Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1895-07-20
They Once Lived in Frost burg.


Two gentlemen have recently died
in whom Frostburg held some interest,
namely-John H. Hoffman, of Morgan
town, w. Va, and Samuel Luman, of
Cumberland.
Mr.. Hoffman died Monday, 9th inst.
He was cashier of the Second National
Bank, of Morgantown. an institution
whose notable success is due largely to
his foresight, industry and fidelity.
The Neao D0minion thus notices Mr..
Hotfman's career:
He was born in Frederick City, Md,
February 3, 1919, was raised in Baltimore,
and engaged in the mercantile business. He
went to Frostburg, Md, in 1886, then to
Bruceton Mills, Preston county, in 1876,
which place he named for his stepfather,
George Bruce, of Frostburg, a descendant of
Robert Bruce, of Scotland. Mr. Hoffman
did large milling, mercantile and general
business at Bruceton, and in 1851 engaged in
the claim agency business. He came to
Morgantown in 1860, and was in the claim
agency business here until he commenced
banking in 1868 In 1874 he became cashier
of the Morgantown Bank, and in Its successor,
the Second National Bank, which position
he held at the time of his death.
Mr.. Hoffman and Miss Louisa Evans were
married January Dist, 1910 At that time
MIR. Hoffman was residing and doing bust
ness in Frostburg, Md. To them were born
SIX children, three daughters and three sons.
Two sons ID. c. and w. X. Hoffman and two
daughters, Mrs. L. Shisler and Mrs c. w.
Flnnell, survive him. One daughter, Mrs
Virginia Ramsey, and one son, Lieut. Jno. f.
Hoffman, are dead. Lieut.. Hoffman was
killed in action near Culpepper Court House.
Virginia, Nov. 9th, 1868
At the beginning of the war Mr.. Hoffman
enlisted and equipped a company here at his
own expense, of which his son was first
lieutenant. The latter would have made Il
brilliant record had it not been for the bravery
which led to his death early in the war.
Though then mere youth he was a model
officer and his counsel was much in demand
by older and more experienced officers
Friday evening of last week, l2,h
iuol', Sdlnucl IuIdu, VI IulllDefldnu,
died, aged 50 years. Mr.. humans
biography is closely interviewer with
the history of staging on the National
pike, as he was a veteran of that toll
some and som etimes dangerous vo-
cation. The Cumberland NecS says
In 1913 he left Plny Plains and went to
Frostburg, where he kept hotel on Main
street.
Leaving Frostburg in 1874 or As, he located
in Mt. Savage, then a tourshing village be-
cause of its rolling mills and blast furnace.
Here he kept hotel in two different houses,
one rented from Henry Thomas Weld, and
the other later from James Reynolds
In lS49 or 1850, the mills having closed at
Mt. Savage, he took employment with con-
tractors on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
and opened the first tunnel west of Piedmont.
In 1850 he returned to Cumberland and
bought out Isaac Dunham the proprietor of
the "Oceola House." frame building oc-
cupying the site of the present Second
National Bank.
He next rented and occupied in 1855, the
National Hotel, corner of Baltimore and
Mechanic streets, now the Elberon Hotel
In 1855 he went to the ST. Nicholas Hotel,
of which he remained proprietor up to 1875,
in which year he retired from business.
The deceased leaves the following children :
Mr. Theo Luman clerk of Allegany county
court; Mrs. Will II. Lowdermilk, of Wash
ington, d. c.; Miss Bessie Luman of this
city; Mrs A. J. Gill, Of Baltimore; Mrs. C.
G, Hedges, and Mr. Frank Luman, of this
city.
Last Sunday afternoon his funeral
took place. The attendance was very
large, including an imposing parade
of Free Masons. He was held in high
esteem by everybody.