NICHOLAS HOFFMAN, engaged in farming and stock-raising on
section 33, Madison Township, is a native of Prussia, Germany, born on a branch
of the river Rhine, December 8, 1840, a son of Matthias Hoffmann. Our subject
came to the United States in 1853, and after living five years in Steuben
County, New York, he came to Iowa, locating in Dubuque. During the war of the Rebellion he enlisted
in Company E., Twenty-first Iowa Infantry under Colonel Samuel Merrill, who
afterward became Governor of the State of Iowa. He participated with his
regiment in the battles of Hartville, Missouri, Port Gibson, Mississippi,
Raymond, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, Vicksburg, Jackson, Mississippi,
and others of minor importance, and through the Mobile campaign, returning to
his home without receiving even a scratch.
July 25, 1865, Mr. Hoffmann was married in New York State to Katie
Kirsch, a daughter of Michael Kirsch, deceased. Of the six children born to
them five are living – Matthew, Hannah, Katie, Annie and John. Mr. Hoffmann
came to Clarke County in the fall of 1865, and has since devoted his attention
to agricultural pursuits, his home farm containing 120 acres of choice land. He
is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In his religious views he is a
Roman Catholic.
SOURCE: Biographical
and Historical Record of Clarke County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company,
Chicago, Illinois, 1886 p. 253
