Born in Prussia, Maximillian (Mark) HOHENHAUS was the youngest of the children to accompany Friedrich Ferdinand HOHENHAUS (1825-1902) and Caroline ARNDT on the journey to Australia on board the Humboldt in 1870.

After completing his schooling at the East Ipswich State School for Boys in 1888, Mark became a pupil teacher at the same institution. Between 1889 and 1902, Mark appears to have been transferred around the state of Queensland. His postings included schools at Hillchester, Gympie, Toowoomba South, Burnside and Gowrie Creek.

According to education department records located thus far, Mark had a troublesome career as a teacher and, moreover, rarely succeeded to win either the favour or encouragement of inspectors during his early years. Mark's records state: 'He passed his examinations while a pupil teacher in order with generally fair results … Mr District Inspector Ross says, "He has a strikingly forbidding face and temper not well under control".'

While inspector notes are peppered with derogatory remarks, including such phrases as 'stiff and mechanical; lacks control', 'sullen and ponderous', and 'methods are antiquated', Mark does receive the occasional light praise with comments such as 'fairly satisfactory' and 'moderate progress' occurring nearly as much as the negative remarks.

He married Martha Dittberner (1873-1936, who was born in Kleinsharzenberg, Pommern, Germany) on 4 July 1894 and together they had at least two children Frederick (1895 - ), Elsie (1897 - ).

Significantly, in the year of his marriage, Inspector Kilham notes Mark is 'willing, industrious [?], and trying his best, improving.'

However, in 1902, the year of his father's death in February, he is downgraded in classification for 'inefficiency and unsatisfactory report ...' [sic].

These teacher records warrant more careful reading. The text is often feint and difficult to decipher -- but a rare source of personal information for the genealogist.

The only other small piece of evidence I have found relating to Mark is a listing of his Naturalisation in December 1889, when he was working at Millchester as a school teacher.

Mark died intestate, and I believe the record prepared after his death to divulge his assets was destroyed in a fire.