The Elizabethville Echo chronicled the founding of the Hoffman Family Association in its 1913 editions. The text of the articles follow here:
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From the Elizabethville Echo, 17 April 1913:
The Hoffman Family
It has been suggested that a reunion of the “Hoffman Family” be held at Halifax, after harvest the coming picnic season. This is a new idea for the Hoffman Family, and will take considerable work for some one or more persons of the tribe to bring about successfully. Any one who wants to enter the list as a promotor can write to the Echo and state what part he wishes to take up in the movement. The idea originated in the brain of one of the tribe living at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, 3 July 1913:
Hoffman Family Reunion
As the Hoffman Family is quite numerous, and never had a reunion, it has been suggested, and generally approved of by those consulted, to have a re-union of the various tribes of the family on the Halifax Picnic Grounds, on Saturday, 16 August 1913, when and where all of the Hoffman Family and various kindreds and relatives are invited to come with the lunch baskets, to spend a day together in social enjoyment and a happy family gathering and renewal of families. As there will be no personal invitations, each and every one will please consider this a personal invitation to be present, and pack up his or her lunch basket and come to the place selected on the date mentioned. By order of the Committee, W. H. G. Hoffman, 1625 Chestnut Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Cornelius Hoffman, Enterline, Pennsylvania; James M. Hoffman, Halifax, Pennsylvania; Frederick Leitel, Elizabethville, Pennsylvania; James Miller, Elizabethville, Pennsylvania.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, 14 August 1913:
The first reunion of the members of the Hoffman family will be held this coming Saturday in Sweigard’s Grove, Halifax. The committee on arrangements met last Saturday and the prospects for a large gathering of Hoffmans and relatives of the clan are excellent. A permanent organization will probably be effected.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, 21 August 1913:
Four Hundred Attend Hoffman Re-union.
Permanent Organization Effected
Last Saturday, for the first time, the Hoffman’s and their relatives of Dauphin and nearby Counties assembled at Buffalo Park, Halifax, to become acquainted, and have the older people present relate what they knew about the first settlers by the name of Hoffman, so that the younger people might become enthused and inspired to record the important historical facts concerning the different tribes or families of the Hoffman’s for the benefit of future generations.
The writer knows of four generations being present in the family of James Miller, Elizabethville, viz: James Miller, his two sons and two daughters; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Four generations from Halifax: Barbara Hoffman, Lizzie Lodge; Edna Keiter, and her baby; and no doubt there were others.
James Lebo and wife of Cumberland County, Emanuel Hoffman of Gratz (of the George Hoffman tribe of Springville); and other Hoffmans of Reiner City, Lykens, and points in Williams Valley, Hoffmans from Harrisburg, and from all over Lykens Valley, Armstrong Valley, and Powels Valley.
An organ was placed upon the platform and after the Chairman, W. H. G. Hoffman called the meeting to order a volunteer choir of young ladies and gentlemen surrounded the organ and led in the singing. Rev. Funk of Halifax invoked Divine Blessing upon the gathering in a most earnest prayer clothed in beautiful language. Addresses were delivered by W. H. G. Hoffman of Harrisburg, James Miller of Elizabethville, Thomas J. Hoffman of Enders; Isaac W. Hoffman of Millersburg; S. B. Hoffman and Jacob Hoffman of Matamoras; and Rev. J. C. Pease of Fayetteville.
In his speech, S. B. Hoffman of Matamoras told of the friendship the Indians had always shown toward the Hoffman family. During an uprising of the redmen many whites had been killed but the Hoffmans were unharmed. Mr. Hoffman’s grandfather had related how three notches had been found on the gate post which sign the friendly Indians said meant that other Indians would understand that the Hoffman family was not to be molested.
Isaac W. Hoffman told of how he had plowed in the fields of the old homestead at the foot of Short Mountain, and how he obeyed the instructions to keep sacred a little plot in one field where rested the remains of John Peter Hoffman, the pioneer of the family in America. He related how this man emigrated to this country, and his arrival on the sailing ship Robert and Alice, Captain Goodman, Commanding, at the port of Philadelphia in 1739. Many of the members of this family and their descendants took part in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Mexican and Civil Wars.
