HOFGARD, HENRY

by Ronda Godfrey

Entry F195 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Henry Hofgard was born on September 11,
1874 in Illinois to Andrew and Helen (Had-
ley) Hofgard. The Hofgard family moved to
Buffalo County, Nebraska. Henry was in his
late teens wnen he moved to Mullen, Nebras-
ka. In the Mullen area he managed some of
the largest cattle ranches.

On April 7, 1900, Henry Hofgard married
Mary Frances Speck at Valentine, Nebraska.
Mary Frances, "Fannie", was born on No-
vember 27, 1877 in Gosper County, Nebraska
to Cornelius and Jemima (Stephenson)
Speck. Henry and Mary Frances were the
parents of 3 children - William born October
14, 1902 in Mullen, Nebraska. Helen born on
May 30, 1913 in Pleasanton, Nebraska and
Irene born on June 23, 1916 in Shelton,
Nebraska. Henry and Mary Frances lived in
several towns in Nebraska as Henry was a
traveling hardware salesman.

About 1922, the Hofgard family moved to
Torrington, Wyoming to open their own
hardware store. Henry drove to Wyoming
and had their furniture shipped by train.
Mary Frances and the children went by train
to Mullen, Nebraska where the stayed with
the Crain family until their belongings
arrived in Wyoming then they went on to the
wild West.

Henry and Mary Frances became prom-
inent citizens of Torrington, Wyoming.

Mary Frances Hofgard passed away on
October 21, 1937 in Torrington, Wyoming
and is buried in the Valley View Cemetery in
Torrington, Wyoming.

Henry remained in the hardware business
retiring in 1955. He passed away on April 5,
1960 and is buried beside Mary Frances.