Henry Hoffman (1835 - 1918)

Born 31 Jan 1835 in York County, Pennsylvania, United States

Descendants

Died 13 May 1918 at age 83 in Libertyville, Jefferson, Iowa, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Cecil Stuerke [send private message]

Biography

Henry Hoffman has German Roots.

Henry Hoffman was a Pennsylvanian.

Henry Hoffman was born in York Co. PA in 1835. His father died when he was three or four years old. Perhaps it is our Henry that is found in the 1850 York Co. census with the Morrison family. Then again, he may have left PA before that.

Berniece's Aunt Sally wrote that Henry went through Iowa in 1854. Berniece said, "Henry spent 10 years in California. He fought Indians and had a scar on his leg." He settled in Iowa instead of returning to Pennsylvania. Henry bought 80 acres (E 1/2 NE Sec 19 TWP 71 Range 10) in Jan 1865. He married in April of 1865.

Berniece had an article that said, " Mr. and Mrs. H. Hoffman had 6 children and lived in Jefferson Co. all their married life. They lived on the Harmon farm, until illness and blindness caused them to move to Libertyville." Margaret Luvaas said that her grandparents were blind from the time she first knew them. Margaret recalls clothes lines strung to the outhouse, so that Grandpa could find his way. Robert Glotfelty said, "Both were blind for many years. Son, Samuel, built 3 rooms on to his home & cared for them. The abandoned house is east of the school."

According to Berniece, Henry and Margaret lived with a daughter for some time. They moved in with Samuel (Libertyville) in their later years. Henry and Margaret are buried in Fell Cemetery.

Henry's parents are known only by what is shown on his death certificate. There is a story that Henry's mother lived near enough Gettysburg to have heard the civil war battle. Information from Berniece's letters tells of possible brothers Jeremiah and Michajah. There is also tradition that the family owned a paper or box factory.

Henry, son of Henry Hoffman and Elizabeth James, was born 31 January 1835 in York County, Pennsylvania. We have his birth year verified by census and the birth location is claimed from a very brief newspaper obituary. The names of Henry's parents comes from his death certificate, but difficulty in verification holds the research open.

On 6 April 1865 in Jefferson County, Iowa, he married Margaret Elizabeth Harmon,^[1] daughter of Absolom Harmon and Elizabeth Donner.

1880 census of Des Moines, Jefferson Co. IA gives Henry and Margaret Huffman'schildren: John H. 13, Elizabeth S. 12, Joseph F. 9, Sarah A. 7, Samuel K 5, Henry F 2.

From the death certificate, he died of 'senile decay' on 13 May 1918 in Libertyville, Jefferson County, Iowa.^[2]

Research Notes

A brief newspaper obituary from Iowa, states that Henry was born in York Co. PA. He is said to have told folks that he went to California (or out west) to fight with Indians when he was in his teens. I've not been able to find him in census till after he settled in Iowa about 1865.

Henry's granddaughter an avid family researcher, told me that Henry's death certificate showed his father as Henry. Berniece also said Henry had a daughter, Elizabeth Saylor Hoffman, named for a close friend. A brother was Micajee or something similar. And a brother was Jeremiah. There was something about his parents owning a box factory. The census has just not been productive - York County PA or otherwise.

But, a place to restart might be Jacob Hoffman (Find A Grave: Memorial #84635557), He wasn't Henry that we know, and his wife wasn't Margaret. We don't yet know if he had more than the findagrave.com listed children. But, he did live near York County and daughter married Saylor nearby. Anybody want to help this out? (See William Hoffman because he lived in the area and married Saylor) (Maybe also Michael Hoffman - he had son Michael Jr. - maybe he was Mickajee).

There is in 1860, Halifax, Dauphin, PA, census recording of a Henry Hoffman age 24, born PA. He was a farmhand in the home of Peter Hoffman 62 and Eliza 57. Sibling Rebecca 21, Lydia 18, Mary 13. Neighbor was John Hoffman 39 with wife Elizabeth 38, children Susan 10, Isaac 8, David 7, Amanda 2. In 1850, same city, Peter 52, Elizabeth 47, George 27, Elizabeth 22, Jacob 20, Henry W. 17, Sarah 14, Rebecca 12, Lydia 9 Mary Ann 3. Daniel Hoffman is neighbor 33, Fanny 30, Edwin 5, Sarah 3, Hannah 1. And Daniel G Hoffman 53, Susannah 58, Charles W. 19, John Hoffman 29, Elizabeth 23 Susannah 1. Because H. Hoffman age 48, with wife Susana 36 is near J.B Hoffman 58 with wife Margaret 50 it looks like Henry may have stayed in PA, when our Henry was in Iowa.

