The Hepfer Family

1. Johann Michael HOPFER

Johann Michael HOPFER was a Lutheran by faith and a carpenter by trade. Johann married Katharina Magdalena MERK. They resided in Kuppingen, Herrenberg, Wuerttemberg, Germany. Kuppingen in the district, followed by the community, Herrenberg, or known by us, as a county. Wuerttemberg is the province or state in Germany. The present State of Baden-Wuerttemberg is an amalgamation of the 19th Century Kingdom of Wuertteniberg. It was one of the eleven Lander (States) which make up the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany.) This State of Baden-Wuerttemberg, a great numberof people emigrated from here to America and other parts of the world. Although the people were from Baden-Wuerttemberg,

many Of these emigrants were referred to aS “Palatines.” Topographically, the area of Baden-WuertLemberg is bounded by Lake Constance and the Rhein (Rhine) River on the south and west. The eastern boundary is formed generally by the Il1er River in the southeast and the Tauber River at the northeast corner. The northern boundary seems somewhat randomly placed connecting with the Rhein (Rhine) about 10 miles of the point the Neckar connects.

A map of Baden-Wuerttemberg area during the period prior to 1550, the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nations was the prevailing influence over this area. The boundaries frequently changed due to battles, marriages of royal houses or diplomatic tribes. The name “Swabia” is used to designate the area later to be known as Wuerttemberg, Frederick IV became the Duke of “Schwaben” (Swabia) in 1155. The name “Wuerttemberg” enters the picture with Count. Eberhard LUDWIG “of Wuerttemberg.” He was desigrnated as “Duke of the Empire” by the Emperor himself. He promoted improvements in the educational system as evidence by the founding of the University of Tubingen in the early days of the Reformation.

During the early emigration period, the government jurisdiction of an “Oberamt” came into prominence. The word “Amt” in the German language usually refers to an “Office.” The original meaning pf the term was therefore “Higher Administrative Office,” and was the place where most emigration records were kept. The “Oberamt,” actually became the forerunner of the present day “Landkreis” (County) system in Wuerttemberg. During the time of Napoleon, Napoleon showed political favoritism to Wuerttemberg by helping Duke Wilhelm I become a King and expanding his kingdom to the North and East. Baden and Wuerttemberg became a part of the United German Empire, mostly under the leadership of Otto von BISMARK. The first World War, concluding in 1918, brought the abolition of many Monarchies including the Grand Duchy of Baden and the Kingdom of Wuerttemberg. Each place then became a province of the Weimar Republic. In 1945 when the Third Reich fell, baden and Wuerttemberg were combined to become a new State of Wuerttemberg. Later in 1952, when local leadership was allowed to take more control, the Land (State) was renamed Baden-Wuerttemberg. The administrative districts began to change in 1924, when four Kreis system was dissolved. In 1936, the “Oberamt” was replaced by the modern “Landkreis” (State District or New Countries). There are 65 of the latter named - 27 in Baden, 36 in Wuerttemberg.

Katharina Magdalena MERK was a Lutheran by faith. Records at the Parish Archives in Kuppingen, Herrenberg in Wuerttemberg indicate the family residence, as well as the Family Register there.

To this union, one child was born.