Santa
Clara County
Biographies
GERHARD WERNER HOFFMAN
The name of the late Gerhard Werner
Hoffman, more familiarly known as “George” will long be cherished by the
residents of San Jose, which was his home for nearly forty years. Coming to California in 1849, he was one of
the early settlers of the state, and as one of the brave and sturdy heroes of
those days took an active part in advancing the material interests of this
section of the Santa Clara valley.
Playing well his part in the grand transformation that changed the wild
and uncultivated land to a choice garden spot, he retained throughout his long
life a vivid memory of pioneer times and incidents. He would rehearse stories of the leading
events of those days with such truth and simplicity that it was ever a pleasure
to listen to his reminiscences, and he was often appealed to in verifying
matters of history. A son of Gerhard
Hofflman, he was born August 10, 1825, in Bremen, Germany, and was almost
literally brought up on water, his father and grand-father having both been
sea-faring men.
Beginning life for himself at eleven years of age, Gerhard Werner
Hoffman sailed first as a cabin boy.
Three and one-half years later he made his first trip to America, and
subsequently made various voyages to the West Indies, Brazil and Africa. Rounding Cape Horn in 1844, he sailed up the
west coast of America as far as Mazatlin, Mexico, after which he returned to
Eastern ports. Coming from New York City
to San Francisco in 1849, he continued as a sailor for about a year, and then
retired from nautical pursuits. Locating
in Placer county, Cal., in 1850, Mr. Hoffman was for
some time very successfully employed in mining, turning out twenty dollars or
more a day. Subsequently building a
brewery at Shasta, he operated it for awhile, [sic] making money, which he
invested in different mines. Selling his
brewery in 1868, Mr. Hoffman, removed with his family
to San Jose in order that his children might receive good educational
advantages. Embarking in business as a
news stand dealer he carried on a substantial business for several years. He then established a nursery at the corner
of First and Willow streets and in its management met with characteristic
success. By means of industry, thrift
and good business ability, Mr. Hoffman acquired a competency, and spent the
closing years of his life retired from active pursuits, in his pleasant home
enjoying the fruits of his earlier years of labor. He died November 21, 1903, honored ad
respected by all.
In Shasta Cal., Mr. Hoffman married Sophia
Chopard, who was born in Switzerland but of French ancestry. She died at her home in San Jose in 1879, at
the age of thirty-seven years, leaving five children. Christian Conrad, of San Francisco, is a
mechanical engineer; Theodore, of Honolulu, also a mechanical engineer,
established and incorporated, in 1894, the Oahu Ice & Electric Company;
May, the home keeper, assumed the charge of the household as soon as old
enough, and devoted herself to the care of her father in his later years,
repaying in some measure the devotion which he had always bestowed upon his
motherless children; Hattie is a teacher in the Washington grammar school, San
Jose; and Werner was killed at the age of twenty-four years at the Electric
Light and Power Company plant, where he was the chief electrician and a man of
remarkable ability and talent.
Fraternally Mr. Hoffman was a member of Shasta Lodge, I.O.O.F., and he
was also a charter member of the Society of California Pioneers.
Transcribed by
Louise E Shoemaker September 07, 2015.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 765-766. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Louise E. Shoemaker.