Henry's wife, Margaret, had an Indian fighter father, who married a daughter of George Donner. Margaret's uncle also married a daughter of George Donner. Margaret's sister married, Samuel Watkins, who was a good friend of Henry before their marriages and Samuel is (by findagrave.com) known as Captain Samuel Watkins. the absence of Henry in Census earlier than 1865 is probably explained by the story told, that he was "out west" also fighting Indians.

Quad-City Times (Davenport IA) Libertyville may have Obituary in Newspaper.

There is a Civil War Enlistment for Henry Hoffman of Farmington Ohio age 28 in 1863. He was born in PA. Another record shows a Henry Hoffman enlisted 20 Jun 1863 age 28 at enlistment (b. 1835) mustered out Camp Cleveland, OH. was in 86th Infantry. (So, where did Harmons muster out?)

Previously impossible to read (Jan 2022) there is Henry Hoffman in 1860 census of Conewago, York Co. PA. He was age 25. Farmer, estate 1000 b. PA. In household was Linna 24, William 7, Henry 7, Augustus 6, Amanda. Sorry, Henry age 43 is still in York Co. in 1870. Nearby is Henry Hoffman age 78 with wife Sabine 72. Child Israel 44.

Jeremiah Hoffman enlisted York Co. PA age 29, Nov 9, 1862 166th PA. Now Jeremiah appears in 1860 census Hopewell York Co. PA wife Catharine . He was 27 born MD. Ancestry gives his father as Daniel 1798-1840. and mother Julia James. 1800-1863. Now James has been given for Henry's mother's maiden name. It is said that Henry's father died when he was about 5. Jeremaih had a son named John Henry b. 1856. These things fit a little.

1910 census Liberty, Jefferson, Iowa has Henry Hoffman 75 born PA. Parents born MD and PA. Married 45 years. Margaret 70, 6 of 6 children living. She born Illinois and parents NC and KY.

Joseph Hoffman (Huffman) died in 1839, Washington Co. MD. Estate sale was Sept 1839. Legatees included Elizabeth, Mary, Susannah (widow), Wm Peden guardian for Susannah (and?) Elizabeth. Jon Swagler guardian for Sarah (and?) Henry. If other records can confirm that this Henry was a minor, this would be a strong indicator that this is the searched for Henry. The record is in Probate Records File H: starting at image 07 of 3028 at Ancestry.com

Another interesting Hoffman is Hoffman-10854

1850 Philip Huffmon was 32 in 1850 census Fairfield Iowa. His son Thomas Luther has a grave in Fairfield with a nice FAG memorial. Philip was born in PA as were some of his children. In 1860 census Philip was age 45. In 1856 census Fairfield Jacob Huffman was 58 b. MD and wife Rachel was 48 born VA.

1850 Baltimore census has Henry F. Hoofman age 39 born in Maryland, with Elizabeth 60 a brush maker born in Maryland.

Sources

1. ↑ Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934, database, FamilySearch (3 November 2017), Henry Hoffman and Margaret E. Harmon, 06 Apr 1865, Jefferson, Iowa, United States; citing reference Bk.D P.480 cn 2524, county courthouses, Iowa; FHL microfilm 969,379.
2. ↑ Iowa, Death Records, 1904-1951, database with images, FamilySearch (25 September 2018), [Henry Hoffman, 13 May 1918], Libertyville, Jefferson, Iowa, United States; citing certificate #, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines; FamilySearch digital folder 102869854.

• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD2G-GKY : 11 August 2017), Henry Huffman, Des Moines, Jefferson, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district ED 83, sheet 439C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,347. While the name is recorded as HUffman, the individuals listed match those who should be in Henry's household. Additionally, Huffman is a farmer in Libertyville and his wife was born in Illinois.