Samuel Hochter

Samuel Hochter was born on December 6, 1811, on Hochter farm in the district of Vöhren. As the first child, he was destined to inherit the farm from his father, but there was not much to inherit. The Hochters lived in extreme poverty and there was no money available for their basic needs, let alone for schooling. As soon as Samuel was able, he had to work, first on their own farm and later on other farms to earn a little extra so the family could eat. They survived mainly from their own produce and support from the Jewish community they were part of. At the age of 19, Samuel inherited the struggling farm from his father. It is located at a crossroads between the Kild and Holle rivers, which was a perfect location in the past due to the fertile soil and consistent water supply. However, due to deforestation and over-farming, the soil quality decreased, and the area became more prone to flooding. Additionally, the natural flow of the meandering rivers changed over time, resulting in the farm losing almost 30% of its land. Samuel was not compensated, nor did he get the land back on the other side of the river.
  On the evening of December 12, 1839, a fire broke out in the stable. The fire quickly spread to the nearby house and annex. When the flames were spotted, neighbouring farms rushed to the site to help extinguish the fire. It took several hours to put the fire out, but unfortunately, the entire farm was destroyed. By some miracle, the family was not home, and the cattle were able to escape to the surrounding fields. However, for the already struggling Hochters, this was devastating. They did not have the funds to rebuild their house. A fund was started to collect money for the family, but since the Jews were still not accepted by the people, there was not much collected. The Jewish community rushed in to help the Hochters, and they rebuilt the farm themselves, using pine wood from the area. To save on costs, the house and stables were combined into one building. Also, the new farm was placed further away from the river and built on a slight slope to prevent future flooding.
  The Silbers family helped the Hochters by rebuilding their house and collecting goods for them. During this time, Samuel Hochter met Elsbeth Silbers and, over time, fell in love with her. However, he was initially hesitant to express his feelings. It wasn’t until a few years later that he discovered his feelings were mutual, and they began a romantic relationship. On March 5, 1841, they got married. The union proved to be beneficial for both families as Samuel had a farm where he raised and traded cattle, and Elsbeth’s father and brother could use the meat and produce for their butchery, providing financial relief to both families.
  On January 16, 1841, they welcomed their first child, Herman Hochter, and three years later, their second son, Mozes Hochter. Although Herman’s birth initially went smoothly, it became apparent that the baby was breech. Two doctors tried to save the child, but he died shortly after he was born. Samuel’s wife, Elsbeth, fell into a deep depression and became extra protective of her family. Samuel tried everything to cheer her up. The family went through a dark period once again. On January 4, 1853, their third son, David Hochter, was born. Although the family feared he would also die, the boy proved to be healthy. His birth brought a more stable period for the family. When Lotte Hochter was born on December 18, 1864, the family was complete. With Herman and David working elsewhere, the family managed to save some money, which was used to construct a new stable for their cattle, providing the family with more space in their house.
  Samuel’s distinctive features include green-blue eyes and thick, curly black-grey hair. His skin has tanned from working in the sun every day, but he maintains a calm, almost melancholic expression on his expressive face. At over 2 meters tall, Samuel is one of the largest and most sturdy men in the surrounding area, contrasting with his gentle and kind demeanour.