Mayor John Hoffman^{[1, 2, 3]}

1808 - 1878  (70 years)

• Name	John Hoffman
  Prefix	Mayor
  Born	17 Jan 1808	, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania   [1, 4, 5, 6]
  Gender	Male
  Elected Office	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	mayor - councillor - Kitchener
  	Years Served: 1857, 1863-64, 1872-73 (Mayor)
  Historic Building	Abt 1812	172 King St. S., Waterloo, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  	Erb Kumpf House
  	The original portion of the Erb-Kumpf House was built around 1812 by Abraham Erb, the founder of Waterloo, making it one of Waterloo's oldest homes. It was a three-bay structure facing a mill situated near the south-west corner of King and Erb Streets. Abraham Erb came from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1806 and settled on Lots 14 and 15 of the German Company Tract, land which now comprises the central business district of Waterloo. He established a sawmill on Beaver (Laurel) Creek in 1808 and a grist mill in 1816. In 1828, he sold his mills and a considerable quantity of land to Jacob C. Snider. Magdalene Erb sold the home to Barnabas Devitt, her adopted son, in 1835. His son Benjamin served as Mayor of Waterloo from 1881 to 1883. An addition to the house was probably built by Devitt in 1849. A slight hump in the roof on the north side indicates the location at which it joins the original structure. The application of a vertical board and clapboard which does not align is further evidence that it was added at a later date. The second addition, probably built by Hoffman around 1855, included the two-storey verandah at the front. Elias Snider acquired the home and later sold it to Christian Kumpf in 1869. Kumpf was a newspaper owner, Mayor of Waterloo from 1879-1880, as well as Postmaster for 42 years. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Dominion Life Assurance Company in 1889. His son Ford, who became affectionately known as "Mr. Waterloo", was born in the home in 1877 and assumed ownership in 1899. One of the community's most public-spirited citizens, he served as Treasurer of Waterloo and Clerk/Manager of the Water and Light Commission. He was President of the Waterloo Red Cross Society and The Dominion Life Assurance Company. At present, the house demonstrates a mixture of architectural styles. Among its Georgian characteristics is the six-over-six window pane arrangement. The facade, with its two wings, treillage, Gothic barge board and Doric columns, reflects the Regency influence. In 1979, the home was sold to a law firm which has maintained the integrity of the exterior. A third addition in keeping with the style of the building has since been constructed.1a 1aDesignated Properties www. waterloo.ca
  Land	Bef 1831	Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 009, Waterloo County, Ontario   [8]
  Historical Event	29 Aug 1839	Evangelical Association Church, Waterloo, Ontario
  	church founding
  	A mission was begun by Rev. Christian Holl shortly after his arrival in Berlin on May 9, 1839, and a class (or congregation) was organized several months later on August 29, 1839 by Bishop John Seybert of the Evangelical Association during a camp meeting held at David Erb's farm near Lexington. John Hoffman was the Berlin class leader; his brother, Jacob, was class leader for the Waterloo-Lexington congregation.1a 1aAmbrose, Rosemary. Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide to Churches Established Before 1900. Kitchener, Ontario, Canada: Waterloo-Wellington Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society, 1993. [used the kind permission of Rosemary Ambrose 2011]
  Occupation	1851	John Hoffman & Co., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [9]
  	cabinet maker, chair maker, plane maker and general store
  Occupation	1852	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [10]
  	merchant
  Elected Office	1857	Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Waterloo - councillor
  Occupation	1861	Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	Produce Merchant
  Residence	1861	Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	[Member of New Jersulem Religion]
  Elected Office	1863	Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Reeve - Waterloo City
  Occupation	1871	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Gentleman
  Residence	1871	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	[Member of New Jersulem Religion]
  Died	1 Feb 1878	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3, 11]
  Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region	Bef 2012	, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [12]
  Interesting	business, story, politics, education, furniture
  Eby ID Number	00055-3788
  Person ID	I2041	Generations
  Last Modified	6 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	Peter Hoffman,   b. 27 Sep 1776, , Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F632	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Caroline Sauers,   b. 1810, , Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania ,   d. 26 Sep 1857, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 47 years)
