El
Dorado County
Biographies
GEORGE HOFMEISTER
This is a utilitarian age and effort
must lend itself to some line of usefulness, contributing to individual benefit
or to the public good. Idleness has no
part in the movement of the world today, and the man who makes progress along
life’s journey is he of marked enterprise, capable of recognizing and improving
opportunities whether they be for his own or for the
public welfare. George Hofmeister, an
active and energetic citizen of El Dorado County, who is now filling the office
of county assessor, was born on the 8th of February, 1863, in the
community in which he makes his home.
He is the son of Frederick
Hofmeister, who was born in Germany, March 25, 1829, and came to this country
in 1848, landing at New York, and went direct to Elizabeth, New Jersey, where
he engaged in brick-manufacturing, which he followed for four years, being at
that time the foreman of the enterprise.
In 1852 he came to California, stopping at Placerville. He first engaged in mining in this state, but
in 1869 he became the owner of the Ohio House, of which he was the obliging
landlord until 1886, when he retired from active business. Now in his seventy-first year, he is enjoying
a well earned rest, the labor of former years supplying him with all the
necessities and many of the luxuries of life.
In the year 1862 he married Mrs. Mell, who by
her former marriage had three children.
As Mr. Hofmeister’s wife she became the mother
of four children, three sons and a daughter.
The latter, Mrs. L. H. Pratt, is the proprietor of the hotel at Sugar
Loaf. Fred, the son of the family, is in
Plymouth, and one of the children has departed this life. Mrs. Hofmeister has been a resident of
California since 1854. The parents of
our subject have a good home and are spending the evening of life quietly in
the midst of friends and family.
George Hofmeister, whose name
introduces this review, is indebted to the public schools for his preliminary
education, which was supplemented by a course in the Academy at
Placerville. After his graduation at
that institution he pursued a course in the Pacific Business College, at San
Francisco, where he was graduated in 1882.
For four years, from 1886 to 1890, he was the deputy postmaster under
James Tyson, and subsequently he engaged in the manufacture of cigars and had
charge of the El Dorado County exhibit at the Mid-winter Fair in San
Francisco. He was also for some time the
deputy postmaster under A. T. Culbertson, and then received the appointment of
deputy sheriff under George H. Hilbert.
In 1898 he was elected the assessor of El Dorado County, which office he
is now filling with credit to himself and satisfaction to all concerned. The Democratic Party receives his allegiance
and he has been active and earnest in its support, attending its conventions
and working untiringly in its behalf. He
was a delegate to the last Democratic state convention. His social connections are with the Masonic
fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Placerville Parlor of the
Native Sons of the Golden West. Of the
last named he was one of the organizers and is a past president, while of the
grand parlor of the state he is a past grand vice president. He is a very enthusiastic representative of
the order and his labors have contributed largely to its upbuilding.
In 1886 was celebrated the marriage
of Mr. Hofmeister and Miss Annie Ash, of Sacramento, one of the native
daughters of California. Their union has
been blessed with three children, of whom two are living: Augustus and Cyril. In all that pertains to the upbuilding and
advancement of his community, Mr. Hofmeister takes a deep interest, and he is a
public-spirited, progressive man. He
served on the commission that erected California’s monument at Coloma to James
W. Marshall, the noted discoverer of gold in January, 1848. He and his wife have hosts of friends in El
Dorado County and in Sacramento, and their pleasant home is celebrated for its
hospitality. In manner he is free from all ostentation and display, but his
intrinsic worth is recognized and his friendship is most prized by those who
know him best, showing that his character will bear scrutiny and close
acquaintance.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 654-655. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2011
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden
Nugget Library's El Dorado County Biographies