Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
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John Hoffman[1]

Male 1824 - 1908  (83 years)


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  • Name John Hoffman 
    Born 25 Jun 1824  , Hessen, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7] 
    Gender Male 
    Immigration 1845  [2] 
    Immigration 1848  , USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Occupation 1852  Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8] 
    tailor 
    Occupation 1861  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Farmer 
    Residence 1861  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Lutheran 
    Occupation 1871  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Farmer 
    Residence 1871  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Lot 11 Con. 4 Wellesley Township 
    Residence 1871  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Lutheran 
    Occupation 1881  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Farmer 
    Occupation 1881  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Farmer 
    Retired 1901  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-277194 
    Died 15 Jan 1908  Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5, 7] 
    Cause: Asthma 
    Buried Rushes Cemetery, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [7] 
    Person ID I277194  Generations
    Last Modified 12 May 2025 

    Family Regina Hill,   b. CALC 8 Nov 1830, , Germany Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Nov 1898, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 68 years) 
    Children 
     1. Heinrich "Henry" Hoffman,   b. 24 Jan 1854, Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Jan 1902, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 48 years)
     2. George Hoffman,   b. 1858, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. Jacob C. Hoffman,   b. 1858, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Jul 1918, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 60 years)
     4. George Dietrich Hoffman,   b. 16 Dec 1858, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 28 Sep 1921, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 62 years)
     5. Marcel (?) Hoffman,   b. 1861, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     6. Jacob Hoffman,   b. 18 Jul 1862, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 1921  (Age < 58 years)
    Last Modified 13 May 2025 
    Family ID F233824  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • John Hoffman.

      This gentleman is probably as well known as any other farmer in this section, and has done as much towards opening up of the wilderness that existed in this section over half a century ago. He was born in the Province of Hessen, Germany, in 1825, and came to America in 1848, landing first in the city of Quebec. From there be reached Hamilton via steamer, and from Hamilton he started on foot for Preston, completing the journey in the course of a day and night. He remained in Preston over night, and the next day, Pentecost Sunday, he walked to Philipsburg, where he found friends. Being a shoemaker by trade be secured a situation with the late Christoph Doering, who was then conducting quite an extensive business, consisting of a general store, tannery and shoe shop. Here he worked for eight years, and where he was foreman. In October, 1856, he moved to the farm he now occupies, the extent of the estate being three hundred acres and lying two miles to the north of Wellesley village. There was then only seventy acres cleared. We can imagine that he did not have an easy time of it when he began life here. He was compelled to pay interest at the rate of seventeen per cent and found money scarce at that. Flour was then worth nine dollars per barrel and wages 75 cents a day. There were no mercantile establishments and mills nearer than Hawksville.

      He was married in 1852 to Regina, daughter of the late Christian Hill. They have a family of three, all sons. The eldest, Henry, is working on the home farm and is still single. The second, George, is living on 150 acres of the estate adjoining. The third, Jacob, is working on the home place Mrs. Hoffman, now in the 68th year of her age, has been for some time suffering with asthma and is now in an almost helpless condition. Mr. Hoffman, who has been an active and industrious man all his life from the time he was old enough to do anything, retired to private life last New Years, and is now enjoying the fruits of his many years of labor. He has been a life-long Reformer and is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is also identified with the Tempkars of Jerusalem, a sect founded by Christian Hoffman in 1868-55, who died in Jerusalem in 1891. The subject of this sketch has been eminently successful as a farmer and has always taken a keen interest in that which he thought might be of most benefit to the farming community. He is exceedingly hospital and kind to those who have occasion to visit his home - his latch string always hanging on the outside. For one of his weight of years he has a remarkably retentive memory, and to converse with him is a pleasure to the person who loves to listen to interesting and thrilling reminiscences of the past. Mr Hoffman is his own biographer and is now engaged in writing his own biography. He has already filled twenty pages of foolscap paper. It is neatly and closely written in German, and relates important episodes in his life, having reference to all the cities, towns and villages of the old country where he had worked at his trade, shoemaking.

      Since writing the foregoing I learn that Mrs. Hoffman died in her chair while her husband was sitting at his desk near her.


      Waterloo County Chronicle, 8 Dec 1898, p. 8

      ____________________

      As we go to press we learn of the death of John Hoffman which took place at his home yesterday (Wednesday. [sic] Deceased who reached the advanced age of 82 years and 7 months was well known throughout the district having lived in this vicinity for many years. The funeral will take place from residence of Jacob Hoffmann, section line, on Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Interment in Rush's cemetery.

      Wellesley Maple Leaf, January 16, 1908

  • Sources 
    1. [S3002] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 011796-91.
      Jacob Hoffman, 29, occ. Farmer, b. Wellesley Twp., res. same, s/o John & Regina Hoffman, married Bertha M Lanz, 23, b. North East Hope, res. Perth Co., same, d/o Henry & Anna Marie Lanz, witn: John & Elizabeth Dierlamm, St. Jacobs, 26 May 1891 at St. Jacobs

    2. [S160] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1901, Wellesley E-4 Page 3.

    3. [S113] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1881, Division 4 Page 25.

    4. [S855] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1861, Div. 5 Page 22.

    5. [S2191] News - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley - Wellesley Maple Leaf, Obituary of John Hoffman - January 16, 1908.

    6. [S2534] aaaWellesley Township 1871, Section 2 Page 28.

    7. [S241] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley - Rushes CC#4536 Waterloo Region Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society.
      [Right] Henry Hoffman/ Died/ Jan. 28, 1902/ Aged 48 yrs. 4 ds./ Hoffman
      [Left] Regina Hill/ Wife of/ John Hoffman/ Died/ Nov. 24, 1898/ Aged 68 yrs. 16 ds./ We cannot tell who next may fall/ Beneath thy chastening rod/ One must be first but let us all/ Prepare to meet our God/ John Hoffman/ Died/ Jan. 15, 1908/ Aged 82 yrs. 7 ms. 6 ds.

    8. [S22] Vit - ON, Perth - Perth County Baptism, Marriage & Burial Register 1852 - 1859, by Rev.'d F. W. Tuerk Minister of the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church Ellice pg 49-54.
      bapt. 2 Apr 1854, Henry b. 24 Jan 1854, son of John and Regine Hoffmann, of Wilmot, Tailor

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 25 Jun 1824 - , Hessen, Germany Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - 1848 - , USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - tailor - 1852 - Wilmot Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1861 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Lutheran - 1861 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1871 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Lot 11 Con. 4 Wellesley Township - 1871 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Lutheran - 1871 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1881 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1881 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsRetired - 1901 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - Cause: Asthma - 15 Jan 1908 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Rushes Cemetery, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 


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