  Children	1. Mary Ann Hoffman,   b. MAYBE 20 Aug 1831, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 6 Apr 1886, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age ~ 54 years)   2. Isaac Hoffman,   b. 1833, of, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Aug 1834, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 1 years)   3. William Hoffman,   b. Apr 1835, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 19 Sep 1835, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age ~ 0 years)   4. John S. Hoffman,   b. 6 Nov 1836, , Pennsylvania, USA ,   d. 29 Aug 1907, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 70 years)   5. Daniel Hoffman,   b. 1 Aug 1838, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 21 Aug 1840, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 2 years)   6. Israel Hoffman,   b. 22 Jun 1840, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 11 Aug 1841, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 1 years)   7. Hannah M. Hoffman,   b. 7 Jun 1842, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   8. Allan Hoffman,   b. 7 Aug 1845, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   9. Angeline Hoffman,   b. 7 Mar 1850, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Abt 1890, Rochester, Olmsted, Minnesota, United States  (Age 39 years)
  Last Modified	7 Apr 2024
  Family ID	F431	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  John Hoffman from Waterloo Historical Society annual volumn 1928

  
  

• Notes

  John Hoffman, "son of Peter Hoffman, was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, January 17th, 1808. In 1825 he, with others, settled in Waterloo County where he learned the trade of cabinet-maker with Samuel Bowers of Berlin. He always took quite an active part in all measures intended to develop and improve the land of his adoption. When well advanced in years he was elected mayor of Berlin by acclamation. This position of honor he held for several years in succession, When a young man he was married to Caroline Saurs who was born in 1810 and died September 26th, 1857. He died in Berlin, February 1st, 1878. His family consisted of five children" Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.]. _______________________________________________________ From the Region of Waterloo Hall of Fame website. John Hoffman, who, like many other Waterloo County pioneers was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1837 had the unique distinction of erecting in Berlin the first furniture factory operated by horsepower. A few years later he built a furniture factory in which steam replaced the horses as a source of power. A pioneer in many areas, Hoffman was a forerunner of modern town planning. In 1854 he and his son-in-law, Isaac Weaver, bought 400 acres of land between the K-W Collegiate Institute on King Street in Kitchener and the corner of Erb and King Streets in Waterloo and developed a town plan that they hoped would become a reality. He gave one acre to Mount Hope Cemetery. Hoffman also established cattle, grain and produce markets in Waterloo. _______________________________________ Bridgeport United Church The early Evangelical Association congregations in Berlin and Waterloo date back to August 1839 when a Camp Meeting was held over a number of days at David Erb's farm (Lot 7, German Company Tract) at Lexington. Classes (or congregations) in Berlin and in Waterloo were organized at that meeting by Bishop John Seybert - on August 29th. Twenty-six charter members were divided into the two classes. Class leader for Waterloo and vicinity was Jacob Hoffman. His brother, John, was class leader for Berlin. The Waterloo class, along with classes at Lexington and Breslau, was connected to the Berlin Mission until the organization of the Canada Conference of the Evangelical Association in 1864. The Waterloo Mission was formed at that time. In 1866 the Breslau class was merged with the Lexington class and in 1876 the Lexington class, with 31 members, was referred to as the Bridgeport class for the first time. An old log schoolhouse was purchased in 1879 for $500.00 on condition that it be used only for Sunday School services, not for preaching. The exterior walls were covered with lumber and the building was dedicated on November 9, 1879. A new white brick church was built ten years later, in 1889, when the old schoolhouse became inadequate for the growing congregation. This church was in use until 1934 when the present building was completed. A decision had been made at a congregational meeting in July 1933 to proceed with construction of a new church. The ground-breaking service was held on August 28, 1933 and on October 1 of that year the cornerstone was laid by Rev. W.J. Zimmerman. Dedication services were held in the new red brick church on Sunday March 18, 1934. In 1942 the old brick church was sold to Mr. Minnacker for $100. An addition which was built on to the west side of the church in 1958 provided additional space for the Sunday School, as well as offices and a kitchen. The new complex was dedicated on November 30, 