Weldon Abraham Lincoln Hoff (1861 - 1952)

Born 2 Sep 1861 in Bone Creek, Ritchie County, Virginia, United States of America

Ancestors

Son of John Hoff and Elizabeth Ann (Gaston) Hoff

Husband of Emma Josephine (Clark) Hoff — married 2 Aug 1892 (to 27 Dec 1933) in Dickinson, Kansas, United States of America

Descendants

Died 5 Dec 1952 at age 91 in Vinita, Craig County, Oklahoma, United States of America

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Thomas Randolph [send private message]

Biography

Weldon was born in 1861 on his family's farm in the community called Bone Creek near Auburn, Virginia (present day West Virginia). He was the son of John Hoff and Elizabeth Gaston. He grew up in Auburn and after finishing school, did a degree at a commercial college in Delaware, Ohio. He went to Oklahoma and apparently was there to participate in the Oklahoma Land Rush in 1889. He married Emma Josephine Horton nee Clark in 1892 in Dickinson County, KS. They settled in Edmond, OK and had two children together. Weldon was a teacher. By 1930, Weldon had retired and the couple was staying with their daughter's family in Brownsville, TX. Emma passed away a couple of years later in 1933. Weldon returned to live in Vinita, OK and and the following year in 1934 at the age of 72, he married the 21 year old (possibly 18 year old) Opal Perry Wood there. An inspiration to many! They stayed in Vinita and had three children together. Weldon passed away in 1952 and is buried in Fairview Cemetery in Vinita.

• Weldon reportedly studied at a commercial college, but his education level was recorded in the 1940 census as a high school degree.

Children:

• With Emma:
  • Hugh Hurley, 1893-1944, m. Mildred H. Corning
  • Mary Madge, 1894- , m. Jesse Morris Abel
• With Opal:
  • Betty P E, 1936-
  • John W, 1938-
  • Francis E (Female), 1939-

This profile is a collaborative work-in-progress. Can you contribute information or sources?

Sources

History of Ritchie County, with biographical sketches of its pioneers and their ancestors, and with interesting reminiscences of revolutionary and Indian times. Lowther, Minnie Kendall, Published c1911; Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va.: Wheeling News Litho Co. Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT. Accessed at Archive.org, 28 Jul 2015. pp. 249-250, Chapter XVI. Bone Creek Settled.

"John Hoff was another early settler on this creek, .... Mr. and Mrs. Hoff were the parents of eleven children that reached the years of maturity—seven sons and four daughters. These sons are nearly all prominently known in the various walks of life : ... Weldon A. L. Hoff was graduated from the Commercial college at Delaware, Ohio, after spending some time in teaching in his native county, and is now a professor in a commercial college in Oklahoma...."

Doddridge County Roots accessed 14 Aug 2015. Name: W.A.L. Hoff; Birth: 2 Sep 1861,

Birth

"West Virginia Births, 1853-1930," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NM4R-R81 : accessed 14 August 2015), Welden A. Lincoln Huff, 02 Sep 1861; citing Bone Creek, Ritchie, West Virginia, United States, county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 1,887,475. Name: Welden A. Lincoln Huff; Event Type: Birth; Event Date: 02 Sep 1861; Event Place: Bone Creek, Ritchie, West Virginia, United States; Gender: Male; Father's Name: John Huff; Mother's Name: Elizabeth Ann.

"West Virginia Births, 1853-1930," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NM4Y-7ZS : accessed 14 August 2015), Welden A Lincoln Huff, 1861; citing , county courthouses, West Virginia; FHL microfilm 839,536. Name: Welden A Lincoln Huff; Event Type: Birth; Event Date: 2 Sept 1861; Gender: Male; Born: alive; Birthplace: Bone Creek; Father: John Huff; Occupation: Farmer; Father residence: Bone Creek; Mother: Elizabeth Ann; How many at a birth:1.

