Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-11

banker than any other type, one, however,
who was born with gentlemanly Instincts,
and WHO, by dint of keeping his eyes con-
stantly about him. has developed into an
alert and courteous man of the world, al
belt there is much bluff heartiness in his
courtesy. His figure is tall and rotund, his
strong features are deeply scanned and his
hair and full beard are grizzled. His voice
is by no means unpleasant, but by no means
melodious; it suggests the voice of a vet
eran admiral who has sailed over many
seas and fought many a desperate fight.
Where He Got His Wealth.
Dean Hoffman, is sixth in descent from
Martinus Hoffman,, WHO came to America
in 1910, and son of the late Samuel YER
planck Hoffman,. The family has been a
factor in the social, commercial and polit-
zeal life of New York City for two and a
half centuries. The dean was born just east
of Broadway in White street, when that now
downtown thoroughfare was an aristocratic
residence center. After courses of study at
Columbia, Rutgers and Harvard. he sighed
for adventure and was allowed to join an
expedition formed by Prof. Agassiz to ex-
plore the region north of Lake Superior,
Some months of rough experiences on that
expedition were quite enough for a life
time and he returned to civilization and
studied theology at the seminary OF which
he is now the head, and in 1851, when only
%, began the life of a clergyman, only to
lay 1t down for the broader work in which
he is still acting.
Conservative capitalists estimate the
present value of the Hoffman, estate at from
S15, 900, 900 ito $40, 900, 900, but no one, not even
the dean himself, can appraise 1t with GER
tain accuracy. 1t was founded before the re-
public was born, and under the never faulty
Hoffman, management has been growing
year by year and decade by decade, almost
without intermission ever since. 1t nov
takes In row on row of downtown struc'
lures and block after block uptown. Thu
Hoffman, House, itself worth more than
million, with its world-famed bar, Is par
of the property, which was divided by In
heritance a few years ago between the deal
and his brother, also an Episcopal clergy
man. by far the larger share falling to th'
dean.
Dean Hoffman, has been very lavish o
his wealth. in the seminary behalf. Sine
he assumed it's headship the two or tire
almost shabby gray buildings at Twentieth
street and Ninth avenue, in which the in
stitution has been housed, have been in
creased to a noble cluster OF structure
surrounding a beautiful quadrangle and IN
school itself has advanced TO the very mrs
place. Throughout his service to date hi
salary has allowed to accumulate and In Tim
will be added to the fund. Jus
how large his various benefations have bee
no one knows but himself and he won't tel
From sources that should be reliable, tn
writer is informed that the total Is certain
more than a million. His gifts To the sem
inary include the beautitul deanery, an
have been supplemented by the chapel {
the Good Shepherd, erected by his mothe
An memory OF her husband. The deans out
side benefactions comprise churches, chapeI
and enduwments in various parts of IN
country, a theological seminary for colore
students in Tennessee being among them
Founded = workingmnn's Club
From the beginning of his career to TN