The times., 1899-10-14

R o. Hoffman, the prominent real
estate dealer, died yesterday afternoon at
BIS o'clock, at his residence, 905 Tenth
Street northwest. His wife and brother
in-law, Byron S. Adams, were present
when the end came. Mr.. Hoffman had
been i'll since July 3, with Bright's disease,
but until last Saturday had attended to
his business and with characteristic energy
He complained Sunday evening of being
very weak. and retired at o'clock. Since
then he had been confined to his bed.
He rapidly became worse and the at
tending physicians expected his death mo-
mentarily.
The arrangements for the funeral have
not yet been completed. Services VIII
probably be conducted Monday morning
from ST. Patrick's Catholic Church, In
Tenth Street between and G, and the
remains inferred in Congressional Gene
terry Intimate friends will act as hon
orary pallbearers.
Robert o. Hoffman was born in George
town February 3, lS4S He was educated
at the old Washington Seminary, which has
since given way to Gonzaga College. Dur
/ ing his boyhood he was a page at the Cap
| itol for several years. Mr.. Hoffman be-
gan his business career in small way at
| the age of thirteen years. when the Civil
! War broke out. He sold papers in the
/ Union Army and supplied tie soldiers with
the first periodicals from the North after
! the army had crossed the Potomac. His
energy and bravery attracted attention and
after McClellan's peninsula campaign he
! obtained the exclusive privilege of supply
| ing the Army OF the Potomac with books
| and stationery When the war was con-
cluded he held suffers privilege at the
! Headquarters of General Hancock, and
| later obtained clerkship in the Postofhce
| Department. He was soon afterward given
a position in the New York custom house,
but believing that there was little ad-
| vancement possible for a Government
clerk, he obtained situation In whole
sale hardware store in St Louis.
Mr.. Hoffman perceived, four years
! later. in 1874, the great advantages IN
his native city in the real estate busi-
ness and returning. entered into a
partnership with F. w. Miller &c Co.,
| then located in F Street between
| Ninth and Tenth Streets, in the old Con
zaga College building where he had studied
| in his boyhood. The partnership existed
for two and one-half years, when Mr.. Mil
Ter died. and the firm was dissolved in
| 1877. Mr. Hoffman went into business
| for himself in that year, his offices at first
being at the southeast corner OF Street.
opposite the present Hoffman building
| The old ST. Patrick's Church was origi-
nally on the northeast corner OF Tenth
and F Street, and all that property Is still
! owned by the church. When the church
building was torn down, and also the Con-
| zaga College building, the north side OF
| F Street was vacant for several years.
Mr.. Hoffman built his Office building in
| 1880. He then took charge OF the st.
Patrick's Church property, and has since
! that had charge of it for the church. Mr..
Hoffman built up a very large real estate
business. He has been connected with
several of the largest realty deals OF the
past few years, and has been considered
| one of the best informed men on District
property in the city. He was director
of the National Safe Deposit, Savings, and
Trust Company, the Real Estate Title In
surance Company, the Columbia Fire In
surance Company. and the Great Falls Ice
| Company. He was also secretary and one
of the trustees of the st. Vincent Orphan
Asylum.
| Mr.. Hoffman was married to Miss Marie
| A. Sirnms. of Washington. in 1875, soon
/ after his return from the West. Mrs.
Hoffman survives him. They had nc
| children