Residence in West Virginia

"United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZHM-D6J : accessed 14 August 2015), Weldon A L Hoff in household of John Hoff, West Virginia, United States; citing p. 20, family 133, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 553,197. Census place: Union Township, Ritchie County, WV, Post Office: Harrisville, WV. Census date: 22-23 Jun 1870. Name: Weldon A L Hoff; Gender: male; Age:8; Race: White; Race (Original): W; Birth Year (Estimated): 1861-1862; Birthplace: Virginia; Page Number: 20; Household (Role Gender Age Birthplace): John Hoff, M, 44, Virginia now WV; Farmer, real estate: 2000, personal estate: 600; adult male citizen; Elizabeth Hoff, F, 40, Virginia; Keeping house; Ere B Hoff, M, 20, Virginia; at home; Irvoin S Hoff, M, 16, Virginia; attending school; George S Hoff, M, 14, Virginia; attending school; Charlotte C Hoff, F, 12, Virginia; attending school; attended school; Rebecca J Hoff, F, 10, Virginia; attended school; cannot write; Weldon A L Hoff, M, 8, Virginia; Mary C Hoff, F, 7, Virginia; Silas M Hoff, M, 5, West Virginia; Rosa Bird Hoff, F, 3, West Virginia; Martha L Hoff, F, 1, West Virginia. All birthplaces are noted as "Virginia now WV"; Living near a Bee, Davis

"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6TW-3GS : accessed 14 August 2015), Weldon Hoff in household of John Hoff, Union, Ritchie, West Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district 148, sheet 328B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1413; FHL microfilm 1,255,413. Census date: 9 Jun 1880. Name: Weldon Hoff; Gender: male; Age: 19; Marital Status: Single; Race: White; Race (Original): W; Relationship to Head of Household: Son; Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Son; Birth Year (Estimated): 1861; Birthplace: West Virginia, United States; Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania, United States; Mother's Birthplace: West Virginia, United States; Household (Role Gender Age Birthplace): John Hoff, Self, M, 54, head, married, West Virginia, United States; Farmer; parents' birthplace: PA; Elisabeth Hoff, Wife, F, 50, married, keeping house, West Virginia, United States; parents' birthplace: WV; Weldon Hoff, Son, M, 19, single, West Virginia, United States; staying at home; disabled; attended school; parents' birthplace: f:PA; m:WV: Mary C Hoff, Daughter, F, 17, single, West Virginia, United States; at home; disabled; attended school; parents' birthplace: f:PA; m:WV: Silas M Hoff, Son, M, 15, single, West Virginia, United States; working on farm; attended school; parents' birthplace: f:PA; m:WV: Lewis R Hoff, Son, M, 9, single, West Virginia, United States; attended school; parents' birthplace: f:PA; m:WV: Lloyd Hoff, Son, M, 7, single, West Virginia, United States; attended school; parents' birthplace: f:PA; m:WV: Rosa B Hoff, Daughter, F, 13, single, West Virginia, United States; at home; attended school; parents' birthplace: f:PA; m:WV .

Residence in Oklahoma

"United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMG2-C44 : accessed 14 August 2015), Weldery ? Hoff, Edmond Township Edmond town, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Territory, United States; citing sheet 5B, family 88, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,241,340. Census date: 6 Jun 1900. Name: Weldery ? Hoff; Gender: Male; Age: 39; Marital Status: Married; Race: White; Race (Original): W; Relationship to Head of Household: Head; Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head; Years Married: 8; Birth Date: Sep 1861; Birthplace: West Virginia; Marriage Year (Estimated): 1892; Father's Birthplace: West Virginia; Mother's Birthplace: West Virginia; HOUSEHOLD (ROLE GENDER AGE BIRTHPLACE): Weldery ? Hoff, Head, M, Sep 1861, 39 (originally 38), married, yrs married: 8; West Virginia; parents' birthplace: WV; Teaching, Months out of work:1; Einna J Hoff, Wife, F, Aprl 1858, 42, married, yrs married: 8, children born:2; living:2; Illinois; parents' birthplace: PA; Hugh H Hoff, Son, M, May 1893, 7, Oklahoma; parents' birthplace: f: WV; m:Illinois; Mary M Hoff, Daughter, F, Nov 1994, 6, Oklahoma; parents' birthplace: f: WV; m:Illinois; . NOTE: 'Einna' can easily be read as 'Emma'. Owned house, no mortgage. Weldon and Imma can read, write, speak English.

