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Otto Hoffman, president of the Vintondale State Bank, and general superintendent of the Vinton Colliery Company, ranks among the leading and highly esteemed business men of Cambria County. He was born at Sheboygan Falls, Wis., Jan. 15, 1874, and is the son of John Jacob and Rose Bertha (Anschutz) Hoffman.
John Jacob Hoffman and his wife were natives of Germany. Both came to this country with their parents when they were four and five years of age respectively, making the voyage in a sailing vessel which required nine weeks. He was born in Prussia and she in Saxony. They settled in Tawas, Saginaw Bay, Mich. Mr. Hoffman received a common
school education and latter attended college near Buffalo, N. Y., where he studied for the ministry. He was later ordained as a Lutheran minister. He then moved to Northern Wisconsin and settled at Wausau. He erected a log cabin; the land was cleared, and then made ready for cultivation by oxen. It was necessary to drive a distance of 90 miles to Stevens Point,
Wis., to purchase flour and other necessary food stuffs. The family did their own weaving and made homespun clothes. Mr. Hoffman resided in this section of the country for nine years and during that time would cover a radius of 100 miles holding church services. He later removed to Portage, Wis., and from there to Sheboygan, where he remained until 1882, when he returned to Wausau. During his absence the community had become a thriving settlement and was thickly populated. Reverend Hoffman took charge of the Lutheran parish and the log cabin, which was formerly his home, was used as a parochial school for Lutheran children. Another small church was situated two and one-half miles east of Wausau, where he also conducted weekly services. He also preached at Marathon City, Wis., and in 1885 removed to Sheboygan, where he had charge of the Lutheran parish until 1890, when he removed to New Orleans, La., on account of ill health. Here he established a non-sectarian mission, which was conducted for the needy. Reverend Hoffman was actively engaged in this work until his death in 1919. He is buried in New Orleans. His widow returned north and died at Merrill, Wis., in 1923. To Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman eleven children were born, as follows: William, deceased; John, deceased; Jacob, deceased; Martin George, twin brother of Jacob, lives at Pensacola, Fla.; Clara, mention of whom is made below; Philip H., lives in Kansas City, Mo.; Adolph E., live in Minneapolis, Minn.; Otto, the subject of this sketch; Edward A., lives in Detroit, Mich., where he is vice president of the United States Bonding Company; William P., died Jan 1,
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