Descendants of Edward Hoffman

Generation No. 2

2. HULDA HOFFMAN was born in Germany or Prussia on the 2nd of October 1863. There are two different scenerios of her arrival in the United States. The first indicates that she came with her mother to America in 1881, when she was about eighteen years old. But, family stories suggest that she came “earlier and secured a position in the home of a German family in Chicago where she saved her meager salary expressly to bring her immediate family here from Germany.” This idea has support from the later census records that indicate she immigrated to the US in 1875. But, according to her birth record, she would have been only twelve years old.

After the arrival of her family in 1881, Hulda settled with them near Adeline, Ogle county Illinois. Hulda Hoffman’s mother, Charlotta Gritzmacher, died in 1893 and Hulda appears in the 1900 Census of Ogle county Illinois, keeping house for her step-father, Martin Gritzmacher. She is age 33. Martin Gritzmacher died in September of 1900 and Hulda married in the following year, 1901, to August "Gus" Clesle of Ruthven, Palo Alto county, Iowa. He was the son of Jacob Clesle and Julia Rudak. Around the time of her marriage, Hulda Hoffman Clesle’s sister, Amanda Hoffman Coffman, was living in nearby Morrison, Grundy county Iowa.

Look here for further information on The Clesle Family.

It does not appear that Gus Clesle and Hulda Hoffman had children. But, census records suggest that they made a home for several nieces including Clara Clesle, Hazel Barringer and Pearl Osterson. Probate records for August Clesle and Hulda Hoffman Clesle, suggest that they considered Pearl their adopted daughter, but it does not appear to have been a legal adoption. See “The Clesle Family” for a clearer understanding of relationships.
Census records give further details:

1910 Census of Palo Alto county Iowa - Highland township - page 75

August Clesle		46 – mar.twice – mar. 10 years – Germany – immigrated 1866
Hulda		39 – mar, once – mar. 10 years – Germany – immigrated 1875
Clara Clesle		23 - Iowa - niece

1920 Census of Palo Alto county Iowa - Highland township – Ruthven - page 8

August Clesle		55 - immigrated 1864 - naturalized 1871 – Germany - stockbuyer
Hulda		52 - immigrated 1875 - naturalized 1880 - Germany
Clara Osterson		33 – niece – married - Iowa
Pearl Clesle/Osterson		5 – stniece – Iowa – father born Sweden
Hazel Barringer		13 – niece - Minnesota

1930 Census of Palo Alto county Iowa – Highland township – Ruthven – ED 12, sheet 7 [sent by Christine Martin]

August Clesle		65 – Germany – parents born Germany – stock buyer – immigrated 1881
Hulda		63 - Germany
Pearl Anderson		15 – niece – Iowa – father born Sweden

August Clesle died the 26th of June 1939 and is buried in the Crown Hill Cemetery of Ruthven, Palo Alto county Iowa. Shortly after his death Hulda Hoffman Clesle, who “has been seriously ill for some time”, is placed under the guardianship of Harry Shartle of Ruthven, Iowa. Then on the 3rd of February 1940 Hulda Clesle died. She is probably buried in the Crown Hill Cemetery in Ruthven, along with her husband Gus Clesle, but her name does not appear in the cemetery records prepared by the WPA. Hulda Hoffman Clesle left the majority of her estate, including at least one farm, to her brother AG (Adolph) Hoffman and left a piece of town property to Pearl Osterson Eaton.
See further information under “The Story of a Farm in Palo Alto county Iowa”.

3. ADOLPH GUSTAV HOFFMAN was born September 24, 1865 in Ratschien, Posen, Prussia (Germany). He came with his mother to the United States in 1881, when he was about sixteen years old. Family stories claim that he was a twin, and that his brother did not come to the United States. But, no evidence has been found to support this idea. Adolph Hoffman settled with his mother and sisters in Adeline, Ogle county Illinois. He became a naturalized citizen of the US on the 1st of April 1887 in Oregon, Ogle co, Illinois. In 1891, Adolph Hoffman was married to Josephine Biesemeier. She was the daughter of the local Evangelical pastor, William Biesemeier and his wife Hermine Gassman. They were the parents of three daughters: Ethel Victoria Hoffman, born 10 February 1893; Elba Josephine Hoffman, born 25 February 1898; and Edna Amanda Hoffman, born 5 December 1907. The obituary of Adolph Hoffman, shown below, gives good details of his life.

