Heinrich Hofmann and Catherine Henkel

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Husband Heinrich Hofmann ¹

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            AKA: Henry Hoffman 1
           Born: 1806 - Darmstadt, Germany 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 1887 - North Mahoning Twp, Indiana Co, PA 2
         Buried: 

       Marriage:  - Germany

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Wife Catherine Henkel ¹

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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Children

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1 F Elizabeth Hofmann ²

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           Born: 21 Jul 1839 - Hessen, Germany 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 11 Jul 1915 2
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Hartman Knauff (      -      ) 2

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2 M Philip Herman Hofmann ²

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           Born: 1844 - Jefferson Co, PA 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 25 Jan 1896 - North Mahoning Twp, Indiana Co, PA 2
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Sarah Jane Clyde (      -      ) 2

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3 F Mary Hoffman ^{2 3}

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           Born: 1846 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 19 Apr 1874 2
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Marion E. Steer (      -Bef 1880) 3

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General Notes: Husband - Heinrich Hofmann

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Like all other able-bodied German youths he was required by the government to serve a number of years as a soldier, and when their country was not in war, it was his duty to act as a guard or watchman protecting the government forests from those who would maliciously cut the timber for private use. He married and with his wife and one child came to America in 1840, making their voyage in an old-fashioned sailing vessel. It required about six weeks to cross the ocean. After many experiences on this trip, they landed at Baltimore, Maryland. They did not remain there long, but continued their journey, by way of the old Pennsylvania Canal to Beaver, Pennsylvania, where Mr. Hoffman farmed for one Jacob Bimber, and his wife helped and worked in the family household, until such time when it was possible for them to have a home of their own. Interestingly, when Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman had paid for their steerage across the ocean and their living expenses while traveling, after they arrived at their destination, they had only a few cents left and with this they purchased a few cakes of soap, so they could be sure to have a good bath before beginning their work in the new country.
After a few years residence in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where they both worked together, they succeeded in saving a small sum which enabled them to make next step in their hopes of getting started, looking forward to owning a home of their own. They came to Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, being among the pioneer settlers in the community. They first located on a tract of land known as "The Pines," near where the mining town of Horatio was long afterwards located. The great pine trees of that day were of very little value commercially, as the market for lumber was very limited. Henry Hoffman did, however, engage in the lumber business in a limited way. The trees were cut and with the broad-ax the logs were hewed into square timber and rafts were constructed and during the early spring floods the rafts were floated down the Big Mahoning Creek into the Allegheny River. Here these rafts were made into "fleets" and taken through to Pittsburgh to market. After a few years living at "The Pines," the Hoffman family moved to what was then known as "Round Bottom," where the present town of Valier is now located in Perry Township, Jefferson County. Here they engaged in farming and later they purchased a farm in North Mahoning Township, Indiana County, from The Holland Land Company. The original tract comprised fifty acres, to which another thirty acres were added, and upon this place he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives. They were devout and active members of the German Reformed Church and were among the organizers of "The Old Round Top Church." While the family lived in Jefferson County, they would walk seven miles to attend services. They were always zealous in the cause of religion.

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General Notes: Wife - Catherine Henkel

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She lived to the age of eighty-seven years.

1 Joseph Riesenman, Jr., History of Northwestern Pennsylvania, Vol. III (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., Inc., 1943), Pg 506.

2 Joseph Riesenman, Jr., History of Northwestern Pennsylvania, Vol. III (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., Inc., 1943), Pg 507.

3 —, History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania (Newark, OH: J. A. Caldwell, 1880), Pg 481.