Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-Michael Hoffman
Portrait and Biographical
Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
MICHAEL HOFFMAN, one of the enterprising
and progressive agriculturists of Dickinson
County, resides on section 35, Newbern
Township. He was born in Switzerland
on the 27th of December, 1837, and was
reared amid the beautiful scenery of the Alps. At
the age of twenty, he determined to try his fortune
in America, and bidding good-bye to his old
home he crossed the broad Atlantic in a sailing vessel,
which after some weeks dropped anchor in
the harbor of New York. From that city lie went
to Wisconsin, where he spent one year, and then
came to Kansas, locating in Leavenworth. For a
time he was employed as a stonemason in the
summer, while in the winter season he engaged in
chopping wood.
Mr. Hoffman lived in that city and vicinity for
about two years, and then came to Dickinson
County, Kan., in the spring of 1860. His father,
L. Hoffman, had entered a tract of land, the same
upon which our subject now resides, and made it
the homestead of the family. He and his wife,
Agatha Hoffman, both died on the old home. A
brother of our subject, Christian Hoffman, is now
living in Enterprise, and is represented elsewhere
in this work.
When Michael Hoffman came to this county, lie
settled upon his father's farm, and has since been
a resident of Newbern Township. On his father's
death the old homestead became his property, and
to its cultivation and improvement he has since
devoted his energies. His landed possessions now
aggregate four hundred acres, located in Newbern
and Jefferson Townships. Upon the home farm
are good barns and other outbuildings for the shelter of
his stock and grain. Mr. Hoffman has also set
out many shade trees, which add both to the value
and attractive appearance of the place, and has
made excellent improvements.
In Newbern Township on the 16th of December,
1868, our subject married Agatha Gantenbein,
who was born in Switzerland, April 9, 1819. Their
union has been blessed with ten children, and the
family circle yet remains unbroken. In order of
birth they are as follows: Anna, Agatha, Leonard,
Fred, Christian, Eli, Margaret, Henry, Mary and
Elmer. The Hoffman household is the abode of
hospitality, and the members of the family rank
high in the social circles in which they move.
During the late war Mr. Hoffman was an advocate
of the Lincoln administration, and for a
short time served in the Kansas State Militia. He
has ever faithfully performed his duties of citizenship,
and is alike true to every public and private
trust. He is one of the oldest members of the
German Reformed Church, which is located in Jefferson
Township, and takes an active interest in its
work and its upbuilding. His life has been well
and worthily spent, and no man can say aught
against his integrity and straightforwardness. He
is well deserving of representation in this volume,
for he is one of the worthy citizens of the community.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for
Dickinson County KS AHGP