Look here for further information in The Biesemeier Family Report.

Marriage License [sent to me by Pat Fogel]
Mr AG Hoffman of Adaline in the county of Ogle, Illinois age 25 and Miss Josephine Biesemeier of Adaline of the County of Ogle, Ilinois age 24 years....license at Freeport, Stephenson co, Ill 4 Jun 1891
I W Biesemeier, Minister hereby certify that Mr Adolf Hoffman and Miss Josephine Biesemeier were united in marriage by me at North Grove, Ogle co, on the 25th of June 1891.
Board of Health Information
Adolf Hoffman of Adeline, blacksmith, age 24, nativity German, Place of Birth Ratzschin Germania, fathers name-Edward Hoffmann, mothers maiden name-Shalotte born Krueger, grooms first marriage. Josephine Biesemeier of North Grove, Ogle co age 24, nativity American, place of birth-Iowa Polk Washington Wisc, fathers name-Wilhelm Biesemeier, mothers maiden name- Hermine born Gassman, brides first marriage.
Witnesses-N Levering, Louisa Levering 25 Jun 1891
signed: AG Hoffman, Josie Biesemeier, W Biesemeier minister at North Grove, Ogle co, Ill

Census Records give the following details:

1900 Census of Clay county Iowa - Freeman township - ED 28 page 4

Adolph Hoffman		34 - Sept 1865 – Germany – mar. 9 years – parents born Germany
Josephine		33 - Aug 1866 – Wisconsin - 2 of 2 children – father born Germany – mother born Illinois
Ethel		7 - Feb 1893 – Illinois - at school
Elba		2 - Feb 1898 - Iowa

further details in the census indicate that Adolph Hoffman – immigrated 1881 – 19 years in the US – farmer – reads – writes – speaks English – owns farm - mortgage

1910 Census of Kingfisher county Oklahoma - ED 82 Family #120

Adolph G Hoffman		44 – Germany - married 19 years
Josephine S		43 – Wisconsin - 3 of 3 children
Ethel A		17 - Illinois
Elba J		12 - Iowa
Edna A		2 - Oklahoma
William Biesemeier		77 – Germany – preacher

1920 Census of Kingfisher county Oklahoma - ED 233 page 2

Adolph G Hoffman		54 - East Prussia – parents born East Prussia
Josephine		54 – Wisc – father born Lippe Detmold – mother born Illinois
Ethel		26 - Ill
Elba		21 - Iowa
Edna		12 - Ok

1930 Census of Kay county Oklahoma – Newkirk – ED 25 page 20

Adolph D Hoffman		64 – Germany - manager of a second hand store
Josephine		63
Edna		22

Adolph Gustav Hoffman died on the 4th of November 1945 and is buried in the Kingfisher Cemetery in Kingfisher Oklahoma. His Will [link] was written in January of 1943 and was filed in both Kingfisher county Oklahoma and Palo Alto county Iowa in 1946. See the Will of Adolph G Hoffman. see the Story of a Farm in Kingfisher county Oklahoma.

Obituary in Kingfisher, Oklahoma Newspaper dated 12 Nov 1945 Adolph G Hoffman, son of Mr and Mrs Edward Hoffman, was born 24 Sep 1865, at Ratschien, Germany, and passed from this life 4 Nov 1945 at the age of 80 years, 1 month and 11 days. He came to this country when he was 16 years old, settling at Adeline, Illinois. There he was united in marriage on 25 Jun 1891, to Miss Josephine Biesemeier, daughter of a pastor of the Evangelical Synod of North America. To this union, which lasted 54 years, three daughters were born. After living in Adeline, three years following their marriage, the couple moved to Ruthven, Iowa, where Mr Hoffman engaged in farming.
In 1903 they came to Oklahoma buying a farm five miles southwest of Kingfisher. Here they continued to live until 1918 when they retired from the farm. From 1918 to 1925 they made their home in Kingfisher. In 1925 they moved to Newkirk, Oklahoma, where for 10 years Mr Hoffman had a furniture repair shop.
In 1935 they returned to Kingfisher to live, Mr Hoffman having retired from active work. Here he continued to live until his death. Throughout the years, until hindered by ill health, he continued to be a faithful member of the Evangelical church.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Mrs Harry Coffman, Morrison, Iowa and Mrs August Clesle, Ruthven, Iowa.
Those who survive his passing are: his wife of the home, three daughters, Mrs Max Robberts of Winfield, Kansas, Mrs Otis Garrett of Oklahoma City and Mrs George L Bowman of Kingfisher; three grandchildren and many friends.
Funeral service was held at 2 pm on Thursday at the Evangelical and Reformed Church, Rev EF Nolte officiating, Bracken funeral home had charge of interment in Kingfisher cemetery.

Josephine Biesemeier Hoffman died on the 21st of March 1952 and is buried with her husband in the Kingfisher Cemetery in Oklahoma. Her obituary was published in a Kingfisher Oklahoma newspaper around the time of her death:

Mrs A G Hoffman
Josephine Biesemeier Hoffman, daughter of Rev and Mrs William Biesemeier, was born 15 Aug 1866 in Polk, Wisconsin and died 31 Mar 1952 in Kingfisher, as the age of 85 years, seven months and 16 days.
She was baptized 23 Sep 1866 in the Evangelical church of Polk, and was confirmed in that church on 10 Apr 1881.
On 25 June 1891, she was united in marriage with Adolph G Hoffman at North Grove, Illinois with her father performing the ceremony. To this union, three daughters were born. They are Mrs Max M (Ethel) Robberts of Winfield, Kansas, Mrs Otis (Elba) Garrett of Oklahoma City, and Mrs George L (Edna) Bowman of Kingfisher. There also are three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
In 1902, Mr Hoffman and Mr Biesemeier came to Oklahoma, and purchased farms in the Union Hall district, southwest of Kingfisher. The family moved to their farms in 1903. There the Hoffmans resided until they moved into Kingfisher in 1918. They resided in this community continuously except for 11 years spent at Newkirk.
Until her health failed, Mrs Hoffman was an active worker in the Evangelical church, serving as church organist and in the women's organization. At the time of her death, she was a member of the Federated church. Mr Hoffman preceded her in death on 4 Nov 1945.
Funeral service was held Tuesday afternoon at the Kingfisher Federated church with Rev Warren Mehl officiating. Interment in Kingfisher was under the Smith Funeral home direction.

Another obituary was prepared at the time of Josephine Biesemeier Hoffman's death in 1952. It may have accompanied the funeral service. It gives a few more details than the published newspaper obituary.
She was a talented musician. She served as Church Organist for 15 years in the Evangelical Church, North Grove, Illinois, here in Kingfisher in the early day of the local church, she played for the church and choir, and the entire family sang in the choir. She received her education in the German and English School of the North Grove community.
The Rev Biesemeier was minister at North Grove for 36 years until he resigned and retired. He made his home with the Hoffmans in the winters in Oklahoma, during which time he helped with the early Evangelical Church here in Kingfisher. During a period of early day hard times, he served the local church as a minister for about a year and a half, without salary.
Ten years ago this coming May, Mrs Hoffman suffered a fractured hip, followed by a stroke. During these past ten years she never lost courage; she never lost hope. She had great faith in prayer and read the Bible through several times during her convalescence in her wheel chair. She made a valiant fight these ten years, remaining cheerful and uncomplaining. The past two years she has been confined to her bed. She was devoted to her family, kind and loyal to her neighbors and friends, she was a beautiful Christian character.
Mother requested this text for her funeral years ago: II Timothy "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
Pall Bearers: George Walta, Norvin Senn, Earl Morrow, Emmanuel Vieth, Pete Hellwege, Carl Schaeberg

Children of ADOLPH HOFFMAN and JOSEPHINE BIESEMEIER are:

5.	i.		ETHEL VICTORIA HOFFMAN, b. February 20, 1893, Adeline, Ogle co, Illinois; d. July 31, 1975, Irvine, California.
6.	ii.		ELBA JOSEPHINE HOFFMAN, b. February 25, 1898, Dickens, Clay co, Iowa; d. September 26, 1981, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma co, Oklahoma.
7.	iii.		EDNA AMANDA HOFFMAN, b. December 05, 1907, Kingfisher, Kingfisher co, Oklahoma; d. January 20, 2003, Kingfisher, Kingfisher co, Oklahoma.

