Isaac E. Hoffman^{[1, 2]}

1835 - 1898  (62 years)

• Name	Isaac E. Hoffman
  Born	8 Mar 1835	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
  Gender	Male
  Residence	1856	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [9]
  Occupation	1861	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  	Merchant
  Residence	1861	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [7]
  	EA
  Business	1867	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Cabinet Ware, Sash, Doors, Blinds, Flooring
  		Isaac Hoffman Business 1867 Advertisement image from Waterloo Directory 1867
  Occupation	1871	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Merchant and Cabinet Mfgr.
  Residence	1871	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [5]
  	Evang. Assoc.
  Occupation	1881	Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	Manufacturer
  		Waterloo-Hoffman,Wegenast&Co-Furniture-Undetaking-1879Advert.jpg
  Residence	1881	Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  	Evangelical
  Elected Office	1884	Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Councillor - Waterloo
  Occupation	1891	Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [8]
  	Bookkeeper
  Residence	1891	Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [8]
  	Methodist
  Eby ID Number	00055-3800
  Died	20 Feb 1898  [3]
  Buried	Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  Person ID	I2066	Generations
  Last Modified	25 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	Jacob Hoffman,   b. 18 Sep 1809, , Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania ,   d. 15 Nov 1864, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 55 years)
  Mother	Veronica Eby,   b. 8 Mar 1817, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 19 Dec 1876, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 59 years)
  Family ID	F661	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Caroline D. Herlan,   b. 26 Sep 1835, , USA ,   d. 10 Mar 1923  (Age 87 years)
  Married	15 Apr 1856	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [9]
  Children	1. Carolina Magdalena Hoffmann,   b. 26 Dec 1858, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 20 May 1925  (Age 66 years)   2. Franklin Henry Hoffman,   b. 13 Apr 1860, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 5 Apr 1863, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 2 years)   3. Emma Sivina Hoffman,   b. 11 Oct 1862, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 5 Mar 1944  (Age 81 years)   4. Sarah Martha Hoffman,   b. 30 Jan 1865, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 16 Feb 1932, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States  (Age 67 years)   5. Dr. John Wesley Hoffman,   b. 29 Sep 1867, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   6. Phoebe Priscilla Hoffman,   b. 13 May 1870, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 9 Feb 1932, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 61 years)   7. Alexander Franklin Hoffman,   b. 23 Feb 1873, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   8. Lillian Josephine "Lillie" Hoffman,   b. 2 Sep 1875, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 14 Nov 1905, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 30 years)
  Last Modified	26 Apr 2024
  Family ID	F663	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Waterloo-LogSchool-00002.jpg

  
  

