Franklin Hoffman my Great Grandfather's Obit.

Frank Hoffman Was Well Liked And Respected

Posted 10 Sep 2014 by dailynews5

Centerville Daily Iowegion And Citizen – May 03, 1940 – Page 6

Frank Hoffman Was Well Liked And Respected

Moravia, Iowa . — Frank Hoffman, the seventy-nine-year-old Appanoose county pioneer who died out in Wheatland, Wyoming, Tuesday, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sanford Hoffman. He came to this country with his parents, from Pennsylvania , shortly after the close of the civil war.

  When young Frank was ready to set up a home of his own he wedded Elizabeth DuVall. That was fifty-eight years ago. Elizabeth was a sister of William DuVall, commonly known as “Bill”, and Robert DuVall, called “Bobby.” Both were well known in this locality.

  Elizabeth wah a cousin to Henry DuVall. And the thought of Henry starts a train of happy childhood memories.

  Henry, another Appanoose county pioneer will long be remembered by youngsters of that period for his generous hospitality in allowing them to ride beside him in the cab of his monstrous steam engine. For Henry owned a steam engine threshing outfit.

  The thrills that raced gloriously from tip to toe on those all-too-rare occasions, are experienced again in fancy. Hanging perilously onto the cab of that magic steam-driven machine as it puffed over the rutted, dusty roads or bumped along through the rough stubble ground in wheat fields, was an un-paralled adventure. Often was Henry matching speed with an approaching rain storm which threatened the harvest.

  The Frank Hoffmans lived on a farm about two miles east of Moravia, the farm that was later occupied by Robert DuVall. They were parents of three children: Grace, Robert and Lee. 

  The thrills that raced gloriously from tip to toe on those all-too-rare occasions, are experienced again in fancy. Hanging perilously onto the cab of that magic steam-driven machine as it puffed over the rutted, dusty roads or bumped along through the rough stubble ground in wheat fields, was an un-paralled adventure. Often was Henry matching speed with an approaching rain storm which threatened the harvest.

  The Frank Hoffmans lived on a farm about two miles east of Moravia, the farm that was later occupied by Robert DuVall. They were parents of three children: Grace, Robert and Lee. Grace became the wife of Dan Scott. They went to Wyoming several years ago where she passed away, at Wheatland, in 1937. Lee lives at Slater, Wyoming, and Robert's home is about five miles northwest of Moravia.

  Mrs. Hoffman died in 1904. Sixteen years later Mr. Hoffman went to Wyoming where he shared the home of his grandson , Frank Scott, in Wheatland.

  Father Sanford Hoffman was a very religious man. He was a member of the old Methodist church in Moravia. Back in those days ones religious ardor was measured some what by the length and fervor of the prayers offered at the midweek prayer meeting . Old timers recall Sanford Hoffman as a zealous Christian character in every respect.

  Frank Hoffman's uncle Hague was Moravia’s most popular pioneer doctor H.H. Hoffman M. D. Most all the mid-century native-born residents of this vicinity were ushered in to the world by this good physician.

  Frank Hoffman is remembered by old friends as a quiet, conservative citizen. A highly respected man who held on, to the last, to that which was good.

My Mother talked of this Grandfather often and with great respect and loved his personality.  I love the story of when Grandad Lee married as the best. GGrandpa Frank had a supper funny way with words and life.

Cecil Leroy Hoffman Data. Grandad I love you still.

 Having just opened up Grandad's keepsake album that Mom gave me, I found things I forgot
were in it.

 A report card from 1898, he had excellent grades.
Several notes from his teacher in school. Some regarding his writing while out of school, some regarding coming to visit his teacher with his brother Bob and sister Gracie. I suspect it was summer break.  She asked him to have Gracie write her also in one note.

Everything is so fragile.

Many little Rememberance cards from I suspect Sunday School classes.  1 letter so faded I could not read it well. 2 letters that talk about contacting the teacher and doing as she had requested.

I found a heart cut out of paper and a red thread through the  top center in the papers. I found homemade what I would call Valentine Cards, Xmas Cards, Greeting Cards or notes to him from  another teacher. The one valentine cut out and with red thread may have been given him by Grandma.  I wish when MOM got this from him she had labeled what and who.  There is no writing on the heart and it's like school writing paper and red thread.

