Lochner Family

I am Willem Kempen and my connection to the South African Lochner family is through my grandmother Cornelia Johanna Elizabeth Lochner.

This is the direct line of descent.

Johann Georg Lochner, who was born circa 1740 at Grünstadt, Mannheim, Germany, arrived in False Bay, Cape of Good Hope on 12 August 1765. He was employed as a soldier aboard the Noord Nieuwland ship. Once he was settled he went to work for the Dutch East India Company as a wagon driver. Later he ventured into making clothes and still later he became a farmer. He married Johanna Geertruyda Verbeek( *19/09/1736 at Stellenbosch +01/01/1788 at Diep Rivier). They had 10 children. He died 13/04/1805.

George Philip Lochner was the sixth child of Johann George Lochner and Johanna Geertruyda Verbeek. He was born 5 February 1775 at Cape Town. He married Hendrina Jacoba Herbst( *08/08/1779+?/09/1808 ) at Cape Town on 29 January 1797. He married Margaretha Elisabeth van der Westhuizen(*28/07/1773 + ca.1811) at Stellenbosch on 16 April 1809. He married Judith Elisabeth De Waal (*18/05/1788+ ?) in 1811. Out of these three marriages 13 children were born. Georg died at Malmesbury 18 July 1856.

Tobias Christiaan Lochner was the third child of Georg Philp Lochner and Hendrina Jacoba Herbst. He was born 14 September 1800 at Cape Town. He married Johanna Catharina Cornelia Hendrina Basson ( *04/04/1790 +30/11/1870) at Somerset West on 3 November 1826. They had 1 child. Tobias died 13 February 1868.

Tobias Christiaan Lochner was the only child of Tobias Christiaan Lochner and Johanna Catharina Cornelia Hendrina Basson. He was born 22 May 1829 at Swartland. He married Jacoba Johanna Maria van Aarde ( *20/06/1827 +04/03/1869 ) on 28 July 1849. They had 8 children. He married Geertruida Anna Smuts ( * ?/07/1841 +24/05/1904 ) in 1876. They had 4 children. Tobias died 2 March 1892 at Malmesbury.

Johannes Tobias Albertus (also known as Jan Tobias Benjamin) Lochner was the fifth child of Tobias Christiaan Lochner and Jacoba Johanna Maria van Aarde. He was born on 12 May 1857 at Malmesbury. He married Helena Johanna Francina van der Westhuizen ( *28/03/1859 at Malmesbury +07/11/1924 ). They had 14 children. The first four children died in infancy. He died at Somerset West on 23 August 1935.

Their children were:

NN died in infancy at Port Nolloth before 1882

NN died in infancy at Port Nolloth before 1882

NN died in infancy at Port Nolloth before 1882

Cornelia Johanna Elizabeth*20/10/1882 died in infancy

Cornelia Johanna Elizabeth (Ouma Connie) *29/01/1884 at Moreesburg + 17/9/1950. She married Wilhelm Eduard Ernst Dümmer in 1911. They had 4 children. They divorced in 1936. She then married Dan Retief.

Photo taken 1/8/42

Tobias Christiaan*06/11/1885 at Moreesburg.

Jacoba Johanna Maria*14/08/1887 at Moreesburg.
She married Johan David Gerhardus Steenkamp.

(Photo: Olga Lochner-Steenkamp)

Jacoba and Johan had four children. See below

LtoR: Jan Tobias Lochner-Steenkamp, Helene Whiteman, Tats Steenkamp, Benjamin Steenkamp
(Photo: Olga Lochner-Steenkamp)

Ouma Connie’s brother Johannes Tobias Albertus Lochner, nicknamed Jantal. Born 3.4.1891 at Moorreesburg, died 1918 during World War 1 in Egypt and is buried in Isamalia. Never married, no children.

Jantal (Photo: Helena (Lochner) Knezovich)

Jantal with his plane in Egypt WW1 (Photos: Helena (Lochner) Knezovich)

SJPK Lochner’s handwriting (Photo: Helena (Lochner) Knezovich)

Johan Frederik*06/01/1889 at Moreesburg.

Johannes Tobias Albertus*03/04/1891 at Moreesburg.

Helena Johanna Francina (Aunt Molly)*15/09/1892 at Moreesburg + 15/07/1951 at Bloubergstrand. She never married.

Jacobus Abraham van Aarde*07/02/1895 at Moreesburg. Died in Infancy.

Jacobus Abraham van Aarde*25/05/1896 at Moreesburg.

Beatrix Hendrina Aletta (Aunt Babs) *12/09/1898 at Moreesburg. She married a Bridges.

Stephanus Johannes Paul Kruger* 14/04/1900 at Somerset West.
SJPK Lochner
(Photo: Helena (Lochner) Knezovich)

Cornelia Johanna Elizabeth Lochner (Ouma Connie) was the fifth child of Johannes Tobias Albertus Lochner and Helena Johanna Francina van der Westhuizen. She was born 29 January 1884 at Moreesburg. She married Wilhelm Ernst Eduard Dümmer in 1911. They had 4 children. They divorced in 1936. Cornelia then married Dan Retief.

