Career
The entire Ukraine had a population of three million at most. In order to settle this empty territory, colonists from western Europe were invited to come to n colonization agents advertised the availability of crown lands to people throughout Europe. They departed in the fall of 1786, sailing first to Riga, then travelling cross country, arriving at the Dnieper in late November.
From here they sailed down the river looking for a suitable site.
They met Potemkin at Kremenchuk and were presented to Catherine in May, as she was inspecting her new territories. They found a suitable settlement location, then returned home by way of Saint St. Petersburg, where they met with Crown Prince Paul, who confirmed the promises made by von Trappe.
Their return to Danzig was delayed for several months because Hoeppner broke his legal The journey from Danzig to Riga was 300 miles by boat on the Baltic Sea, then 900 miles by caravan to Chortiza.
The difficulty of pioneering on the steppe was compounded the disappearance of personal property and government building materials en route to the settlement.
While most families survived by building crude shelters, Hoeppner and Bartsch were able to erect substantial dwellings. The two men were accused of keeping government money intended for community use. Both were excommunicated from the church.
Hoeppner was turned over to the n government on trumped up charges and spent almost a year in jail.
In 1889 a centennial monument celebrating the original settlement was placed at his gravesite by the great-grandchildren of the colonists who had Hoeppner thrown in jail.
