My Genealogy Hound

Dr. S. Van Hoefen, physician and surgeon, of Washington, is a native of India, born in 1849, the son of Charles and Clementine (Neubauer) Van Hoefen, both natives of Prussia, Germany, born in 1817 and 1816, respectively. The father is a missionary preacher of the German Lutheran persuasion. He has been actively engaged in the good work since 1842, the greater portion of his labor being confined to Borneo, India. His wife died in 1880. She was the mother of nine children, our subject being the filth. He was educated in the high schools of Germany, and at the age of twenty commenced the study of medicine. In 1870 he entered the French and German War, as assistant surgeon, and was in the service six months, his work being confined to hospitals. He attended medical college at Bale, Switzerland, about four years, and in 1873 graduated at the medical college at Munich, Germany. During the year 1874 he secured the position as surgeon on a regular steamer between Bremen and New York, and made several trips. In the fall of 1874 he located in St. Louis, and in 1875 married Miss Rebecca S. Gast, a native of St. Louis, born in 1851, a daughter of Mr. Leopold Gast. The fruits of this union were six children: Hedwig, Siegfried, Leopold, Cornelia, Elsa and Roland. In 1877 the Doctor located in St. Charles County, and in 1882 came to Washington, where he has since resided. He is a Republican in his political views, and cast his first presidential vote for Garfield, in 1880. Mrs. Van Hoefen is a worthy member of the Lutheran Church. Dr. Van Hoefen is a great reader of medical journals, and is one of the leading physicians in Franklin County.