James Hoffman

In 1889, the James F. Hoffman family moved from the Perrysburg area to the farm in Freedom Twp. located on the Ridge Road. At that time there were four boys in the family. They were Claude, Elmer, Fred, and George. A son, Frank and a daughter, Catherine, were born after they moved to Henry County.

James Hoffman, the father, was a farmer and purchased the 1021 acres from James and Susie Caldwell. In 1894, an additional 40 acres of adjoining land was purchased from John and Mattie Briggs.

In 1931, James F. Hoffman died and the farm then belonged to his wife, Lena. After the death of Lena Hoffman, one of the sons, George Hoffman, purchased the 142 ½ acres of land.

The James Hoffman family attended church at the U.B. Church on the Ridge Road. The church is no longer there but the cemetery remains.

Children of the family attended the Ridge School which was located on the corner of Road X (Ridge Road) and Co. Road 18. George very clearly remembers that they were taught to say the A B C's forward and backwards. He can still say them backwards.

George was only 18 months old when he and his family moved to Henry County. In 1912, George married Clara Schroeder, who was a school teacher. They purchased a home across from the home place on the corner of Co. Rd. X and Co. Rd. 19 in Ridgeville Twp. George continued farming. In the fall of 1915, he purchased the farm on which he now lives in Section 13 of Ridgeville Twp. He built a new home on this farm in 1922 and he and his wife still reside there.

Four children were born to George and Clara Hoffman. They are: Margaret (Hoffman) Turnbull, who is a registered nurse at the Fulton County Health Center; Lucille (Hoffman) Michaelis, a former school teacher now living on a farm in Adams Twp. of Defiance County; George J. Hoffman, a farmer, living in Ridgeville Twp.; Arthur Hoffman, the youngest child, now owns and farms the Hoffman farm on the Ridge Road.

In addition to farming, George Hoffman also hauled milk with a team of horses into the condensory at Wauseon, Ohio. He often speaks of hauling milk with the "Bobsled." George was also a Ridgeville Township Trustee. For many years he and his family were members of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Napoleon, Ohio. However, they are now members of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Ridgeville Corners.

Their children attended grade school at the Tubbs Country School on the corner of Co. Rd. V and Rd. 20 in Ridgeville Twp. The four children graduated from the Ridgeville High School.

Arthur Hoffman married the former Estella Walter who taught school for several years.

They are the parents of five children. James, a Viet Nam War veteran, is married to the former Deborah Miller of Florida, Ohio. They live in Archbold and have one child, a daughter, Angela. Jim is presently attending Technical College.

Thomas is an Ohio State University graduate in the field of agriculture, and is now farming with his father.

Steven is a student at Ohio State University, majoring in food technology.

Ann and Donna are attending the Archbold Area Schools.

In addition to the home place, Arthur now owns the former John Mohrman farm located at the corner of Co. Rd. U. and Rd. 19.

Tom Hoffman, his son, recently purchased the 71 acres of the Otto Gerken estate which joins the Arthur Hoffman farm.

Besides farming, Arthur sells seed corn and also soybean seed. He is secretary-treasurer of the Gerald Grain Association.

Art and Estella are members of the "Top of the County" Farm Bureau Council. Art served as Farm Bureau Trustee for several years and also as Henry County Farm Bureau Public Affairs Chairman for two years. Estella served as Henry County Farm Bureau Women's Committee Chairman for two years.

Art and his family are members of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Ridgeville Corners.

The farm on the Ridge has made a great many changes since it was purchased in 1889. The barn has been moved, added onto as well as remodeled. Silos have been added. The house was completely remodeled some years ago and several new buildings have been added to the farm. In spite of all the changes, one landmark still remains, untouched, - the big sycamore tree. The tree was standing when the Hoffmans moved here in 1889, and still stands on the hill close to the corner of the barn. It is the pride and joy of the Hoffman Family.

Submitted by Mrs. Arthur Hoffman