest and storage,
Area wheat production,
Maize (again),
Mrs. Hoffman’s family,
Mother, Sabina Friemil,
Father, Leopold Stocker,
Family’s immigration to Kentucky,
Leo Stocker’s move to Umbarger,
Mother (again),
From Schulenburg originally,
Pious Friemil (again),
First to plant cotton in Umbarger,
Problems with cotton in Umbarger,
Crops grown today,
Irrigation,
World War I,
Labor shortage,
Veterans,
Anecdote about shooting a chicken hawk,
Grapes (again),
Fruit grown,
Max Hoffman’s injury,
Umbarger moved across tracks,
New church built (1930),
Stores built,
Highway built,
Rest of town moved.
Range Dates: 1900-1982
Bulk Dates: 1900-1930
Access Information
Original Recording Format:
Recording Format Notes:
Transcript:
Thank you for your interest in this oral history interview. Our oral history collection is available to patrons in the Southwest Collection's Reading Room, located on the campus of Texas Tech University. For reading room hours, visit our website. Please contact Reference Staff at least one week prior to your visit to ensure the oral history you are interested in will be available. Due to copyright issues, duplications of our oral histories can only be made for family members. If an oral history transcript has been made available online, the link will be provided on this page. More information on accessing our oral histories is located here. Preferred citation style can be found here.
