The Oskaloosa herald., 1908-01-16
DR. HOFFMAN is DEAD
Was the Pioneer Practicing Ply
stefan Of County.

Sunday afternoon and expressions OF
sorrow and deepest regret were heard
upon all sides. Almost everyone in
Oskaloosa and in Mahaska county
knew Doctor Hoffman and the man
was universally honored and respect
ed. Sixty years pratcicing physi-
clan is the matchless record the man
has set against his name, and forty
seven years of this time he has devot-
ed to the people of Oskaloosa and
Mahaska county. He came to Oska-
loosa in 1861 and was today regarded
as the dean of the profession and
pioneer in the local practice. The
announcement of his death was a sur
prise to many who have known the
| old gentleman. While he has been
failing perceptibly during the past
several months it was but a short
time ago that he was at his office
and in his conveyance caring for the
needs of patients and going hither and
thither about the county. He died at
his home, No. ALP First avenue east,
at 1890 o'clock p. M, Sunday, Janu-
airy ~, 1908, of senile degeneration, at
the age of 83 years, 3 months and ID
days. The doctor has been failing
little by little for the past eighteen
months but recently has he been COM
PEELED to keep to his home. He was
the hardest working and most faith
full exponent of his profession the
county has known In its history. DR..
Hoffman was always on duty. He
was at his office early and late, I'M
less at the home of some sick one;
He would go to any distance, at any
time, in any weather that he might
be the means of relief to the suffer
ing. The rich and poor were alike
to him. If compensation were forth
coming well and good and il circum-
stances were otherwise the fact
made no difference. The doctor con-
sidered call sacred mission and
his the duty to answer. He came in
to a large practice upon coming TO
the city and soon was the best known
man in the county. 1t has been said
of him that no one else in the county
knew all of the highways and byways
and the people who lived thereon SO
| well as did Doctor Hoffman.
David Allen Hoffman was born in
Jackson county, Ohio. September
%, 1924, of Daniel Hoffman and his
wife, JuliaJames Hoffman. His early
education was in the common schools
of his native place and in his faith
er's store as salesman. He then took
collegiate work at the Ohio state
University during couple of years,
when he began the study of medicine
at his home and later under the d.
f5ce;on of DR.. William Blackstone, at
Athens, and attending lectures at
Cleveland through a season OF three
years. 4 He graduated with high hon
ors from the medical department Of
the Western Reserve College OF
Cleveland, Ohio, February 81, lS4S,
anu mas been an active practitioner
since that date to within few weeks
proceeding his death. He asked for
no vacations and found his greatest
pleasure in continued toll and public
service. .t
N the fan OF the year of his gradu-
alton on Nov. 16, 1S4S, the Doctor
was united in marriage with Miss EN-
lily Smith, of Logan, Ohio. They are
the parents of four children, all living,
three sons, Edgar B., a farmer resid-
ing near Oskaloosa, John A., an at
torney of Great Falls, Montana, Rip
ley c., pracricing physiaicn, part
10, "a 10 fot nf
loosa, and daughter, Mrs. Effie H,
Rogers, of Oskaloosa. There are also
numerous grandchildren and great
grandchildren, and the death of the
elder is the first time the dark angel
has entered the immediate circle Of
the family, ..... ...
Doctor Hoffman was a prominent
Mason, taking his first degrees in
Ohio, in 1876. He was an active
member of the local organizations and
he received the highest honors from
all branches of the order. He has
been Worshipful Master of the Blue
Lodge, High Priest of the Chapter
and Eminent Commander of DePay-
ems Commandery No. 6, which body
he was the means of organizing in
this city He held this Office for
term of six years. He was also an
Odd Fellow and Pythian. He was a
life long democrat and consistent
politician. He has received many hon
ors from the state organization, where
his work was felt and appreciated.
He has refused numerous offices be-
cause he would not neglect his prac-
ice. The deceased was a member OF
the Central Methodist church of this
city.
Deceased at one time was widely
known as scientist and collector
OF geological and archaeological data,
books and specimens. He collected
the finest and largest private cabinet
in the state and in this builded for
himself a lasting monument. The
collection is now the property of the
Iowa State Normal School at Cedar
Falls.
Tie man was also town builder
He erected the house wherein he has
lived, in 1868, and he erected the
building on South First street where
in he had his Offices and museum. He
has haen a pood citizen a usafnl man