Hoffman, John P.

HOFFMAN, ROLLER

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Plym. CC (email)
Date: 3/19/2005 at 11:41:56

John P. Hoffman

John P. Hoffman, one of the substantial and progressive farmers of Union township, this county, proprietor of a half section of land in that township and for years actively identified with the work of developing the best interests of that part of the county, was born on a farm in Stevenson county, Illinois, October 5, 1861, son of Jacob and Barbara Hoffman, natives of Germany, whose last days were spent in Illinois.

Jacob Hoffman was reared to farming in his native land and after his marriage farmed there until 1853, in which year he and his wife came to the United States and settled in the neighborhood of Freeport, Illinois, where he presently bought a farm and there he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of seven children, of whom five are still living, three of these, Louis, Mrs. Kate Berner and the subject of this sketch, making their homes in Plymouth county.

John P. Hoffman was reared on the home farm in Stephenson county, Illinois, and in the schools in the neighborhood of the same, obtained his schooling. He early began farming on his own account and rented a farm in his home county until 1894, in which year he and his brother, Louis Hoffman, came to this county and bought a half section of land in Union township, the place where John P. Hoffman now lives. For some years the brothers operated that farm in partnership and then John P. Hoffman bought his brother's interest in the place and has since owned the well-improved tract of three hundred and twenty acres, on which he is engaged in general farming and stock raising and which he has brought up to a high state of cultivation. He has a fine farm plant, including a silo with a capacity of one hundred and forty tons and annually feeds about one hundred head of hogs and a couple of carloads of cattle. He owns a tractor and in other features of his farm equipment demonstrates the up-to-date character of his farming. Mr. Hoffman is a Democrat, but has not been included in the office-seeking class. He is a member of the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America, in the affairs of which he takes a warm interest, and was formerly banker of the same.

In 1907 John P. Hoffman was united in marriage to Fredia Roller and to this union one child has been born, a son, Alvin J.. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman are members of the German Lutheran church at Le Mars and take a proper interest in the various beneficences of the same, as well as in the general social activities of the community in which they live and are helpful in promoting all worthy causes thereabout.

BOOK SOURCE:
History of Plymouth County, Iowa
Indianapolis, Ind.: B. F. Bowen, 1917