1958 with Professor John F. Schaefer of Naperville, Illinois preaching the dedication sermon. Bridgeport and Waterloo were a joint parish from 1876 until 1910, when Bridgeport was joined with Strasburg. This association lasted until 1914 when Bridgeport called its own full-time pastor. The Evangelical Church joined with the United Brethren in Christ Church on November 16, 1946 to form the Evangelical United Brethren Church. On January 1, 1968 when the Evangelical United Brethren joined with the United Church, Emmanuel's name was changed once again - to Emmanuel United Church. In February 1987 the congregation voted to change the name of the church to Bridgeport United Church. Rev. J. Kaechele (1864-1865) was pastor in 1864 when the Waterloo Mission was formed; Solomon Kraft was the Bridgeport class leader when the schoolhouse was bought in 1879 and Rev. S.R. Knechtel (1888-1891) was pastor in 1889 when the new white brick church was built. Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide To Churches Established Before 1900 By Rosemary Ambrose _________________________ Zion United Church A Sunday School was established in Berlin in 1837, meeting in Jacob Hailer's carpenter shop which was located at the southeast corner of what is now King and Scott Streets. A mission was begun by Rev. Christian Holl shortly after his arrival in Berlin on May 9, 1839, and a class (or congregation) was organized several months later on August 29, 1839 by Bishop John Seybert of the Evangelical Association during a camp meeting held at David Erb's farm near Lexington. John Hoffman was the Berlin class leader; his brother, Jacob, was class leader for the Waterloo-Lexington congregation. The Berlin congregation met in the old Town Hall until their first church was built in 1841 on Queen Street South across from Church Street on land purchased as of August 24, 1841 from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Schneider. The church was dedicated on September 25th of that year, with Rev. Christian Hummel of Buffalo, New York, officiating. Rev. Joseph Harlacher was pastor from 1840-1842. In 1842 the Waterloo Mission became a Circuit of the East Pennsylvania Conference. Two years later it was part of the New York Conference. The second church building was built of brick on the same site in 1866, and dedicated in 1867; Rev. C.A. Spies was pastor at the time. The old frame church was sold and moved to Elgin Street where it was used as a dwelling. In the same year Berlin became a station. The present church building was built in 1893 on Weber Street; dedication services were held on June 15, 16 and 17, 1894. This building was heavily damaged by fires in 1942 and 1965 but was renovated and restored each time. The union of the Evangelical Church and the United Brethren in Christ Church on November 16, 1946 created the Evangelical United Brethren Church. The name of the church was to change again, to Zion United Church when the Evangelical United Brethren Church joined the United Church of Canada on January 1, 1968. Of interest: some maps of early Berlin show this church as a German Methodist church. Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide To Churches Established Before 1900 By Rosemary Ambrose _________________________ Emmanuel United Church The first Evangelical missionaries arrived in the Waterloo area in 1837. The first Waterloo class (congregation) was formed on August 29, 1839 by Bishop John Seybert during a camp meeting at David Erb's farm near Lexington. Jacob Hoffman was the Waterloo-Lexington class leader; his brother, John, was class leader in Berlin. A brick building which was erected by Samuel Burkholder in 1849 on Church Street, near King, was offered to the congregation for their use as a church, rent free, provided that they agreed to finish and furnish the building. Dedication of the new church was in 1851. The house, known as Burkholder House, is still standing, but Church Street in Waterloo is now known as Central Street. In the early 1890s Waterloo was in the North District of the Canada Conference of the Evangelical Association, and was ministered to jointly with Bridgeport. Pastors in those years were Revs. C.R. Knechtel (1890-1891), F. Meyer (1892), D. Kreh (1893), and W.J. Yaeger (1894). A new church, which was built in 1871 at the corner of Cedar and Water Streets (now Bridgeport Road and Dorset Street), was replaced in 1905 by the present structure. Dedication was in May, 1906. Emmanuel Hall was built in 1938. Changes made in 1963 included an addition, a new front entrance and renovation of the former Christian Education area. On November 16, 1946 the Evangelical Church joined with congregations of the United Brethren in Christ Church to form the Evangelical United Brethren Church. When the Evangelical United Brethren Church joined the United Church of Canada as of January 1, 1968, Emmanuel became a United Church.. Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide To Churches Established Before 1900 By Rosemary Ambrose ______________________ John Hoffman, Mayor 1872-3 Mr. John Hoffman, mayor in 1872-3, was the pioneer furniture manufacturer of Berlin. He was born in Pennsylvania. He and his brother established a small furniture factory when they grew up. It was driven by horse power. Later they installed the first steam engine used in the village of Berlin. The boiler was purchased in Buffalo, N. Y., and fetched by Mr. Isaac B. Shantz, who used a three-horse team in hauling it in. The boiler had no tubes. Mr. Hoffman was a born leader. He is remembered as having been mayor of Waterloo before he became mayor of Berlin. Official souvenir of the celebration of cityhood, July 17th 1912, Berlin, Ontario, The German Printing and Publishing Co ________________________ King Street , North Side Foundry Street (now Ontario Street). Jacob and John Hoffman, brothers, who came from Pennsylvania, erected a furniture factory on the corner about 1840. It was a two story frame building extending along King St., had 25 to 30 employees and a 15 h.p. engine brought from Buffalo. Eby's history gives John Hoffman as having come from Pennsylvania in 1825; Jacob, almost two years older, seems to have come before. They both worked at carpentry, etc., for a number of years before starting the factory in which enterprise they were assisted by Benjamin Eby. On the ridge of the factory roof there was a belfry with the only larger bell in Berlin. This bell served not only the factory but the village as well, pinging at 7 in the morning, at 12, at 1 and at 6 o'clock in the evening. It was used also as a fire bell and was tolled for funerals.- By some prank or spite the bell was stolen in 1850 before there was a night watchman at the factory, and disappeared for two or three years. Eventually it was found in a well at the comer of Duke and College Streets, put back in place on the Hoffman factory and later was taken to a belfry on the Simpson factory spoken of, where it was used until this factory was discontinued. It was then taken to the pavilion in Victoria Park and was melted down when the pavilion was destroyed by fire. Behind the Hoffman factory there was a pond, about three feet deep, fed by a spring, the water being used for the factory boiler, etc. About 1860 a frame building, used by the firm for a warehouse, covered the site of the spring. Further back there was a saw mill, also a planing mill, the first of its kind in Berlin. A two story frame building extending along Foundry Street was later added to the factory and used as a turning shop. At the rear of this building was the factory boiler house. Next to the factory on King Street there was a three story brick building. The ground floor was used as a store, called the Berlin Warehouse. Jacob Hoffman, who by this time was alone in the business, John having gone to Waterloo, announced himself as dealer in dry goods, groceries, hardware, china, glassware, crockery, and paint and oils and manufacturer of all kinds of furniture, also sash doors, etc., selling low for cash. An overhead passage way on a bridge connected the second stories of the factory and brick building. Over the store was the paint shop and in the rear a warehouse. Hoffman's store was later occupied by William Schmidt, son of Rev. Wm. Schmidt, an early minister of the Evangelical Church. Schmidt had a dry goods store only, known as the Golden Lion store because of a large gilt lion over the entrance. Isaac Hoffman, son of Jacob, carried on the factory and store for several years; later John S. Anthes was in possession while Hoffman went to Waterloo and continued the furniture business there with Adam Klippert and Martin Wegenast as partners. Jacob and John Hoffman erected a number of houses in Berlin. Jacob Hoffman was very stout, weighing over 300 pounds. He was a member of the Evangelical Church. For a time he served on the village council. He resided on Foundry Street in the rear of the Canadian Block in a square, hip roof, two story, frame house, until it was destroyed by fire, when he moved to the west side of Foundry Street, south, where now is the Robe & Clothing Co. building. Here he had a one and one-half story frame house with a large two story addition at the rear where were lodged apprentices and other factory employees. There was a small portico over the front door and a porch extending along the northerly side of the house. Next to the Hoffman warehouse there was a saloon and restaurant occupied by a Mr. Unger. He served, among other things, oysters which came in small wooden, 1-gal. kegs. Adjoining Hoffman's store there was the tailor shop of H. J. Nahrgang, later occupied by Henry Glebe, an early band master; next a store differently occupied at various times and next the shoe store of Wm. Niehaus. A three story brick building occupied by Wm. Young as a grocery. Mr. Young eventually went to the Canadian Block and the store was used for various purposes, among them auction sales in the evening. Here there was sold the first white crockery offered in Berlin. Later the building was occupied by the Berliner Journal. A one and one-half story frame building with gable toward King St. and a veranda, occupied by Mr. Fuchs, a tailor and shoemaker, whose wife assisted her husband as expert in repairing