12. Peter Eric Hindorff
was born on Aug 16 1832 in Sweden. 
(photos)
Believed to have been born in Germany, then removed to Stockhlom area, Sweden, with parents
during political turmoil of the time. This "family" information appears
more likely to have applied to his grandfather, J.F. Hindorff.
Date calculated from death information from Adel, Dallas county, Iowa, (county
seat) death record, Book 1, page 1, number 9. Calculated from his date of death,
19 July, 1880, and age at death of 47 years, 11 months, 3 days, (both from his
death record) yields a date of birth of 16 August 1832. This date agrees exactly
with the date given for the birth of Pher Eric Hindorff, son of C.F. Hindorff
of Stockholm, according to the copy of a document written by C.F. Hindorff about
his family (apparently after his retirement in 1854). C.F. Hindorff's father,
J.F. Hindorff, is stated in that document as having been born in Germany and
moved to Stockholm sometime before 1800 (year of birth, in Stockholm, which C.F.
gave for himself). He emigrated before Jun 22 1868 from Sweden. He immigrated
on Jun 22 1868 to New York, New York. Arrived on the "City of Washington",
Henry Tibbets, Master, from Liverpool, England. Entered as "Phil Ensdorff
- 35 - Male - Lab (laborer) - Sweeden [sic] - US of America - Steerage",
followed by:
Agness - 28 - Fem - Wife
Per - 11 - - Child
Adolf - 8
Alma - 2
Carl - 1 - - Inft
Date provided from naturalization first papers. He submitted naturalization
First Papers on Nov 19 1868 in Polk county, Iowa. He appeared on the census
in 1870 in Dexter, Dallas county, Iowa. Lists Peter Hindorff, age 38, day laborer,
real estate value 800, personal (effects) value 100, born in Sweden, father and
mother of foreign birth, cannot read or write (English, most likely). He was
naturalized on May 12 1874 in Cook county, Illinois. He resided for at least
the preceding year (by requirement of Final Oath of Naturalization) on May 12
1874 in Illinois. The residence requirement of the Final Oath for Naturalization,
taken in Cook County, Illinois, corresponds with the family information which
says that Per Eric Hindorff was a mason who worked on the reconstruction in Chicago
(Cook County, Illinois) following the historic fire (1871) of that city. Assuming
the oath to be valid, he resided in or near Chicago from before 12 May, 1873,
to at least 12 May, 1874. Since he was in Polk County, Iowa, on 19 November,
1868, when he filed his First Papers, he moved to the Chicago area after that
date. He resided from 1878 to Jun 19 1880 in Dexter, Dallas county, Iowa. Saloon
keeper in Dexter, Iowa, according to death certificate, and the doctor listed
duration of illness as 2 years, so he was likely known (resided) there for that
period. He appeared on the census in 1880 in Dexter, Dallas county, Iowa. Lists
Piere Hindorff, age 48, stone & brick mason, unemployed 11 months within
year due to asthma, born in Sweden, father and mother of born in Sweden, able
to read and write (at least not checked as unable). He was a Saloon keeper before
Jul 19 1880 in Dexter, Iowa. Death was in Dexter, Iowa, and he was listed as
"Saloon keeper" on death record. He died on Jul 19 1880 in Dexter,
Dallas county, Iowa. "Peter E. Hindorff" died at 3 p.m. of "Pulmonary
emphysema, bronchitas & Dilation of heart" complicated by "Intemporate
habits"; "duration of illness 2 years"; Dr. M.G. Sloan, Dexter,
Iowa.
He was buried on Jul 20 1880 in Dexter Cemetery, Dexter, Iowa. He was also
known as P.E. Hindorff, Per Eric Hindorff, Pher Eric Hindorff, Per Eric Augustine
von Heindorff. Records show that he used the name of Per Eric Hindorff on and
after 19 November, 1868, when he signed his First Papers for Naturalization.
P.E. Hindorff's name underwent various transformations during his lifetime.
