This blog is an ongoing collection of stories and genealogical research about Johann Dollhopf (1852-1934), his wife Elizabeth Bender (1857-1951), and 17 generations of their known direct ancestors and descendants.
It also includes research about the larger extended Dollhopf family, whose origins can be traced to numerous areas throughout Oberfranken (“Upper Franconia”), Germany.
Johann, who changed his name to John in America, was a cooper, carpenter, and furniture maker. When he arrived in America in October of 1871 he went to work for the utopian Harmony Society in Economy (now Ambridge), Pennsylvania. He eventually settled in the mostly German neighborhood of Spring Hill on Pittsburgh’s North Side. Elizabeth, whose parents met on the Lower East Side of New York City in the early 1850s, was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. Along with her twin sister Mathilde, she was indentured to the Harmony Society in 1865, at the age of seven, and sent to live in Economy. Johann and Elizabeth met at the Harmony Society.
The oldest known ancestor in this blog is Hans Dollhopf (~1400-~1454). Hans was born in Bayreuth, Germany, and acquired a small feudal farm in the nearby village of Mistelbach around 1430, in the aftermath of the Hussite War. Because of the wonderfully detailed church and civil records that have survived, we are fortunate to know the uninterrupted story of his descendants for the next 600 hundred years.
A number of Hans’ children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren lived in Mistelbach until the early 1600s, at which time nearly all of his descendants died in The Thirty Years War (1618-1638). To the best of my knowledge, only one of his great-grandchildren survived – Conrad Dollhopf (1607-1683). Subsequent generations – those still living in Mistelbach and its environs, and several branches in America – are Conrad’s descendants.
I am Mark Dollhopf (1955-?), a great-grandson of Johann, living in New Haven, CT. In over 40 years of research I am grateful to have been informed by countless family members, both here and in Germany, and by the work of several professional genealogists – Cornelia Schrader-Muggenthaler ([email protected]) in the1980’s, Peter Bardischewski ([email protected]) in the 2000’s, and most recently Uwe Porten ([email protected]).
I welcome, indeed ask for, your questions, comments, and most especially your stories. I am interested in anyone remotely connected to this family; you never know what seemingly tangential bit of information can shed new light on research, or open new avenues of pursuit.
I am also interested in gathering any information about anyone with the surname Dollhopf. My research to date has sourced the likely origin of the name Dollhopf to the region of Franken (“Franconia”), which is today part of northern Bavaria. All Dollhopfs currently known to me trace their ancestors to this area. I am interested in connecting the diverse branches of the family.
You can post to this blog, email me at [email protected], or please do call me at +1 (203) 982-3442.
Vielen Dank für Ihr Interesse!
Mark R. Dollhopf