Catherine (Driscoll) Hoffman (1782 - 1873)

Born 22 Mar 1782 in Norwich, Connecticut

Wife of William Hoffman — married 31 Aug 1803 in New York, NY

Descendants

Died 14 Aug 1873 at age 91 in Davenport, Iowa

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Biography

Catherine was born in 1782. She passed away in 1873.^[1]

1870 Census reports she was born in New York. Her daughter and her granddaughters family were living with her.

At the Scott House, Davenport, Iowa, on the 14th day of August, 1873, Mrs. Catherine Hoffman, aged 90 years, 4 mos. and 28 days, widow of the late Col. William Hoffman, U.S. A., who died at Corpus Christi, Texas, in Nov. 1845, having been an officer of the U.S. A. from 1813 to the period of his death.

The life of Mrs. Hoffman was a very active one, necessarily so from her position as the wife of an officer in the army, and one stationed at frontier posts. Her husband was commissioned a Lieuteant in the Second Infantry, and immediately after the war of 1812 was stationed at Sackett's Harbor, on Lake Ontario. A portion of his regiment was, in 1812, transferred to Sault de Ste. Marie, Michigan, then on the very verge of civilization. From the Sault she removed to Fort Niagara, later to Mackinaw, and still later to Green Bay. After a while the regiment of Capt. Hoffman was ordered to Fort Smith, Arkansas, in the midst of the Indian country, then in an uproar on account of the Seminole war. Like a true and faithful wife, she insisted on accompanying her husband. When the "Army of Observation" moved down into Texas her husband was made Lieutenant-Colonel of the Seventh Infantry, commanded by Colonel Zachary Taylor. At Corpus Christie, Texas, Colonel Hoffman died.

The remarkable courage and devotion she evinced in sharing all the rigors of frontier and campaign life with her husband was the subject of much remark and admiration about her acquaintances.--Gen. Scott once said of her that "her quarters were always ready for inspection and all knapsacks packed ready for marching orders." The most eminent trait of her character was a devout Christian spirit. By her example and her prayers she led all her children to believe that the Savior whom she trusted, and gained the reverence and did much to further the teachings of Christianity in the communities in which she resided.

Mrs. Hoffman was the mother of six sons and four daughters, and counted among her descendents at the time of her death 28 grand children and 29 great grandchildren. For more than sixty years her life was a beautiful exemplification of the true Christian, full of faith and good works.--Detroit Free Press.^[2]

The deceased was a resident of his city from 1836 until six years ago, when she removed to Davenport with her daughter, Mrs. Penrose. Mrs. Hoffman was the happy possessor of all the Christian graces, and her life was one continuous sermon, full of correct precepts, timely admonitions, and noble examples. She was buried in Silver Brook Cemetery on Saturday last, where also rest the remains of her husband and deceased children.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ http://www.pennock.ws/surnames/fam/fam29495.html
2. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 27 December 2018), memorial page for Catherine Hoffman (17 Mar 1783–14 Aug 1873), Find A Grave Memorial no. 99563089, citing Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, Berrien County, Michigan, USA ; Maintained by Janet Personette (contributor 47370228) .
3. ↑ Niles Republican, Thursday, August 21, 1873, page 3, col., 6, microfilm Niles District Library http://friendsofsilverbrook.org/site4/obituaries/2844-hoffman-catherine