From the book History of Walworth County Wisconsin, by Albert Clayton Beckwith, 
publ. 1912 - Pages 640 - 642
 
JOHN H. HOFFMAN.  A representative of one of the sterling old families of 
Bloomfield township, Walworth county, is John H. HOFFMAN, a man who has not 
permitted the wanderlust spirit to lure him away from his nature-favored home 
country, like so many of his contemporaries have done, and he has therefore won 
success in his chosen life work and has been of much benefit to the people of 
this vicinity by his judicious course and his public spirit.
 
Mr. HOFFMAN was born in this township, November 14, 1854, and is the son of 
Michael and Minnie (KIMBALL) HOFFMAN.  The father was born in Germany, near the 
city of Berlin, in 1817, and when fourteen years old he ran away from home and 
came to New York city, arriving there with only twenty-five cents in his 
pocket.  He walked out into the country on Long Island and at eleven o'clock at 
night climbed into a farmer's wagon to ride.  The farmer employed him, and he 
stayed in the state of New York eight years, then came to Burlington, 
Wisconsin, and began working on the farm of Captain BOOKER, with whom he 
remained eight years, then came to Bloomfield township, Walworth county, and 
married, continuing to reside here until his death, in 1899.  His wife, known 
in her maidenhood as Minnie Elizabeth KIMBALL was the daughter of August Daniel 
and Margaret Elizabeth (JUNG) KIMBALL.  The father was born on July 4, 1801, in 
Saxony, Germany, and the mother was the daughter of John Adam JUNG.  August D. 
KIMBALL was a blacksmith in Germany.  He emigrated to America in 1847 with his 
wife and nine children, the trip requiring seven weeks.  They settled in 
Bloomfield township Walworth county, Wisconsin, and there has been the home of 
the KIMBALLS ever since.
 
Ten children were born to Michael HOFFMAN and wife, all of whom grew to 
maturity, but only six of them are now living.  They were named: Carrie, wife 
of Herman BUNTH, lives at Waverly, Iowa; Emily, who married Lathrop A. UDELL, 
lived at Wilmot, Wisconsin, until her death; Frank lived in Bloomfield township 
all his life and remained unmarried, dying when about thirty years old; Ida, 
who married Peter BALASS, lived in Bloomfield township until her death; John H. 
of this sketch; Jennie is the wife of Edwin BAILEY and they live in Minnesota; 
Richard lives in the eastern part of Bloomfield township where he owns two 
hundred and forty acres; he has been township treasurer for five years and he 
is a member of the board of supervisors; he makes a specially of raising draft 
horses, fine Hereford cattle and Shropshire sheep; he married Ella GIFFORD and 
they have four children, Doris, Kenneth, Lucile, and Gladys; Lewis HOFFMAN 
lives in Michigan; Martha married Patrick McCABE and they live in Ohio; Stella 
is the wife of Harry MATHESON and they live at Glen Ellen, near Chicago.
 
Michael HOFFMAN, father of the above named children, died in February, 1901, 
and his widow survived until March 24, 1909.
 
John H. HOFFMAN grew up on the home farm in Bloomfield township, and he spent 
about a year near Rockford, but with the exception of that he has lived here 
all his life.  He worked out by the month until he was twenty-eight years old, 
then married and bought a farm.  It was in 1882 that he was joined in wedlock 
with Adell MAYNARD, daughter of Norman and Mary (NEW) MAYNARD.  She was born in 
Bloomfield township, this county.  Her mother was from Cornwall, Addison 
county, Vermont, and her father was from New York state, having been born at 
Hampton, Washington county.  These parents were married in the East, and they 
came to Bloomfield township, this county, in the fall of 1850, locating in the 
west part of the township.  Five years later they bought a farm in Linn 
township, and about three years after that her father died, after which event 
the mother and children moved to Lake Geneva in 1859.
 
A year or two before his marriage, Mr. HOFFMAN bought a farm of one hundred 
acres near Bloomfield Center and there he has since made his home, having 
developed an excellent farm, making numerous improvements.  For some time he 
raised good horses and made money at it, but later turned his attention to 
dairying, hog raising and general farming, and he has been very successful as a 
stock man as well as general agriculturist.
 
Four children have been born to the subject and wife, Leroy, Clarence, Howard, 
and Wilford.
 
Mr. HOFFMAN has been a member of the township board for fourteen years and was 
chairman of the same for three years.  He has been a member of the school board 
nearly ever since his marriage and was clerk of the board many years.  He is 
active in public affairs and stands high in his community.

Submitted By:  Carol
(carolann612@charter.net)