Adair County Iowa

"In 1880 John C. Hoffstatter opened a wagon and repair shop. The building is 16x40, and he is still found at his place of business.

John C. Hoffstatter, a son of William and Mahala (Collins) Hoffstatter, was born on the 28th of May, 1837, in Wayne County, Ohio. In 1843 he went to Michigan, where he remained until 1863, when he came to Illinois. In 1869 he removed to Iowa and located in Orient township, in Adair County. When the town of Orient was first started, he came to this place and established his present wagon and repair shop. He resides with his mother four miles northwest of the village. He was married in Michigan in 1863 to Eunesa E. Wood. They had one child—Myrtie E. She resides with her grandmother, and is one of the efficient teachers in the Orient Township schools. Mrs. John Hoffstatter died in this township in 1874.

His mother, Mrs. William Hoffstatter, was born in Summit County, 0hio, on the 20th of July, 1815. Her father died in Michigan in 1841, and her mother died in Ohio in 1851. She moved to Michigan in the fall of 1849, where she remained about eighteen years, after which time she moved to Illinois, and two years later came to Iowa, settling in this county upon section 5, Orient township. Her maiden name was Mahala Collins, and in 1834 she was married to William Hoffstatter, in Ohio. They have had eleven children—John C., Mary A., William C., Jane A., Jacob W., Sylvia A. and Alice M., living ; and Mathew, Sarah, Francis M. and James, dead. Mrs. Hoffstatter owns eighty acres of improved land, and has an orchard of about four acres. Her husband was killed by a mower while at work in some hay. She is a prominent member of the Baptist Church."

taken from "History of Guthrie and Adair County, Iowa" 1884

Notes:

"William A. Hoffstatter was the first body interred at the Orient Cemetery, October 6, 1869."

J. C. Hoffstatter built many of the schools in Orient Twp. Click here to go to the page where you will find further information.

Back to Biographies

Adair County

Return to home page