San Francisco County
Biographies
LUDWIG
MATHIAS HOEFLER
Ludwig Mathias Hoefler, a San Francisco attorney of wide experience, has spent the greater part of his life in this city. He was born in Adrian, Michigan, August 18, 1858, a son of John Philip Hoefler, who was a native of Nuremberg, Germany, and in 1848 came to the United States with Carl Schurz and other German revolutionists. He settled in Adrian, Michigan, where he remained until 1882, when he traveled westward to San Francisco, and made his home in this city until his death on the 21st of November, 1893. A talented artist, he was widely known in Michigan and in and about San Francisco. His wife, Mary (Hofman) Hoefler, was born near Heidelberg, Germany, April 2, 1837, and when but a year old was brought to America by her parents, who settled in Monroe county, Michigan, where she met John Philip Hoefler, to whom she was later married. For many years she survived her husband, passing away July 29, 1929, at the advanced age of ninety-two years.
Ludwig M. Hoefler acquired his early education in a parochial school of his native town. On the 24th of December, 1878, he arrived in San Francisco and, having determined to enter the legal profession, he read law for a time in the office of Alfred A. Cohen and then matriculated in the Hastings Law School of San Francisco, receiving from that institution the degree of LL. B. in 1882. After his graduation Mr. Hoefler entered the law office of Garber, Thornton & Bishop, one of the foremost legal organizations of San Francisco at that time. On the dissolution of that firm he became a partner of Mr. Bishop and continued as such until the latter’s death on the 7th of February, 1906. He is now the only surviving member of the firms mentioned. He is located at 593 Market street and is attorney for a number of corporations. He has served as president and a director of several business concerns and was local counsel for the San Francisco Breweries, Ltd., and chairman of its advisory board.
In December, 1889, Mr. Hoefler was married in San Francisco to Emma Madeline Altemus, who died July 25, 1931. She was a native of this city and a daughter of John and Elizabeth Altemus. Her parents came here in the early days and their home stood on the site now occupied by the Pacific Union Club. Mr. And Mrs. Hoefler had a daughter, Edith, who is the wife of Charles Albert Vance, of San Francisco, and the mother of five children: Albert, who was born October 9, 1910; Ludwig Hoefler, born May 28, 1912; John Holbrook, August 28, 1916; Patricia, October 29, 1918; and David, January 6, 1920. All are natives of this city. Mrs. Vance was one of the star pupils at the Sarah Hamlin School and is a pianist of marked ability.
Mr. Hoefler’s home is at 160 Haight street, where he has resided for thirty-six years, witnessing a notable change in the appearance of the locality during that period. Widely traveled, he has visited many parts of the globe and in 1921 was in Germany. While in that country he was prevailed upon by Dr. Walter Simmons, German minister, and Franz Ebert, president of the German republic, to become American adviser at Berlin. Upon receipt of his appointment by the German cabinet and acceptance of the post by the United States government, he furnished President Harding and other officials of the American government with accurate information regarding conditions in Germany. He was largely instrumental in keeping France out of the Ruhr district for fully a year and in securing a modification of many of the demands made by the French government, thus rendering service of great value to Germany and to his own country as well. Politically he is a democrat and has worked for the success of the party. He is a life member of all Masonic bodies, a past master of Doric Lodge, No. 216, F. & A. M., a past high priest of the chapter at San Francisco, and a life member of Islam Temple of the Mystic Shrine, while his wife was identified with the ladies’ auxiliary of California Commandary, K. T. For twenty-three years he has served as vice president of the Olympic Club, in which he holds a life membership, and is likewise a life member of the Press Club of San Francisco. However, he subordinates all other interests to the demands of his profession and belongs to the San Francisco, California State and American Bar Associations.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Byington, Lewis Francis, “History of
San Francisco 3 Vols”, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1931. Vol. 2 Pages 92-96.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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