clocks. The family lived in the building. About 1865 the frame building was moved to the rear and Fuchs' block erected on the street. The ground floor had three stores, the west one occupied by Mr. Fuchs, the middle by John Kayser, dry goods merchant, and the third one by Tindall Simpson and Sons, shoemakers and tailors. The first building on part of the Fuchs' block site was a rough frame structure used by one Susand, colored, who was the first barber in Berlin. A two story brick building with gable facing King Street, occupied by Christian Garman, harness maker, who later moved to New Hamburg and started a tannery. This building was later occupied by Levi Gaukel, son of Frederick Gaukel, after his father's death. He had a small hotel known as The Red Lion. In 1860 Urban Prinzer succeeded Gaukel and continued the hotel for a short time. A two and one-half story brick building with gable facing King St. was occupied by Levi Gaukel, as a butcher shop after he gave up the hotel next door. Jacob Gaukel was associated with Levi. Later George Debus occupied this shop. A building with gable and porch facing King Street, later occupied by George DeBus as a barber shop. On the corner of King and Queen Streets there was first a driving shed for the Gaukel hotel opposite, until the Bowman block was erected in 1860. This was a three story brick building lengthwise with King Street. Joseph Bowman the noted violinist occupied the third floor of this building. Half of the ground floor of the building was occupied by Henry B. Bowman with a partner Heins as general dry goods store. This was on the corner. The other half was a brick store occupied by Cole and Graf, druggists, and later by Wm. Bowman in the same business. On the site of the Bowman block is the handsome Bank building built by the Merchants Bank and now occupied by the Bank of Montreal. REMINISCENCES OF BERLIN (NOW KITCHENER) By JACOB STROH Contributed by Joseph M. Snyder. Part I. Settlement - Early Villagers and Buildings, Waterloo Historical Society Annual Volume 1930

  
  

• Sources

  [S3] Book - Vol I A Biographical History of Waterloo Township and other townships of the county : being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin..., 800. [S10] Book - Vol II A Biographical History of Waterloo Township and other townships of the county : being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin..., 568. [S10] Book - Vol II A Biographical History of Waterloo Township and other townships of the county : being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin..., 222. [S131] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1851, Div 4 Pg 12. John HOFFMAN Merchant USA 44 Disciple b. 18-Jan Caroline HOFFMAN USA 40 Disciple b. John HOFFMAN Cabinet Maker Canada 16 Disciple b. 5-Nov Hanah HOFFMAN Canada 10 Disciple b. 7-Jun Ellen HOFFMAN Canada 7 Disciple b. 7-Aug Engeline HOFFMAN Canada 2 Disciple b. 7? March John SHUH Clerk Canada 24 Mennonite b. 31-Oct Daniel LEVAN Cabinet Maker Canada 18 Disciple b. 13-Nov Birthdate for John is given as 18 January which disagrees with Ezra Eby's book [S229] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1871, Div. 1, Pg. 68. [S1885] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - 1861, Waterloo 1861 Dist. 2 Page 15. [S873] Waterloo City - designated properties list, Bean-Wright House. [S1322] Land - Founding Families of Waterloo Township 1800-1830, 31. [S2070] Directory - Ontario Directory for 1851. [S131] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1851, Div 4 Pg 12. [S3] Book - Vol I A Biographical History of Waterloo Township and other townships of the county : being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin..., 801. [S220] Waterloo Region Hall of Fame Waterloo Region Hall of Fame.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 17 Jan 1808 - , Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania Elected Office - mayor - councillor - Kitchener - - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Historic Building - Erb Kumpf House - Abt 1812 - 172 King St. S., Waterloo, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Historical Event - church founding - 29 Aug 1839 - Evangelical Association Church, Waterloo, Ontario Occupation - cabinet maker, chair maker, plane maker and general store - 1851 - John Hoffman & Co., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - merchant - 1852 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Elected Office - Waterloo - councillor - 1857 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Produce Merchant - 1861 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - [Member of New Jersulem Religion] - 1861 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Elected Office - Reeve - Waterloo City - 1863 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Gentleman - 1871 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - [Member of New Jersulem Religion] - 1871 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 1 Feb 1878 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Hall of Fame - Waterloo Region - Bef 2012 - , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth