History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties

"History of Lincoln, Oneida, and Vilas Counties Wisconsin"

Compiled by George O.Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others. Printed in 1924 by H.C.Cooper. Jr. & Co., Minneapoli-Winona MN. ill. 787 pages. The first two hundred pages are history of the three counties, the remainder of the book is biographies.

Biography

Hoffman, Harry H. prominently associated with the Merrill Woodenware Co. at Merrill, was born at Sheboygan, Wis., Nov. 2, 1882, son of John J. and Rosa E. (ANSCHUETZ) HOFFMAN. Both parents were born in Germany, the father on June 12, 1842 and the mother on Oct. 2, 1843. They came to America with their respective families as children and both grew up at Saginaw, Mich., where they met and were married. The father was educated for the ministry, finishing his studies at Buffalo, N. Y., and followed this profession in the Lutheran Church all his life; he was a very highly cultured and finely educated man, speaking seven different languages and having a wide reputation as an orator. Soon after his marrage he came to the town of Berlin in Marathon County, where he subsequently served for many years as a minister; the family next went to Sheboygan, where Harry H. was born, and when the latter was eight years old they came to Merrill to live. At the time of his death, which occurred Nov. 20, 1915, the Rev. John J. HOFFMAN held a pastorate in New Orleans, La., the mother died at Merrill on Feb. 25, 1923, after having made her home here with her children for 32 years. All the children lived here at one time. William, the first-born, died at the age of nine years; there were ten others, as follows: John E., now deceased; Marge G., a resident of Pensacola, Fla.; Jacob J., twin brother of Mark, deceased; Clara, who is living at Ann Arbor, Mich., the wife of Filibert ROTH, dean of the forestry department of the University of Michigan; Philip E., living at Miami, Fla.; Adolph E., of Minneapolis; Otto E., a resident of Vintondale, Pa.; Edward A., of Detroit, Mich.; William P., living at Cleveland, Ohio; and Harry H. Harry H. HOFFMAN attended grade and high school at Merrill, and subsequently for a time he read law in the office of his brother Mark, who at one time was country judge of Lincoln County. He left his legal studies to take up marine engineering, which he followed for the next ten years on the Great Lakes. He returned to Merrill in June of 1910 and entered the employ of the Merrill Woodenware Co. as bookkeeper. He has built a successful career for himself in this company and is now one of the directors of the concern and its secretary and office manager. On Jan. 1, 1908, Mr. HOFFMAN was united in marriage with Lillian G. WISNER, of Merrill. Mrs. HOFFMAN was born at Big Rapids, Mich., March 17, 1883, daughter of Leonard B. and Adeline (JOHNSTON) WISNER, and came to Merrill with her parents when she was three years old; she attended and taught in the rural schools of Lincoln County for two years subsequently. Her father was born at Kalamazoo, Mich., Feb. 27, 1859, and her mother at Frederickton, N. B., March 22, 1859. The mother, who was educated at St. Johns, N. B., taught school for several years and met Mr.WISNER while living at Big Rapids, Mich. They were married there on Feb. 6, 1882, and have been residents of Merrill since 1885. The father has been head sawyer in lumber mills since he was 21 years old. There were five children in their family, as follows: Lillian G., now Mrs. HOFFMAN; Emma L., who is the widow of H G. SCHNEIDER and is teaching in the Merrill schools; Leonard R., a graduate of the agricultural department of the University of Wisconsin, now operating a farm in the town of Merrill adjoining the city of that name; Grace I., who is Mrs. Milton A. FISCHER of Dodgeville, Wis.; and Helen L., living at Saginaw, Mich., the wife of E. P. CHANDLER of that city. Mr. and Mrs. HOFFMAN have been the parents of two children, of whom one, Shirley Rose, is now deceased; she was born April 20, 1911, and died April 23, 1914. Garth Leonard, born July 6, 1912, is living at home. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church at Merrill, and Mrs. HOFFMAN is an active worker in the church and Sunday School; Mr. HOFFMAN is also prominent in this connection, being a trustee of the church. Mrs. HOFFMAN is well known in the literary and club circles of the city; she is a member of the Monday Club, president of the Woman's Alliance, and is prominent in Masonic work, being past matron of Pine Forest Chapter No. 96 of the Eastern Star and holding a commission as grand representative of the grand chapter of Wisconsin; she also belongs to the Royal Neighbors of America. Mr. HOFFMAN is a member of the blue lodge and chapter in the Masonic lodge and belongs to the Equitable Fraternal Union.

Transcribed by Susan Swanson, from pages 511; History of Lincoln, Oneida and Vilas Counties Wisconsin; Compiled by George O. Jones, Norman S. McVean and Others; H.C. Cooper Jr. & Co, 1924

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