Children:

Helene *17/08/1912+17/03/1962

Frieda Auguste *04/04/1915+06/09/1999

Arnold Wilhelm *15/12/1916+26/11/1982

Ewald Lochner *23/03/1920+12/11/1983

Frieda Auguste Dümmer born 4 April 1915 at Somerset West. She married Bernie Johannes Kempen on 1 August 1942 at Rondebosch. She died 6 September 1999.

They had 3 children.

Willem Hendrik( that’s me ) *07/06/1943

Julian Lochner*13/09/1949 + 10/05/1958

Bernie Johannes*15/08/1952

Headstone of Johannes Tobias Albertus and Jacoba Johanna Maria van Aarde and
Cornelia Johanna Elizabeth

MOST HONOURED LOCHNER

Die Lekker Ham

Helena Johanna Francina Lochner( Aunt Molly ) became the well-known and respected Author of many children’s books written in her language of Afrikaans. She also illustrated the majority of the books herself.

She was born on the farm Bossiesvlei in the Moreesburg District on 15 September 1892. She was the tenth child of Jan Tobias Albertus Lochner and Helena Johanna Francina van der Westhuizen. She never married and died at Bloubergstrand on 15 July 1951.

Aunt Molly attended school at Hottentots Holland High School at Somerset West. She also qualified as a Primary School Teacher at Somerset West. She taught at Ceres, Simondium and The Strand. Her first book, Ou Koning van Klou, was published in 1930. In 1931 she was featured, together with other writers in the Nasionale Pers and the photograph in the newspaper article below was that of her in 1931. In those days some books sold for 4 shillings and six pence whilst others could sell for as low as 10 pennies.

When she retired to Blaauwbergstrand she became an eccentric character and some tales, especially those of her love for Gin-and-Tonic, shared with friends on Sunday mornings, were well documented. It was also recalled that she used to wake up in the dead of night with an idea in her head of her next story and write it on the wall next to her bed.

Some of her books are listed below:

For children aged 6 to 10

Kindertuin/Pre-school
Die Slim Hasie
Die Kwaai Snoek
Die Lekker Ham
Ou Meneer Springer
Die muis met die lang stert
Die Mannetjie in die Maan
Die Honger Draak
Jan en Piet gaan stad-toe
Koos en Joos gaan see-toe
Klaas en Baas op die plaas
Kol, die Kalfie
Ou Skilpad gaan reis
Broer Apie
Die Dom Varkie
Std 1/ Grade 1
Ou Tante Langtand
Die Pratende Pot
Die Kliphuisie
Die Geleende Velskoene
Die Gaatjie in die Muur
Ou Mamma Kromneus
Drie ou broertjies
Die verdwynende Ma
Die Blou Skoenlapper
Die Heks van Hooimiet
Die Pappot
Die Ou Vrou se Kombers
Die Tien Sustertjies
Die Poppe se Huisie
Rollo, die Beertjie
Donsie en die Dwergie
Mal-Jan onder die Hoenders
Die Sterk Man
Vier Ou Voëlverskrikkers
Wagter, die knap hond
O, Hoe Jok Hy!
Pannekoek-land
Std 2/Grade 2
Ou Koning van Klou
Ou Voetoog
Die Prinses se Pêrels
Die Perlemoen-paleis
Pinkie die Hottentotjie
Die Bont Doek
Die Goue Sleuteltjie
Hoe die Sprinkane horinkies gekry het
Die Berg se Geheim
Die Vuurvreter
Die Held Woltemade
Tafleberg se Kleed
Die Wit Duif
Die Drie Eiertjies
Die Koning se Beeswagter
Die Goue Prinses
Die Mensaap
Die Brawe Boertjie
Wat Pa vertel
Die Generaal se Dogter
Die Leeu-meisie
Vrolike Versies vir Kindertuin
Vrolike Versies vir Std 1
Vrolike Versies vir Std 2
Kinderland Pragtig ge-illustreer

This article was published in Die Burger newspaper in Cape Town, South Africa on 15 September 1992, One Hundred years after the birth of Helena..

Article published in Die Burger newspaper in Cape Town, South Africa, 15 September 1992

Aunt Molly’s House at Blaauwbergstrand 1940’s Same site modern development

Blaauwbergstrand and Table Mountain 1950’s

Aunt Molly’s Headstone
(Photo: Olga Lochner-Steenkamp)

My thanks to:

Frans and Julia Theunissen for their invaluable help in obtaining information on Helena Lochner.
Johann Lochner, Author of the Lochner Geslagsregister.
Myra Lochner for putting me in touch with her son, Johann Lochner
Olga Lochner-Steenkamp for her valuable photo and info contribution

Contributions from anyone with knowledge about Helena, that I may include on this site, are very welcome.