Evening journal., 1900-06-16
ms BUSY LIFE.

Mr.. Hoffecker, who was president Of
the Fruit Growers National Bank,
president of the Philadelphia and
Smyrna Transportation Company, the
owner of a large canning establish
ment, a prominent business man and
one always actively interested in the
affairs Of his town, was Of German
descent.
His great grandfather, Henry Hof-
fecker, many years before the revolu-
tion, emigrated TO America with his
wife, four sons and four daughters, and
settled on tract of land at what is
now known as Leatherbury's Corner.
in Kent county, near Smyrna In his
native land Henry HOffecker learned
the tailor's trade and followed it as his
occupation in this country. Late in
life he returned to Germany to receivel
an inheritance, and died on his return
passage to America.
John Hoflecker, his youngest son.
and grandfather OF the subject OF thisI
sketch, was born in Kent county, and
during his lifetime was successfully en-l
gagged in farming. He was married tol
Catherine Slock, and three sons were
born to them-James. Joseph and
Henry. Joseph, the second son and
father of John IL. HOffecker, was a.
prosperous farmer, lived five miles east
of Smyrna, in Duck Greek hundred. un-
It'll lS37,when he bought the Edward joy
farm, now owned by his son. John H.
Hoffecker. He was married in 1926 tol
Rachael Van Gasken by whom he had
seven children. He died in 1851, at the
age of so years.
John H. Hoffecker, the eldest son OF
John and Rachael Hoffecker. was born
September l2, 1927. on a farm one andl
half miles from Smyrna, and obtain
ed his education in the schools Of that
town. At his fathers death he succeed
ed to the ownership of a large farm,
which he cultivated from 1851 to 1868,
when he moved to Smyrna and en-
barked in the business of canning fruit
with his brother, Joseph, as partner
The partnership was dissolved in 1877,
and the business has since been con-
Quoted by Mr.. Hoffecker, who greatly
enlarged the establishment and in
creased the facilities for canning. In
1888 he added extensive evaporators
and tifty-three horse power engine to
his factory. Up to his death he con-
tinued to manage his farm Of 225
acres, which is mostly planted in fruit
trees During many years of his life
he did great deal Of surveying in the
neighbOrhoOd.
Mr. Hoffecker was one of the origi-
nators OF the Fruit Growers National
Bank OF Smyrna, and has been a mem
Der OF the board of directors since its
organization in 1876. He is a director
OF the Kent County Mutual Insurance
Company, president of the Smvrna
1875, member of the Board of Town
Commissioners since 1873 and presi-
dent several years, a school director
since 1882, and chairman of the Build
ing Committee that erected the hand
some school building in 1888. He has
been a member Of the board of direc-
tors of the Philadelphia and SMYRNA
Transportation Line since its origin.
and was greatly instrumental in Sc
curing the erection of the water works
for the town of Smyrna.
Mr.. Hoffecker i'm politics was q
Whig until 1S49 to the formation of
the Republican party, and in 1856 was
one of the 300 persons who voted for
John G. Fremont, the first candidate of
the Republican party for president In
1876 he was delegate to the Ma |
tional Republican Convention at Gin
when Rutherford b. HAYES |
was nominated for the presidency. and
in 1884 was a delegate TO the conven- |
tion at Chicago. which nominated
James G. Blaine for the same office.
The important positions he held gave
him prominence and influence. not
only in the town of Smyrna and his /
native county Of Kent, but in the en-
tire State of Delaware.
On May 10. 1858. John II. Hoffecker
was married to Miss Annie Il. Apple 1
ton daughter of John Appleton. OF
Odessa. BY this marriage were born |
four children. Walter O.. married to
Miss Beulah Hance. of Philadelphia, is
engaged in business with his
father; John A., married to /
Miss Annie Waters, of Smyrna. /
is chief clerk in the superintendents 4
office of the Delaware division Of the /
Pennsylvania railroad at Clayton:
James Edwin, married to Miss Annie
Scott, is employed as clerk in the