The Baltimore County union., 1886-10-09

Death of an Aged and Wealthy Citizen.
| Hon. William II. Hoffman, one of the most
wealthy and prominent business men of the upper
end OF Baltimore county, died at his residence,
Hofmanville, in the 9th district, on Thursday Of
last week, aged seventy six years. For some years
his health had been failing and he was nearly
blind, yet until recently he was able to give some
attention to his extensive business, which has been
| managed principally by his sons. Three genera
tions of the Hoffman family had been engaged in
| the manufacture of paper, Mr.. Hoifman's grand
| father, who a native of Germany, having es-
tablished the first mill near the head waters of
| the Gunpowder as early as l776, and where VIM.
Ii. Hoffman was born. At the time of his death
| he owned several mills on the Gunpowder Falls,
| the lower one, or Marble Vale MILL being located
| near Ashland. During the war Mr.. Hoffman had
large contracts for supplying the Government with
paper of different kinds and from these and the
| regular business of his mills he made large
| amount of money. He was sctive business
man, clear headed and thoroughly honorable in
all his transactions, having the respect and esteem
of very large circle of friends.
Mr.. Hoffman was an earnest Union man and
| was elected to the Legislature in 1868. In 1864
| he was chosen a member of the Constitutional
| convention and was warm advocate of the abo-
lition of slavery. Subsequently he took active
interest in the affairs of the Republican party, of
which he was prominent member. Mr.. Hoff-
man was an official member of the Methodist
dist Episcopal Church and was one o. the original
members of Summit Grove Camp Meeting Asso-
citation, of which he president for several years
For many years he was director of the Mutual
Fire Insurance Company in Baltimore County,
and was one of the incorporators of the Baltimore
& Hanover R. r. Company. Mr.. Hoffman leaves
three sons Messrs George W. S., William f. and
John w. Hoffman, who were engaged in business
with him, and one daughter, who is the wife of
Rev. NJ. L. Smyser, of the NJ. e. Church.
The funeral of Mr.. Hoffman took place on Snn-
day and was attended by very large concourse
of friends among whom were people from Balti-
more, York, Hanover, Shrewsbury, Hampstead,
New Freedom and the surrounding villages in
Baltimore county. The services were conducted
by Rev. T. M. West, of Baltimore Conference M.
E. Church, who based his remarks upon the words
of scripture-"Thanks be to God who giveth us
the victory" &c. A large number of Mr.. Hof-
mans employees attended the funeral and it was
touching to see the sadness of their countenances
as they gazed for the last time upon the features
of their benefactor and, some expressed it, the
man who had been in reality "the poor mans
friend" There was not a business interest in
that section of the county which had not been
benefited or advanced by his enterprise and the
loss to the community by his death will be deeply
felt. His influence for good was felt in every
ation of life, and notwithstanding his large bust
ness interests, requiring his most careful atten-
tion, he found time to devote to the church and
other matters which would tend to benefit his fell
low man.