Tombstone Tuesday–Jacob Hoffmann

Jacob Hoffmann, Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Chattanooga, Ohio

This is the tombstone of Jacob Hoffmann, located in row 6 of Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. The grave marker is inscribed: Jacob Hoffmann, Gest [died] 24 Jan. 1875, Alter [age] 52 J [years], 2 M [months], 2 T [days]. Text Eb 13.14.

The Family Register section of Zion’s old church records gives quite a bit of information about Jacob Hoffmann and his family:

Jacob Hoffmann was the son of Valentin and Catharina Hoffmann. He was born 22 December 1822 in Fechingen, Rhein-Prussia, Europe. He was baptized there and confirmed there in the year 1837.  In 1846 he married Caroline Hoffmann, daughter of Jakob and Margaretha Hoffmann.  Caroline was born 16 October 1823 in Fechingen. She was baptized there and was confirmed in 1838.  The couple immigrated to North America in 1849 and settled in Mercer County, Ohio. Their son Ferdinand was born 4 January 1847 in Fechingen. He was baptized there and confirmed in Mercer County.

Caroline died 18 July 1912 and she is also buried in row 6 of Zion’s cemetery. Ferdinand married Barbara Schott in 1867 at Zion. Barbara was the daughter of Michael and Catharine Schott.

There is also information about the mother of Jacob’s wife Caroline in Zion’s Family Register: Margaretha Hoffmann was born 20 November 1796 in Bibingen, Rhein-Prussia. She was baptized and confirmed there.  She married Jakob Hoffman in the year 1820. They had 9 children, 5 of them dead and 4 living at the time this was writing on 27 April 1863. In 1849 she and her husband Jakob immigrated to America and settled in Mercer County, Ohio. Jakob died 30 March 1863.

In 1860 both Hoffmann families were living next door to each other at Skeels Cross Road in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio. Skeels Cross Road is about 4 miles south of Chatt.  [1860 US census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio; Roll M653_1009:358]

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