The delicate notes have a picture taken from something, ( maybe a magazine, pasted to paper picture on back and delicate very delicate lace inserted around the edges of the square or rectangular notes.
Just pictures no writing on most of them.

Will have to rewrite the story of their marriage. It was quite an event. I did not see a copy of that from Mom but Grandad told the story so many times I have never forgotten it. With his blue eyes twinkling and a smile that was so expressive, he related the event to myself, Richard and Hartley.

Over the years it was repeated and the last time he told me was 1958 when I saw him for the last time.  He died in 1962. Wheatland, Wyo.   Grandma died before him in 1961.

I will try to get them filmed and present them for family to see soon.

Still have to rescue the painting of Grandma that was put out where it was weather damaged. Grandad paid to have the portrait made of her. He really liked it and she was always hiding it.

The letters all were written in Moravia, IA or near there. Other names were mentioned one said they were an Aunt and it was a name I had never heard before.

Cecil Leroy Hoffman,  my Dad said most called him Dutch or Lee.
b 9 May 1891 Moravia, IA
m 29 May 1912 Appanoose, IA
d 24 Oct 1962  Wheatland, Platte Co. Wyo.

Inez Mae Scott
born  6 Oct 1892 Taylor Township, IA
d 14 Nov. 1961 Wheatland, Platte Co. Wyo.

Buried in Wheatland Cemetery.

Some papers say Leroy Cecil Hoffman some the reverse.

St Patrick's Day Thoughts

 Randy asked us to comment on St. Patrick's Day so I will.  Wondering what my younger siblings remember.

First, Randy Seaver you just told us your percentage of Irish.  The amount does not matter it is the having it that does..

 Irish is like Indian, what ever portion you have, you have.  Accept and go with it.  It can be fun.  

Mom's family had lots of Irish backgrounds in the family.  We almost always had Corn beef and cabbage, either at home or a relatives or friends place.

There was a pastry MOM  would get from the bakery sometimes to share, if the event was at our home.  I recall it being like a strudel.  

We often had green jello with fruit inside for dessert,  with whipping cream on top.  

Wear the green or get pinched and man that could hurt.  Since I wore a uniform for many years we would take green construction paper, make a shamrock and 

pin it on our uniform.  You just did not want it to come off or ouch.

Sometimes the girls would wear green ribbon in their hair.  Yes even the boys wore the shamrock on uniform sweater.  In High School, it took a lot of  ingenuity  for the boys 

to stay wearing something green.  Our uniforms were white blouse, shirt, navy blue sweater for both, and grey/black slacks  boys or grey pleated uniform skirt for girls.

Prior to the grey skirt we had a navy blue jumper we wore over the white blouse with navy blue sweater.  Boys did not change.

We always had Mass and learned information about St. Patrick and Ireland. We also at school,

So  if it fell on a school day had green coated sugar cookies and milk at break

A Catholic school near us had Green in their uniform they never had our troubles with wearing green. 

Dad and Mom played Irish songs on the record player and we all learned to sing many of those songs.  Of course our radio station played lots of Irish music back in that day.

"Danny Boy"'  was Mom's favorite. I do not know why but she loved that song. 

I like lots of Irish music and songs,  it seems we sang those songs for a month before and ever so often through out the year when a special event came about with family members

in the area.

Thanks for the memories your comment brought forward.

So what are your family memories of this sorta Holiday?

Honoring Women Today........Some of my females.

  Spring is about to be sprung.  Here it comes.  Female Family that has impressed me during my life.

  Obviously my Mother Inez Mae Hoffman Jones dcd.  She was an interesting woman and cared for many people.  She had a heart but at times hid it from view. She lost babies and had 4 living children.  I was always worried she would pass before we grew up because of medical history for her.  She lived for almost 93 years so that was not a worry. She taught us or tried to : cook, sew, bake, milk cows, pull weeds, make a garden, can fruit and vegetables, meat and herbs. She could see a dress in the store and go home sketch it,  cut it out and make it with out modern patterns.  She could draw by hand some of the prettiest pansy pictures ever. I hope I still have one in the trunk. She also knit, crocheted but never could master tatting *which her mother did so well.
She taught 4-H classes and later in life worked at the Tomales High School Cafeteria. I remember she always voted. It was important to my parents to be active in making our country a great country.

