ISAAC HOFFMAN, MILLERSBURG, PASSED AWAY
Millersburg, March 25 [1924] — Isaac W. Hoffman, one of the oldest residents of this place died this afternoon shortly before 3 o’clock. He was 87 years old the fifth of this month. Since 1913 he has been blind but until a month ago retained remarkable physical and mental vigor.
Surviving are these children: Mrs. Herbert N. Miller, Roscoe W. Hoffman, and Herbert S. Hoffman, at home; Mrs. William S. Skeath, Philadelphia; Mrs. John D. Neitz, New York City; and J. Odin Hoffman and Dean Hoffman, of Harrisburg.
Mr. Hoffman was bornin what is now Washington Township, this county [Dauphin County], March 5, 1837. is forefathers had settled at the western end of Short Mountain and in the face of Indian attcks established their farms and built churches and school houses there. He was fourth in the direct line from John Peter Hoffman, the head of the family tin America and whose sons and grandsons fought in their country’s wars from the Revolution downward. His parents were Jacob D. Hoffman and Eva [Romberger] Hoffman, the father having been a sheriff and county commissioner and otherwise active in politics.
Mr. Hoffman’s education started with the district school. At what would now be regarded as an early age he began teaching. Ambitious for an education he taught for a period and went to school for another. In this manner he had been a student at Berrysburg Seminary, White Hill Academy, Freeland Institute, Montgomery County, and Millersville State Normal School. At different times he was the master at Stauffer’s School in Lower Paxton Township, the Elder School at Paxtang, and at Halifax where he classified the students by grades.
When the Civil War broke out he was reading law in Harrisburg. He relinquished this to serve in the Provost Marshal’s office, later becoming a mail agent on the railroad between Harrisburg and Lock Haven. November 30, 1865, he was appointed agent of the Northern Central Railroad at Millersburg and served without interruption until his retirement at the age of 70 in 1907. Part of that period of service the record of every ton of coal from the Lykens Valley region passed over his desk. Much of the coal was loaded on boats and at first ferried across the river at Millersburg to the canal.
In his home town he rarely held public office except as school director, he having served long periods at different times. His church membership was Methodist. He was the second oldest member of Perseverance Lodge of Masons of Harrisburg, a member of the Consistory and Zembo Temple of the Shrine. For many years he was secretary of Perseverance Lodge of Odd Fellows, a member of the Knights of Malta, and of Pilgrim Commandery, Knights Templar. As a member of the International Association of Ticket Agents he traveled extensively in this country, Canada and Mexico.
Until a short time ago, he was a director of the First National Bank of Millersburg, his retirement being marked by a valuable gift from his fellow directors.
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Obituary from Lykens Standard, March 28, 1924, via Newspapers.com.
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