"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLQG-9JW : accessed 14 August 2015), Weldon A L Hoff, Edmond Ward 2, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 190, sheet 9B, family 210, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,375,278. Census date: 22 Apr 1910. Name: Weldon A L Hoff; Gender: Male; Age: 48; Marital Status: Married; Race: White; Race (Original): White; Relationship to Head of Household: Head; Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head; Birth Year (Estimated): 1862; Birthplace: West Virginia; Father's Birthplace: West Virginia; Mother's Birthplace: West Virginia. HOUSEHOLD (ROLE GENDER AGE BIRTHPLACE): Weldon A L Hoff, Head, M, 48, married, 1st marriage, yrs married: 17; West Virginia; parents' birthplace: WV; Teacher, commercial school; wages; not out of work; wks without work: 6; Emma J Hoff, Wife, F, 53, married, 1st marriage, yrs married: 17; children born:2; living:2; Illinois; parents' birthplace: PA; Occupation: none; Hugh H Hoff, Son, M, 16, Oklahoma; parents' birthplace: F:WV; M:Illinois; attended school; Mary M Hoff, Daughter, F, 15, Oklahoma; parents' birthplace: F:WV; M:Illinois; attended school. Address: 320 East Main Street. Owned house, with mortgage. Everyone can read, write, speak English.

1920

"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:C7SC-NPZ : accessed 14 August 2015), W A L Hoff in household of Ja M Abel, Brownsville, Cameron, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0014, sheet 4A, family 5, line 27, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2305; FHL microfilm 2,342,039. Census place: Brownsville City; Census date: 5 Apr 1930. Name: W A L Hoff; Gender: Male; Age: 69; Marital Status: Married; Race: White; Race (Original): White; Relationship to Head of Household: Father-in-law; Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Father-In-Law; Birth Year (Estimated): 1861; Birthplace: West Virginia; Father's Birthplace: West Virginia; Mother's Birthplace: West Virginia; HOUSEHOLD (ROLE GENDER AGE BIRTHPLACE): Ja M Abel, Head, M, 45, married, marriage age: 34; Arkansas; parents' birthplace: Arkansas; Gin, own account; Employer; employed; Mary Abel, Wife, F, 35, married, marriage age: 24; Oklahoma; parents' birthplace: Oklahoma; occupation: none; Abel Abel, Son, M, 9, attended school; Oklahoma; parents' birthplace: F:Arkansas; M:Oklahoma; Mary Abel, Daughter, F, 7, attended school; Oklahoma; parents' birthplace: F:Arkansas; M:Oklahoma; Ione Abel, Daughter, F, 4 (4 6/12), Texas; parents' birthplace: F:Arkansas; M:Oklahoma; Weldon Abel, Son, M, 3, Texas; parents' birthplace: F:Arkansas; M:Oklahoma; W A L Hoff, Father-in-law, M, 69, West Virginia; parents' birthplace: WV; Retired, teacher, not employed; Emma Hoff, Mother, F, 73, Illinois; parents' birthplace: Pennsylvania; occupation: none. Address: 1613 Harrison St.; owned house, 1000 value; radio?: [blank]. Everyone can read, write, speak English.