• Notes

  Isaac Hoffman, "the eldest, was born March 8th, 1835. He is married to Caroline, daughter of Rev. Francis and Caroline Harlen. She was born September 26th, 1838. Mr. Hoffman was, for many years, engaged in the manufacturing business but of late years he withdrew from all business and at present resides in Waterloo. To them was born a family of eight 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.]. _____________________ THE OLD SCHOOLHOUSE An interesting meeting took place the Saturday before last in the old log cabin in Waterloo Park. This house was, of course, the first schoolhouse in this area and stood originally on the school-house square at the corner of King and Church Streets in Waterloo. It was built in 1820 and served its purpose until 1842, when it was torn down and a 1-storey stone house was constructed on the site. The dismantled log house was erected again in Greenbush and served as a residence for a long time for the coloured man, Mr. Carroll and his family. In the course of this year, the Waterloo Park Commissioners purchased the house, moved it to their park and furnished it again as it was when it was a school-house. At this gathering, in addition to many other ladies and gentlemen, the following (male and female) former pupils attended, took their places on the benches, and were called to order by the 82-year-old teacher, Benjamin Burkholder, who held the scepter, or rather, the switch, from 1831 to 1842 in the old log-house: Joel Guth, 80 years old; Abraham Scherk, Blair, 79; Jakob Bricker, Waterloo, 77; Sarah Burkholder, nee Erb, Bridgeport, 75; Amos Weber, Berlin, 73; John C, Bricker, Hawksville, 71; Maria Erb, nee Quickfall, Norwich 69; David B. Eby, Waterloo, 69; Wendel Baumann, Woolwich, 68; Henry Stauffer, Erbsville, 67; Simon Beatty, Elmira, 67; Jakob Ratz, New Hamburg, 67; Israel Baumann, Berlin, 65; George Elbert, Moorefield, 63; George H. Baumann, Elmira, 63; John Devitt, Waterloo, 62; Richard Quickfall, Bridgeport, 62; Isaak Hoffmann, Waterloo, 61; Robert Barkwell, Peel, 60; Diana McMahon, nee Dekay, Berlin, 60; Thomas Quickfall, Floradale, 60; Benjamin Devitt, Waterloo, 60; Isaak Devitt, Floradale, 58; John Longmann, Peel, 57. In addition, to these, the teacher read the names of 25 pupils from the roll; they were, however, absent. Mr. Burkholder gave an interesting talk about the history of the old school-house, and after him, Rev. J.A. MacLachlan, Rev. J. McNair, Mr. J.E. Baumann, M.P., and Mr. Jakob Ratz spoke about the old days which brought many things out of the past to mind again. School was, as a rule, only in session in winter and the costs were borne by the parents of the children. There were few subjects taught, namely: Reading, Writing and Sums. The children heard little about language, and geography; no child had more than 2 or 3 books. The predominant language was German. The pupils learned to read and write English, but didn't understand a word of it. Among the teachers in the old school-house from 1820-1842, with the exception of Mr. Burkholder, were the following whose names are still recognized: Jephtha DeKay, Joseph Guth, John Herringer, Peter Otto, John Dobbin, Elias Eby, Robert Barber, & Joseph Eby. After those present, on hearing the various speeches felt themselves transported back to the past, the school was closed at four o'clock and the pupils were gathered together in front of the school and photographed as a group. On their return into the school, they found it had been transformed into a dining room with heavily-laden tables, which the old-timers thoroughly enjoyed. After everyone had chatted cordially for a while longer, the gathering broke up. The company will not meet again in complete numbers, nor in such a way. Berliner Journal September 26, 1895 Page 4 Column 4 ______________________ 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..., 802. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 018760-03. Robert H. Harrison, 27, Occ. Salesman, b. Hamilton, Res. Toronto, son of George Harrison and Jennie Strattin married Lillian Hoffman, 27, b. Berlin, Res. Waterloo, daughter of Isaac Hoffman and Caroline Herlare (S/B Harlen), Witness(s) M. Hoffman of Detroit Michigan and C.W. Schiedel of Waterloo, 24 June 1903 in Waterloo [S166] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Mount Hope CC#4508 Internet Link . Isaac E. Hoffman/ born Mar. 8, 1835/ died Feb. 20, 1898/ aged 62 yrs. 11 mo./ 12 days [S131] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1851, Div 4 Pg 12. [S229] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1871, Div. 2, Pg. 69. [S302] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - 1881, Waterloo Village 1881 Div. 1 Page 19. [S123] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1861, Div. 3 Page 26. [S1573] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo City - 1891, Section 3 Page 44. [S14] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berlin Chronicle (1856-1860), 16 Apr 1856. 15 Apr 1856 On Tuesday morning, the 15th inst. At the bride's residence, by the Rev. A. Smith, Wesleyan Minister, of Berlin, Mr. Isaac Hoffman, Berlin, to Miss Caroline Herlan, eldest daughter of the Rev. Mr. Herlan, of the same place.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 8 Mar 1835 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - 1856 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 15 Apr 1856 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Merchant - 1861 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - EA - 1861 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Business - Cabinet Ware, Sash, Doors, Blinds, Flooring - 1867 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Merchant and Cabinet Mfgr. - 1871 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Evang. Assoc. - 1871 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Manufacturer - 1881 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Evangelical - 1881 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Elected Office - Councillor - Waterloo - 1884 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Bookkeeper - 1891 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Methodist - 1891 - Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth