HOSTER FAMILY: George W. Hoster
By Donna Nix

George W. Hoster was born in Fayette, NY, in 1852. His wife, Christina Stahl Hoster and their four children came to live with him soon after. He came to Valley City in 1888 from Seneca Falls, NY to manage the Nester Farm, located about five miles north of Valley City, now owned by Stewart Herzberg. The owner of the farm, G. K. Nester, was a wealthy landowner back in New York. His farm in Barnes County was a big sheep ranch and there was also grain farming. It was a social center for many of the young people growing up in Valley City at the turn of the century.

Walter graduated from Dixon Military Academy in Dixon, Illinois, and attended the U. of Minn. for one year. He was an acolyte in St. Mark's Cathedral In Minneapolis while attending the University. He lived with his Aunt Mary R. Stahl, who was a teacher in the old Jefferson School in Minneapolis for twenty years. This was dear Aunt "Mame" who was his mother's sister and whose grandfather had loaned George Washington (?) money during the days of the Confederacy. Their grandparents had come to this country from Holland.

The children of George W. Hoster and Christina Stahl Hoster were:
Walter Stahl,
George W. Jr.,
Donald Kenneth,
Nina (the only daughter)

Christina Stahl Hoster died in 1905 at Walter's home on the farm at Wimbledon, ND, while her husband was back in NY visiting his sisters.

Nina, the oldest, married Dr. Lewis Irgens (brother of County Judge O. H. des Irgens), a dentist, whose office was in the old Dakota Drugstore building. Nina and Lewis Irgens moved to Oakland in 1908. George W. Hoster died in Oakland, CA, in 1908 at the home of his daughter, Nina (Mrs. Lewis Irgens). Nina died there in 1910. They had one daughter, Charlotte, who was killed in an automobile accident on a mountain road near Oakland, California in 1931.

Donald and George went to California after George graduated from the University of Minnesota. George lived in Oakland and Los Angeles. He married Muriel Bell. They had two children, Martha (Mrs. Ted Sisson) and Warren. They and two grandchildren live in Garden Grove, California.

Donald served in the Infantry in World War I. He married and had two children, Charlotte (Mrs. Joe Runge), now living in Sacramento, and Donald Kenneth, Jr., living in San Francisco.

Their child, Walter Stahl Hoster, married Hilda Chilberg and had 4 children (see Hilda Chilberg)

Obituary discovered in Hoster memorabilia. Details:
Son of John G. Hoster (of Fayette) Died at home of his daughter, Mrs. Lewis Irgen, of Oakland, on Tuesday, aged 56 years. Cause of death was "Brights" disease, related to kidney disease in today's medicine. His early "manhood" was spent in Fayette and Seneca Falls, NY. A considerable time of his life was spent in Illinois, Minnesota, and North Dakota. He survived his wife (Christine Stahl Hoster) and is survived by 3 sons: George W., Donald K, and Walter Stahl Hoster, and his daughter, Mrs. Lewis Irgen, all of whom reside in Oakland. (NOTE: this suggests that all children were living in Oakland in 1908). He is also survived by his mother, Mrs. John G. Hoster, one sister, Mrs. Deborah Stahl, and one brother, Charles Hoster, all of Fayette. The funeral and burial were at Oakland yesterday.

Buried at Oakland, CA (near) home of daughter Nina (Mrs. Lewis Irgens)

Information from daughter Dorothy Hoster Pfusch who wrote two detailed family histories:
Left Seneca Falls (NY) (not far from Fayette) in 1888 to manage "Nester" farm 5 miles north of Valley City ND. Wife (Christina Stahl Hoster) and 4 children joined him soon after.

1870 Fed. Census: (for George Hoster, age 18)
Household Gender Age Birthplace
John G Hoster M 39 New York
Charlotte Hoster F 36 New York
George Hoster M 18 New York
Charles Hoster M 16 New York
Deborah Hoster F 12 New York

Information from 1880 Federal Census:
Living with mother-in-law, Elizabeth (maiden name Bachman) Stahl
Location: Lockport, Niagara, New York
NOTE: Son-in-law George W. Hoster living with wife (Christina Stahl Hoster) in her mother's household.

Head Elizabeth (maiden name Bachman) Stahl F 65 Pennsylvania, United States
Daughter Margaret Stahl F 44 New York, United States
Daughter Salome Stahl F 37 New York, United States
Daughter Mary Stahl F 34 New York, United States
Son George Stahl M 28 New York, United States
Daughter Catherine Ingalls F 42 New York, United States
Daughter Christina Hoster F 32 New York, United States
Son-in-law Geo. W. Hoster M 34 New York, United States
Grandson Chas. S. Ingalls M 17 New York, United States
Grandson Wm. B. Ingalls M 15 New York, United States
Granddaughter Nina E. Hoster F 4 New York, United States
Grandson Walter S. Hoster M 2 New York, United States
Sister Catherine Fisher F 72 Pennsylvania, United States

Interesting to see George and Christina in Iowa in 1885 along with that mysterious William Stahl
1885 Iowa, State Census Collection, Jackson, Bremer, Iowa
Hoster Georg 32 farmer
- Christina 35
- Nina 9
- Walter 7
Stahl, William 56 laborer