 2nd was my Mother in Law, Louise Jipp Pentico.  She was a very warm caring person and had met many struggles and either conquered them or gracefully set them aside. She lived on a farm in Iowa until they sold and came to be near us in southern CA.  She had,  like my Mom run a tractor and plow and worked both indoor and out.  She carried hot water from the stove to the basement in a bucket to wash clothes. Fortunately I was able to convince the powers that be that they put hot water in their house. Because she never complained she did it.  Dad  was stunned and didn't even think of the risks  she  took doing this.  She  taught me things my Mom did not.  They were both so great.

3rd mmmmm It would be my Aunt Etta, Dad's sister and Aunt Bethel her baby sister. Both helped to keep me on track with life and living. They both always kept in touch and helped me over many maturing humps in my life.  I thank God for that every day.

4th  Aunt Ruth Mom's baby sister just a few years older than I.  I lived with them as a teen during summers and babysat and when I first moved away from home to find a job.  That was in Oregon and in Sunnyvale, CA as a young adult. Luckily I was able to keep in touch with her throughout life always.  Her life was hard after the major accident and was a reason I was with them to help her to get around as they did surgeries.

5th. Great Aunt's on both Dad and Mom's side.  They shared so much about my parents lives and how they lived and what they thought I could do to help my parents to succeed.

6th.  Aunt Doris Hoffman, my much beloved Uncle Dick's wife that I was able to learn and share times with after I was married and kept in touch with. They just did 72 years of marriage first of the week. He is a World War 11 Vet. He jumped from airplanes.

 7th  Aunt Jenny Senft Jones, my Uncles wife, who was my stand in behind any and all troubles like her sister in law's were. I have been so blessed with the family members we have.

8th.  My other Aunts, Great Aunts, & Great Grandmother whom I wrote to for several years before her death.

9th  Many of my female cousins were very close and alas are gone.  I was lucky to know 1st, 2nd and 3rd cousins in the family. We wrote letters and shared when visiting.

I think of Wilda and Maxine, Linda F, Jeannie Scott,  Betty Hampton, and so many others that all gave me thoughts to ponder as life moved through.

My Grandmothers's taught me to think twice before speaking especially Mom's.  Dad's said to always keep trying and going forward.  Her life I suspect was very hard due to many reasons, some of her own direct choosing. She shared much with me in later life while  living with us. My husband and children, learned a lot about life from her.

Sis, I could not forget,  Roberta was an young sister and when small we had so much fun and shared so much. After I started High School and she was in Jr HI school things were hard.  Then I moved away and maybe to soon for her but I went back. Today we get along great and are so glad we have each other to share things. We shared maternity clothes and our husbands were sailor mates.  At least stationed at the same place for a couple of times.  Her children were an extension of ours.

My two sister in laws also are often thought of because with out them I would not have the awesome nieces and nephews that we have.  It takes both parents to make such great family members.  Roberta Jones Thanks I love those boys, Peggy Jones Feil thanks I love your children also.

My two sister in laws, Mary Nelson and Shirley Majors. Shirley's dau's Linda and Janelle.

Now we address our daughters: Candy Ann and Billijo and daughter in laws, Peggy, Heather and Elizabeth.   The mother of Dan, Cindy she gave us our first grandchild. Thank You Cindy. Debra mother of Andrew, Thank You.  Elizabeth form Willkie and Kevin & being able to pull that family together as a family and keep it whole.  Peggy for our three grandchildren, Nate, Hannah and Alicia.

Candy whom gave us two grandsons Joseph and Stephan and 2 ggrandchildren. Thank You
BilliJo whom gave us a grandson that reminds us how life can be so fragile.  Thank You.

The raising of our children helped us to mature, to appreciate life and remember to give thanks and move forward.

It takes all of these things to make up whom we are.
It seems that I have always tried to take something away from each person I have been in contact with and filed it for remembrance.

How I wish I had gotten some more personal knowledge from  some of our female ancestresses.
Queen Margareth of Scotland, Rahamanha, Pocahontas. Some of the females that migrated on the Mayflower, also Mrs Christopher JONES Jr and others.
Some time I will write about the males.

Our background is varied and comes with many strong willed and courageous women.

I have one Great Aunt still alive wife of a Great Uncle deceased. Her line is from Hickock,  so I was told.


Susan Carol Jones Pentico 8 March 2018