"United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VBJ5-GMF : accessed 14 August 2015), Weldon A L Hoff, Ward 4, Vinita, Township 6, Craig, Oklahoma, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 18-12, sheet 8A, family 199, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 3287. Census date: 10 Apr 1940. Name: Weldon A L Hoff; Gender: Male; Age: 78; Marital Status: Married; Race (Original): White; Race: White; Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head; Relationship to Head of Household: Head; Birthplace: West Virginia; Birth Year (Estimated): 1862; Last Place of Residence: Same Place; HOUSEHOLD (ROLE GENDER AGE BIRTHPLACE): Weldon A L Hoff, [Respondent], Head, M, 78, married, educ:H-4; West Virginia; Not working: Other; No wage income; other income received; Opal Hoff, Wife, F, 24, married, educ:0; Oklahoma; Housework; no wage income; no other income received; Betty P E Hoff, Daughter, F, 4, Oklahoma; John W Hoff, Son, M, 2, Oklahoma; Francis E Hoff, Daughter, F, 0 (10/12), Oklahoma. Both Wendon and Opal were in 'Same place' in 1935, not on a farm.

Marriage

Carpenter, Linda. Kansas Marriage Index, 1854-73 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1998. Accessed 13 Aug 2015. Name: HORTON, Emma J.; Spouse: HOFF, Weldon A. L.; Marriage Date: 2 Aug 1892; County: DickinsonKS; Film Number: LDS Film 1015900; Source: LDS Film 1015900.

"Oklahoma, County Marriages, 1890-1995," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXLJ-86Z : accessed 14 August 2015), W A L Hoff and Opal Perry Wood, 04 Jul 1934; citing Oklahoma, county courthouses, Oklahoma; FHL microfilm . Name: W A L Hoff; Occupation: teacher; Residence: Vihita, OK; Race: white; Age: legal; Married before: Once; Event Type: Marriage; Event Date: 04 Jul 1934; Event Place: , Craig, Oklahoma, United States; Gender: Male; Spouse's Name: (Miss) Opal Perry Wood; Spouse's Gender: Female; Spouse's Age: 21; Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1913; Spouse married before: no; Spouse occupation: Housekeeper; Spouse residence: Ketchum, Craig Co., OK; Page: 313. Signed as: W.A.L. Hoff. Application: 3 Jul 1934; License issued: 3 Jul 1934; Marriage certificate: 4 Jul 1934; Vinita, Craig Co., OK; Witnesses: Mrs. Tom Wood, Mayre Sue German; By: C.A. German, Minister M.E.Ch. So.

Children

Death

FindaGrave Memorial #102012891 accessed 14 Aug 2015. Name: Weldon Abraham Lincoln "W.A.L." Hoff; Birth: Sep. 2, 1861, Ritchie County, West Virginia, USA; Death: Dec., 1952, Craig County, Oklahoma, USA; NOTE: W.A.L. Hoff, 91, Vinita pioneer, died in a local hospital following a long illness. Hoff, a participant in the Oklahoma land rush, had been a resident of the state since then. He was born Sept. ,1861, in Ritchie county, West Virginia. He was a penmanship instructor in Vinita public and private schools for many years. His first wife, Emma Josephine Clark Hoff preceded him in death in 1933 at Brownsville, Texas. They had married in 1892 Kansas. To this union were born Mary Madge Hoff and John W. Hoff. In July 1934 he married Opal Perry Wood in Craig county. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Opal Hoff, Enid; one daughter, Mrs. Jesse M. Abel (Mary) of Olimito, Texas; and two other daughters, Betty and Francis; and one son, John W. Hoff; Burial: Fairview Cemetery, Vinita, Craig County, Oklahoma, USA; Plot: FV 25, Lot 003, Sp.004; Photo: No.

DNA Confirmation

• Paternal and maternal relationships are confirmed by an AncestryDNA test match between Tom Randolph and Felicia Ramsey, third cousins. Their MRCAs are John Hoff and Elizabeth Ann Gaston, their second great grandparents. Predicted relationship from AncestryDNA: 4th-6th Cousins, based on sharing 58 cM across 4 segments; Confidence: Not given.