Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 05.djvu/317

 HOFFMAN

HOFFMAN

was register of the land-office. He soon returned to Herkimer, N.Y., and was a member of the state assembly in 1841, 1842 and 1844, where he opposed the public improvement and financial policy of Governor Seward. He also opposed the annexa- tion of Texas, but gave his su^jport to James K. Polk in 1844. He was a delegate from Herkimer county to the New York state constitutional con- vention in 1846, and served as U.S. naval officer at the port of New York, 1845-48. He died in Brooklyn. N.Y., Sept. 37, 1848.

HOFFMAN, Ogden, representative, was born in New York city, Oct. 13, 1794; son of Josiah Ogden and Mary (Golden) Hoffman, and grand- son of Nicliolas and Sarah (Ogden) Hoffman and of David and Ann (Willet) Golden. He was graduated at Golum- bia in 1812, and was intended for the bar, but preferred to join the navy. He volun- teered in the U.S. navy in 1812 and was warranted a midship- man in 1814, serving under Decatur on the President. He was a ^. prisoner with his cap-

'•J> 'J. tain when the Presi-

dent was captured, Dec. 31, 1814, and in 1815 again served under him in the war with the Barbary states. He resigned from the navy in 1816, studied law with his father, and settled in Goshen, N.Y., where he practised. When he left the navy Gaptain Decatur expressed his regret that he should have " exchanged an honorable professic:i for tliat of a lawyer." He was district attorney of Orange county, 1823-25, a member of the state assembly, 1826-28, and a law partner with Hugh Maxwell in New York city, 1826-49. His career was notable in that he appeared in all the promi- nent cajDital trials in the city courts. He became a Whig in 1828 and was a member of the state assembly, 1829; New York district attorney, 1829-35; a representative in the 25th and 26th congresses, 1837-41; U.S. district attorney for the southern district of New York, 1841-45, and attorney-general of the state, 1853-55. In con- gress he was a member of the committee on for- eign affairs and a prominent debater. He was one of the founders of the Union club in 1836. He was a trustee of Golumbia college. 1833-56. He was twice married: first to Emily, daughter of Gharles Burrall, and secondly to Virginia E., daughter of Samuel Lewis Soutliard, of New Jersey. He died in New York city, May 1, 1856.

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HOFFflAN, Waiter James, ethnologist, was born at Weidasville. Leliigli county, Pa., May 30, 1846; son of William F. and Elizabeth (Weida) Hoffman. His paternal ancestors for several generations were j^hysicians, and descended from the Barons Hoffman, hereditary grand mar- shals of Styria. as early as 1460. His maternal ancestors were Huguenots, the head of that branch having settled in the state of New York before 1686. He ac- quired his prepara- tory education under private teachers and at the public schools, and studied medi- cine under the direc- tion of his father. He

was gi-aduated frt)m Jefferson jMedical college in 1866, and practised his profession in Read- ing, Pa., until the outbreak of the Franco-Prus- sian war, in 1870, wlien he accepted the com- mission of staff-surgeon in the Prussian army and proceeded to the vicinity of Metz, serving with the 7th army corps. For this service he was decorated by the Emperor of Germany. Re- turning to the United States, he was appointed acting assistant surgeon, U.S.A., May 10, 1871, and detailed as naturalist and mineralogist to the expedition for the exploration of Nevada and Arizona, under Lieutenant Wlieeler. During this service new geographic areas were traversed, particularly that portion of the public domain formerly designated as the "Great American Desert." The party was the first to cross and re-cross the " Death Valley," and to report upon its meagre resources. His duty also involved visiting and reporting upon all the mines of the western half of Nevada, northwestern Galifornia and northern Arizona. Returning to Washington for the completion of his reports. Dr. Hoffman for the third time declined the appointment of surgeon and naturalist to the Polar regions, but accepted the position of post surgeon at the mili- tary post at Grant River, Dak. During this time he studied the mythology and language of the Sioux Indians, the names of over thirteen thou- sand of whom were on the annuitj- roll of the agent. The following spring (1873) he was ap- pointed medical office-assistant and naturalist to accompany the Yellowstone expedition of 1873 { being specially detailed to the 7th U.S. cavalry* commanded by General Guster, and later to the 22d U.S. infantry, commanded by Gen. D. S. Stanley, commander of the expedition. In the