Cemetery RecordChanhassen Pioneer Cemetery
Lot 64.2
Grave Status Occupied
Update Date 9/20/2013
Place of Birth Hanover, Germany (census)
Place of Death Chanhassen or Chaska, Carver County, Minnesota
Age
Occupant Information
Name
John Backhoff
Sex
Male
Social Sec. No.
Date of Birth
4/12/1823
Date of Death
1/18/1906
Interment Date
Cause of Death
Heart Failure (CCDR)
Place of Birth Hanover, Germany (census)
Place of Death Chanhassen or Chaska, Carver County, Minnesota
Age
82
Marital Status
Married Mary Elizabeth Timmers on 11/28/1867 (CCMR)
Mother
Father
Children
See list of children in the Comments section
Occupation 1880 census listed as a farmer
military status Civil War, Co. G, 2nd MN Inf., member of the GAR
Baptized
Purchaser Information
Purchased By John Backhoff
Street
City, State, Zip
Phone
Date Purchased
Amount Fee Paid
Date Int Fee Paid
Interment Fee
Spouse Information
Name Mary Elizabeth Timmers Backhoff
Address
City, State, Zip
Phone
Next of Kin Information
Name
Relationship
Address
City, State, Zip
Phone
Lot 64.2 Update Date 9/20/2013
Name John Backhoff
Comments/History John is recorded to have sold land in Chaska on 11/22/1871 to Benjamin Miller.
The Chaska Herald published his obituary on January 20, 1906 and it read:
"John Backhoff Passes Away: One of Chanhassen's Pioneer GAR Men Answers Last Roll Call
John Backhoff, Sr. was stricken very suddenly Saturday morning, January 13 with appoplexy, and
died within a few hours. Mr. Backhoff has been a resident of Chanhassen for many years and had a
large circle of friends who were shocked and saddened to hear of his sudden demise, he having
been in fairly good health up to the morning of his death.
Deceased was a native of Germany and settled at Chaska prior to the war, making him one of our
pioneer residents. He enlisted in the army in 1862, his last service in the old 2nd Minnesota. He
was intensely patriotic and as a member of the Grand Army, W.R. Baxter Post No. 158 of Chaska
always attended the meetings of that organization and was foremost in keeping the "camp fres"
alive. He took a great deal of pride in attending the meetings of that organization, and making the
.,camp fires" interesting to his old comrades and he will be missed by them. He was in his 83rd year
and active to the last. He is survived by a wife and nine children named: Mathias, Louis, Gerhard,
John Jr., Leonard and Henry and Kathrin (Mrs. Peter J. Way?), Mrs. Jos. Cassidy, and Miss Minnie
Backhoff.
The funeral took place on Monday afternoon under the auspices of the W.R. Post 158, conducting
the services both at the house and at the grave. Commander _ of the post officiating. The
attendance was very large, the people of the surrounding county paying their last tribute of respect
to their departed friend and neighbor. He was a good man and hope he has received his reward.
Farewell to you comrade."
Family moved to Washington State after his death.
Mary Elizabeth Timmers is the daughter of Jacob Timmers (born August 1803 in Eindhoven,
Holland) and Agnes Heutenmacher (born in 1813 in Holland). They came to the United States in
1859 and to Chanhassen in a boxcar in 1859 or 1860. The name was originally spelled Timuch and
was changed by records at the port of entry.
Children:
Mathias, born about 1869
Louis, born about April 29, 1871
Frederick, born about 1867-68 and died in May 1883 at age 14
Kathrin born October 10, 1872, Married Peter Way who died March 19, 1940
Gerhard and Anna born July 12, 1874. Gerhard died in 1946 in St. Peter, MN.
Anna married Joseph Cassidy and lived in Tacoma, Washington
John Jr. born about 1877
Leonard born January 29 1880 and died in 1960 in Montana
Minnie Born in April 1886 and never married
Henry born March 12, 1884 and died April 5, 1964 in California. He was a carpenter.