4. AMANDA HOFFMAN was born on the 7th of November 1867 in Germany or Prussia. She came to America with her mother, siblings and possibly step-father in 1881. The family settled in Adeline, Ogle county Illinois. On the 31st of Dec 1889 she was married in Ogle county Illinois to HARRISON D COFFMAN, son of Nathaniel Coffman and Mary Etnyre. Harrison Coffman was already living in Grundy county Iowa at the time of their marriage. They settled near Morrison, Grundy county Iowa and family records suggest that they lived out their lives near that community.

Look here for further information in The Coffman Family Report.

Marriage License of State of Illinois
Harrison D Coffman resides in Washington TS in the County of Grundy and the State of Iowa and he is 22 years of age. Amanda A Hoffman resides in Maryland TS in the County of Ogle and State of Illinois and she is 22 years of age. They are not in any way related. They are both single.
Signed Harrison D Coffman 26 Day Dec 1889.
Witness - Henry P Lason county clerk - Stephen G Mason, deputy

Census Records give the following details:

1900 Census of Grundy county Iowa, Washington township - ED 48 sheet 6

Harrison D Coffman		32 - Sept 1867 - Ill – married 10 years
Amanda A Coffman		32 - Nov 1867 – Germany - 0 of 0 children - immigrated 1881- 18 years in US

1910 Census of Grundy county Iowa, Morrison – ED 27 page 1

Harrison D Coffman		42 – Ill – parents born Maryland - mar once for 20 years
Amanda A		42 - Germany - married once for 10 years - no children - immigrated 1881

1920 Census of Grundy county Iowa - ED 61

Harrison D Coffman		56 - Ill
Amanda A		54 - Germany

Amanda Hoffman Coffman retained a close relationship with the family of her brother Adolph Hoffman even after he removed his family to Kingfisher Oklahoma. Adolph’s daughter, Edna Hoffman Bowman, had several pictures of visits the families made back and forth between Iowa and Oklahoma. During World War I, when Edna Hoffman was around the age of ten, she spent some time living with her aunt and uncle Coffman in Grundy county Iowa.
See Hoffman Family Photos.

Amanda Hoffman Coffman died in 1929 and Harrison Coffman died in 1942. Apparently they had their bodies returned to the little community of Adeline in Ogle county Illinois for burial.

The Hoffman family in Oklahoma maintained a correspondence with “Etta” in Iowa. I suspect that Etta is the daughter of Issac Coffman, brother of Harry Coffman, but this is not certain. “Reimers” appears to be the husband of “Etta”. This letter was found disintegrating in Edna Hoffman Bowman's handwritten recipe book. It is written shortly after the death of Amanda Hoffman Coffman.
Cedar Rapids 8 Jan 1930
Dear folks, This is Wed am. Wired you yesterday that Uncle Harry was operated on at 7:30. He was on the operating table three quarters of an hour. It was a very , very painful operation but doctors tell us that he will get along all right, but you understand him. He is very discouraged and low apirited and thinks he will never be well if he does get over this. This makes it harder. He has a good nurse and we are trying to get another so he has a day and night help, at least for a short time. Reimers seen the operation and it was very necessary at this time, as the bladder showed indications of rupture. M staid by him all day but they would not let Reimers stay at night. This is against the rules here. All is being done for him but we know how he misses Aunt Mandy in every way. Its just to bad it had to be but indications are that he will get along all right. I will write Elba tomorrow but will keep you all posted. Excuse pencil, am writing at the hospital. In haste, Etta

Another letter, found among Edna Hoffman Bowman’s photograph collection, in better condition:
19 Dec 1945
Envelope reads: 1637C An W - Cedar Rapids, Iowa To Mr and Mrs George Bowman of Kingfisher, Oklahoma
Dear folks, Just a line at Christmas time when we get in touch with friends. How are you all? We both have been doctoring. Reimers trouble much like Uncle H's. Altho I had a very serious operation on my knee in Iowa City last November... Cleo(?)...married Dec 7 a Mr McCummons, seemingly a fine fellow. He lived in Rainbeck all his married life. Bonnie and the rest will have a Pre-Xmas dinner here Sunday 23. Bonnie is still in Chicago... How are the sisters and all your people? I think Arizona would be a better climate for arthritus. I have so much of it. Poor Ivina(?) is down in the bed now. Nora is not well. Luther is their stand by and he is not so well. It is as Uncle always said. Now we both wish you both everything for the New Year...Lovingly, Etta and Reimers

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Pamela Hutchison Garrett

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