Tombstone Tuesday–Heinrich Hoffmann

This is the tombstone of Heinrich Hoffmann, located in row 8 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

HEINRICH
Sohn of
Ferd &
Elisabeth
HOFFMANN
Gest.
2 Febr 1873
Alter
8 m. 20 t.

“Heinrich, son of Ferd & Elisabeth Hoffmann, died 2 February 1873, aged 8 months, 20 days.” A little lamb is carved into the top of the monument, symbolizing youth and innocence.

According to Zion Chatt’s church records Heinrich Hoffmann was born 11 May 1872 in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, the son of Ferdinand and Elisabeth (Herzog) Hoffmann. He was baptized on 16 June 1872 with Wilhelm Betzel and Katharine Gugel serving as his sponsors.

Heinrich’s father Ferdinand was born in Fechingen, Rhein-Prussia, and his mother Elisabeth was born in Buschendorf, Bavaria.

Heinrich was the ninth of ten children born to Ferdinand and Elisabeth Hoffmann. The family lived in Liberty Township and attended Zion Lutheran Church in Chattanooga, Ohio.

Heinrich Hoffmann died 2 February 1873 at the age of 8 months and 20 days. He was buried on the 3rd.  The records do not indicate what he died of. He was born between census enumerations so very little is known about him.

Heinrich’s parents are buried a few miles away in Kessler Cemetery, Liberty Township.

The Ferdinand Hoffmann family is included in Zion Chatt’s familienbuch which gives quite a lot of information about the family. More about the Ferdinand Hoffmann family in next week’s Tombstone Tuesday.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.