He was, apparently, named Pher Eric Hindorff at birth. When he came to America,
the passenger list had his name as Phil Ensdorff, but that didn't stick. However,
"Per" apparently did, for some period of time. Pher is Swedish for
the French "Pierre" and the English "Peter". The latter
name seems to have become the final form, Peter Eric Hindorff, in later years
in America. An erroneous surname entry has appeared in some family information
in the form of "von Heindorff". This seems to have originated from
quoting statements of Pere Gustav's wife, Nancy Leanore (Vaughn) Hindorff. With
reasonable pride in her own heritage, she apparently gave her name at times as
"Vaughn-Hindorff", which sounds like "von Hindorff". How
the latter became further modified to "von Heindorff" is not known,
but is likely an American concept of how Hindorff should be pronounced and written.
"Peter Eric, born in Germany, removed to Sweden with his parents when the
government was in revolt after Bismark. He presumably became Captain of the
King's Guard, and met a wealthy Swedish girl, whom he married. When his wife
died, of tuberculosis, Peter Eric decided to go to America. On the ship, his
daughter died, also of tuberculosis, and was buried at sea." - Family History
Albums
"Eric settled in Chicago and did stone masonry. The directions for this
masonry had been handed down from father to son, for several generations. A
very lasting masonry, which died, when neither of his two sons was interested.
Eric helped during the rebuilding of Chicago after the famous fire (which occured
on 8 October, 1871)." - Family History Albums He was married to Anne Erickson
before 1856 in Sweden. First wife. Before birth of Pere Gustav Hindorff (23
January 1856). Wife apparently died 1859 (birth of Adolphus Hindorff) or 1860
(second marriage in 1860 or 1861). On the marriage certificate, from Iowa, filed
3 November, 1880, for P.G. Hindorff (entered as "Heindorff") and Leanore
(entered as "Leanora") Vaughn, his parents were given as "P.E.
Mundorff" [sic] (father) and "Anne Erickson" (mother).
It appears that the information regarding a second marriage and circumstances,
as given in the Family History Albums of Winifred (Pitman) Lawrence, may have
been based on partial or incorrectly-interpreted information. Certainly, some
of the information was not available to her at the time of compiling.
Apparently, Peter Eric Hindorff was married twice in Sweden. Pere Gustav (b.
1856) and Adolphus (b. 1859 or 1860) seem to have been children of a first marriage.
Peter Eric then married Agnes Fly in Sweden in 1860 or 1861.
SPECULATIONS:
From the information provided by Agnes about having 4 children in the 1900
census, some tentative conclusions are possible. Since the family had seven
children listed in documents, the above may have meant that the last four children
(Carl, Emil, Minnie, and Arthur) were Agnes' children and the other three (Pere
Gustav, Adolphus, and Alma) were of a prior marriage of Peter Eric Hindorff in
Sweden. However, the 39 years stated for the marriage (which must have been the
time until 1900, since she was born about 39 years before the death of Peter
Eric in 1880) would provide a marriage year of 1860 or 1861. That period would
have also included the date of birth of Alma (about 1866), meaning only Pere
Gustav and Adolphus were of the first marriage.
See Photos of Wife and Family.
13. Anne Erickson. On the marriage certificate,
from Iowa, filed 3 November, 1880, for P.G. Hindorff (entered as "Heindorff")
and Leanore (entered as "Leanora") Vaughn, his parents were given as
"P.E. Mundorff" [sic] (father) and "Anne Erickson" (mother).
Children were:
6 i.
Pere Gustav Hindorff.
ii.
Adolphus F. Hindorff was born about 1859 in Stockholm, Sweden.
(photo)
Approximate date calculated from passenger list (arrival 22 June 1868) giving age as 8.
Place is likely Stockholm area. He immigrated on Jun 22 1868 to New York, New York.
Date from his father's naturalization first papers. Adolphus was 8 years old when
the family came to America.
He appeared on the census in 1870 in Dexter, Dallas county, Iowa. Lists Adolph,
age 11, attends school, born in Sweden, father and mother of foreign birth.
He died on Nov 15 1886.
iii.
Hindorff died before Nov 19 1868 in At sea. Said to have died of tuberculosis
while at sea enroute to America, before date from her father's naturalization
first papers. Nothing has yet been located to confirm this family story. See
information regarding Carl Hindorff, infant child of Agnes (Fly) Hindorff.
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