SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Joseph Hoffman, Page 665

JOSEPH HOFFMAN, of Sheboygan, is a veteran soldier of the War of the Rebellion, and a representative of one of the early families of this city, his father, Frank Hoffman, having settled here with his family in 1856.  Frank Hoffman was born in Baden, Germany, in 1806, and on arriving at man's estate was married to Mary Miller.  In 1851, Frank Hoffman and wife, with their only child, Joseph, came to the United States, locating in the city of Philadelphia, where the wife and mother died, in May, 1852.  The father re-married in September following.  From Philadelphia the family removed to Newark, N. J., where on December 19, 1853, a son was born to the parents.  He received the name of Lawrence, and is now a resident of the Evergreen City.  In 1856, as stated above, the family settled in Sheboygan, where Frank Hoffman, the father, is still actively engaged in business, the firm name being F. Hoffman & Son, Joseph being associated with his father as a confectioner, fruit-dealer, etc.  Their store is at No. 620 Eighth Street.  The firm is also engaged in a general grain business.

    Joseph Hoffman was born in Baden, Germany, November 1, 1842, and was about fourteen years old when he came to Sheboygan.  In 1857, he left home and went to Milton, Coles County, Ill., where he learned the trade of a carpenter.  On the call of President Lincoln, early in 1861, for volunteers for the three months' service, Mr. Hoffman offered his services, but, owing to his youth, was not accepted.  In July following, he again offered to serve, and was accepted, becoming a member of Company B, Seventh Regiment Illinois Infantry.  At the expiration of his term of service, he re-enlisted and served until the close of the war, his entire term of service covering a period of four years.  His first experience in the field was in the Sixteenth Army Corps, under Gen. W. T. Sherman.

    Mr. Hoffman fought at Ft. Henry, Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, and in the advance on Corinth, and the capture of that city, which place his command held during Gen. Sherman's Vicksburg campaign.  He was also in battle at Tuscumbia (Ala.), Black Creek, Florence and Iuka, going from there to Nashville, and later to Pulaski, Tenn.  There his regiment became mounted infantry, and were engaged in scouting until they re-enlisted, when they went home on a furlough, at the end of which, in February, 1864, the re-enlisted men rendezvoused at Springfield, Ill., going from there to Pulaski, Tenn., and thence to Chattanooga.  They fought at Ringgold and Tunnel Hill, and then went to Rome, Ga., where the regiment remained for a time and took part in the famous battle of Altoona Pass, where the company lost twenty-five out of forty men, the greater part of whom were killed.  After this important battle, the regiment retired to Corinth, and on November 16 left Rome, on the famous march to the sea.  At Rome, previous to the Atlanta campaign, the regiment had become a part of the Fifteenth Army Corps, under Gen. John A. Logan.  As mounted infantry, the regiment took an active part in events attending the march to the sea, and in the battles that followed.  Thence on to Washington the army marched, where the great review took place, an event never to be forgotten by a witness, and especially remembered by those participating.  On the 9th of July, 1865, our subject was discharged with his regiment, at Springfield, Ill.

    Mr. Hoffman, as has been seen, took part in many of the most important battles and campaigns of the war.  While he escaped serious wounds, he was twice struck by the bullets of the enemy.  At Ft. Donelson, the tip of one of his fingers was shot off, and at Shiloh, near the close of the battle, he received a gun-shot wound in the left shoulder, though neither wound was sufficient to induce him to take hospital treatment.  His general health was much broken by his long and continuous service, and he suffers greatly from the effect of his long army experience.  He has resided in Sheboygan since the war, his business having been merchandising and dealing in grain and produce.

    On the 31st of October, 1891, Mr. Hoffman was married in Sheboygan to Mary Bauchnucht, a native of Centreville, Wis.  Her father, Nicholas Bauchnucht, was an early settler of that place, and was also a soldier of the late war.  Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman have a son, Joseph Francis, born July 24, 1892.

    Mr. Hoffman is a charter member of Gustav Wintermeyer Post No. 187, G. A. R., of which he has been Adjutant for five years.  As a business man and citizen, he possesses the confidence of the community in which he has so long resided.