The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1932-02-04
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"She was Princess Violet Wall
Shinnecock, full blooded daughter of
an Indian chief" said Mrs. Hoffman.
Johann was a trader when he
married Princess Shinnecock. Later
working with the princess's brothers,
he bought and sold many furs
brought to him by his brothers-in-
law"
Thus was started the famous Wen
del fortune.
Princess Violet often went on
trips through the wild and rugged
Hudson and Mohawk valleys with her
trapper brothers." said Mrs. Hoffman
in recalling incidents often related to
her by her father.
Son is Born
"On one of the trips down from
Canada, Princess Violet's son was
born. His birthplace was in Science
tady. His princess mother died short
| " afterwards"
Johann was in New York where he
succeeded in building up the Wendell
estate. Great tracts of property, vir-
| tually without value in those days,
were acquired by the young trader.
Always his motto was that motto la
ter famous-"Buy but never sell. 4"
| The wisdom of it was shown as year
by year real estate values leaped up
ward.
Trace Lost for Time
Trace of his young heir, born to
his Indian princess in Schenectady,
IS lost for few years. He lived in
Schenectady, that much is known.
Until his marriage there to Abbie
Hall. his activities are a blank.
HE was eighteen years old when
he married" said Mrs. Hoffman. HE
had ten children born to him.
"These ten children were the an
eestors of the foremost claimants to-
day. He married a second time. be-
lieve his second wife's name was Mar
garet Thompson. No children were
born to this union.
Married Again
I'm New York ] h an n married
again" continued Mrs. Hoffman. ITO
him we're born six children, one of
whom was the grandfather of Ella
Wendell, the last of that line of the
family.
Zone of the ten children born to
John Wendell in Schenectady was my
father" she said. Following the
tradition of the family, he was named
John Wendell.
Visited Home
"My father married Julia Deffen-
dorf, who was one of 10 children and
half Indian. My mothers mother was
a full-blooded Indian.
"My father was a frequent visitor
at the home of Ella Wendell" stated
Mrs. Hoffman. GOTTEN he would
have dinner with her. He was rec
ognized as a relative" Mrs. Hoff-
man did not visit the Wendell home,
Race Leader
Mrs. Hoffman is active in the So
cial and political life of the eolored
citizens of Ossining. She is the wife
Of Westchester County deputy sher-
if, known throughout the county as
a powerful speaker. An ardent Re-
publican. she has spoken at rallies
and meetings in support Of the G. o.
Girl Scout Captain
She has been active in the Daugh-
ters of Union Veterans, is a captain
of a girl scout troop, and has been
engaged in social and welfare work
in the county
Mrs. Hoffman has held office in
both the local and county American
Legion Auxiliary and at one time was
vice-president Of the Westehester
County Republican Club and for five
years president OF the Westminster
County Colored Women's Community
Club. 81 am the only eolored woman
ever to sit on the board Of the New
York State Woman Suffrage par
ty" she said. Until recently She stud
led law.