The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-08-15
CLOSE OF A BRILLIANT CAREER.
Sudden Death Last Night Of Major
Ernst HOffman..-A Sketch of
His Life--Death of Mrs.
Major Mckenzie.

Major Ernst Hoffman, of the L. s. A.
died very suddenly at his residence No.
1902, Third avenue, last night. He had
been out hiding in his buggy in the even
ing and seemed to feel as we'll as usual on
his return. He laid down while and
quietly fell asleep to awake no more in this
world. For five years the deceased has
suffered greatly at times from rheumatism
and stoppage of the throat. He had
but little faith in physicians and would
never allow one TO be called to his assist
ance. A few years ago he was induced
to visit doctor in st. Louis about his
throat and when the physician intimated
that the disease was pulmonary consump>
ton, or would probably deYelope into
that disease soon, the Major left him in
disgust.
His military career, like that of his il
ldotAAcdo LohAOohhC VIM " ao Adtti W IG9t
yesterday was brilliant one
Ernst Hoffman was born in Breslaux.
Prussia. in the year 1925. When he was
twenty years old he entered the
army of his country as Lieu
tenant and after several years of faithful
service was promoted to the rank of ma
jor. He left the army with this rank and
entered a military academy in Berlin as
instructor of military tactics and civil
engineering. Here he remained for seve-
raj years proving an invaluable instructor
While at the academy he was made a
Knight of the Red Eagle Order, a de-
stinction of the leading nobility.
In 1855 he left the Prussian army and
went to Italy where he entered the cam,
paign with Garabaldi for the liberation OF
the people. He entered this army as a
major and did excellent work. At the
close of the struggle he was made a mem
Der of the Garabaldi Order, and has since
continued to draw pension therefrom
In 1852 he left Italy and came to the
United States with letter of recommeG-
dation from the Hon. George P Marsh,
United States Minister to Italy, to Abra-
ham Lincoln, president of the United
States. He was at once given place in
the union army with the rank of major,
and assigned to duty in the army of the
Potomac He was with the army in al
its battles and arduous marches, at all
times acquitting himself in manner thai
won for him the admiration and conf
dence of his fellow officers. At the close
of the war he was offered command in the
regular army which he refused, not desir'
ing to go on the frontier to fight Indians
He therefore resigned his commission, but
was at once appointed to civil engineer
ing position under Gen. Wilson, and as
signed to the river improvement depart
ment of the service. In this, as in every
thing he undertook, hee has proven him
self master of the situation and his
services have proved of the gleates
benefit to the river officials.
At Davenport some fifteen years ago he
was married to Miss Amelia Stibolt, the
accomplished daughter of John P Stibolt
editor of Der Democrat No children
blessed their union, and the wife is lief
alone to mourn the loss of a faithful
husband The funeral will take place
from the above number at 10 a. m to
morrow. The interrment will be in Oak
dale cemetery, Davenport. Friends o
the family are invited to attend TIT
funeral
DEATH OF MRS. MAI. MCKENZIE
Mrs. Mckenzie, wife of Major McKen-
zie, of the Z. s. engineer corps, who has
been located here for some time, died
yesterday morning at St. Paul and wa:
buried today in Milwaukee, the home o.
her girlhood. The many friends of the
lady in this city will hear of her deatt
with keen regret, and the heartfelt sym
pathy of all will go out TO her family.