Jacob Hoffman was born in Owen County, Ind., March 8, 1838. He was a son of Wm. and Katie (Houwk) Hoffman. When Mr. Hoffman was fourteen years of age he came to Iowa, locating in Buffalo County, where he made his home twenty years. He was among the very first to settle that county. In the fall of 1882 he became a citizen of Floyd County, and bought at that time 160 acres, where he still resides. At this date it was raw prairie, He has since brought it under a fine state of' cultivation and the best of improvements. His house and surroundings are indeed pleasant. It can be said of Mr. Hoffman, that he has caused the desert to blossom as the rose. He sold forty acres of this before improving it, at considerable of an advance of the price paid. Mr. Hoffman carries on quite a stroke of farming besides keeping considerable stock; keeps about twenty head of cattle and seven head of horses, and usually keeps from forty to sixty, has kept as high as 160. Mr. Hoffman was married in 1864 to Clarinda Kendell, immediately after his return from the army. He enlisted in 1861, in Company D, Fifteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Colonels Reed [sic] and Bellknap [sic] were the commanding officers; Captain Madison was his first Captain. Mr. Hoffman was wounded at the battle of Atlanta on the morning of the 22d of May, receiving a gun-shot wound in the right groin, the ball passing clear through, another lodging in his right leg just above the knee; another lodged in the left arm above the elbow, while another cut its depth across the top of his left shoulder. At this charge he had fourteen bullet holes pass through his clothing in different places. He had his musket shot out of his hands, three balls passing through it at once cutting it off at each of the bands. Through the effects of these wounds he lay in the hospital as a patient for about one year, under the care of physicians. For five months he lay with ice water dropping upon him to prevent mortification. He participated before this in fourteen hard-fought battles. Mr. Hoffman veteraned and returned to the army and accompanied Sherman on his march to the sea. He was mustered out the fall after the close of the war. Mr. Homan's army life, consisting of three years and three months, was one indeed long to be remembered. He certainly deserves the highest respect and admiration of every patriotic man, woman and child. He is a man of no boastful qualities, but takes his position as a humble citizen. Mr. Hoffman has always been a Democrat, though he votes for the best men for county officers.
SOURCE: History of Floyd County, Iowa, Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1882, Volume 2, p. 1111-2
