GEORGE H. HOFFMAN, a successful farmer of section 2, township 17, range 11, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, May 20, 1840, and when young came alone to the United States. In 1856 he sailed from Bremen and after forty-nine days of the ocean he landed in New York city. He came on to Chicago, and thence to Springfield, from there to Jacksonville, and across the country to Arenzville. When he landed in Arenzville he was $5 in debt. He is the only member of the family to come to this country. His father, George, is still living in Germany, and is hale and hearty, at the age of eighty-six, but his mother, Mary, died when he was eight years old. They always were members of the Lutheran Church. Two of our subject's brothers are still living in Germany, and are married, pursuing the occupation of farmers.

After our subject first came to this county he began work, near Hagener Station. After some years he began his agricultural life as a renter, and later purchased his present farm.

Mr. Hoffman was first married to Elizabeth Schuman, who was born and reared in this county at what is known as Hagener Station, March 9, 1849. She is the eldest child of John Schuman (see biography of Adam Schuman for family history). Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman are members of the Lutheran Church, in which Mr. Hoffman has been a Deacon for six years. He is a Democrat in politics, and he and his wife are the parents of eleven children: Mary, wife of Adolph Kruse, a farmer in this county; John A., at home, helping his father; Attia, Henry, Emma, Edward, William, Eva, Ralph, Martha, and the two year old baby, are all healthy intelligent children. The older children have been well educated in both German and English, and are able to speak and write in both languages. Mr. Hoffman is a very progressive farmer, and owns a fine place, containing 170 acres, 135 of which is under the plow. He came into possession of this in 1865, and has since this made all of his excellent improvements.