The reunion idea first took root in the mind of Mrs. Cyrus Novinger of Millersburg who prevailed upon Mr. W. H. G. Hoffman of 1625 Chestnut Street, Harrisburg to start the movement, and Mr. Hoffman interested James Miller in it, and last Saturday brought out 400 of the different Hoffman tribes in Buffalo Park, Halifax, to shake hands, renew family ties, and have a good old time together. The second annual reunion will take place on the same grounds on the third Saturday of August 1914.
Officers were elected as follows:
President, W. H. G. Hoffman, Harrisburg.
Vice presidents: John W. Hoffman, Gratz; Joseph Deppen, Mt. Carmel; James Hoffman, Lykens; Aaron H. Hoffman, Enterline; Norman Manley, Harrisburg; Edward Hoffman, Harrisburg; Peter Hoffman, Reiner City; Jacob Hoffman, Gratz; Harvey Hoffman, Enola; Frederick Leitzel, Elizabethville.
Corresponding secretary: Thomas J. Hoffman, Enders.
Recording secretary: Rev. Samuel Hoffman, Halifax.
Treasurer: James M. Hoffman, Halifax.
Organist: Miss Jessie Lebo, Harrisburg.
Historian: Morris M. Miller, Elizabethville.
It is predicted that next year there will be three times as many Hoffmans on the ground.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, 4 December 1913:
Hoffman Family Re-Union [Communicated]
HALIFAX, 29 November 1913.
A meeting of the Association was held this day, S. B. Hoffman, Secretary, read the proceedings of the 16 August (when the Association was formed), which were approved, after the name of the historian was changed from Morris Miller to Milton A. Miller. The 19 officials are expected to work for a larger gathering at Halifax on the third Saturday in August 1914, than were assembled last year, and it is predicted by the President that on a fair day no less than 2000 Hoffmans and their descendants would be assembled in Buffalo park. The accounts were audited, and a balance of $16.25 was found to be in the treasury, It was ordered that hot coffee (no milk or sugar), would be furnished free to all in attendance next year, when badges will be procured and worn.
Quite a bit of the genealogy of the tribe was gathered from Kelker’s History of Dauphin County, and read by W. H. G. Hoffman, President, of 1625 Chestnut Street, Harrisburg, from which it appears that J. Peter Hoffman, the head of at least one tribe of the family, was born in Germany in 1709, and settled in Berks County, from which place he moved to what was then the Hoffman farm (now the Romberger farm) at the foot of Short Mountain, and was a contemporary of John Lykens and Ludwig Shutt, who located at Oakdale Forge, and was driven out by the Indians in 1753 or 1756, but came back again to find the home undisturbed, but by a light, were directed to another habitation, where he saw two Indians sitting by the fire built inside, and both taking sure aim, shot the Indians, and again occupied his home, and lies buried on a field on the farm in an unmarked grave. Among his children were Catherine Ann Hoffman, married to Andreas Riegle; Barbara Hoffman, married to George Buffingon; Elizabeth Hoffman, married to Ludwig Shott; J. Nicholas Hoffman, born in 1736; Margaretta Hoffman; Christian Hoffman, married Susannah Deibler; John Hoffman, married Miss Kauffman.
It is desired by the officials that whoever can, will give the genealogy of Barbara, Elizabeth, J. N. Hoffman, Margaretta, Christian, and John Hoffman, above named.
It is also desired to gain information on the genealogy of John George Hoffman, who is buried at St. John’s Church, near Berrysburg, his ancestors and children descendants. Among his children were George Hoffman, late of Artz, Pennsylvania; Daniel Hoffman, who, or his children and widow emigrated to Ogle County, Illinois. So far nothing has been found to link this branch of the Hoffman family [to] J. Peter Hoffman‘s tribe who settled on the Short Mountain farm. If sufficient subscribers will warrant the undertaking, a genealogical record will be printed of the family later on.
The following are the officers of the Association: W. H. G. Hoffman, president; S. B. Hoffman, secretary; Thomas J. Hoffman, treasurer; besides vice presidents of every known branch of the various tribes, who are expected to dig into family histories and write out any and all information asked for, and forward same to Milton A. Miller, historian, Elizabethville, Pennsylvania, or to the President.
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Transcribed from news articles found on Newspapers.com.