Easther Louisa Hoffman
Aug. 27, 1857
Niles Republican, Saturday, September 5, 1857, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library
OBITUARY
The death of Mrs. EASTHER LOUISA HOFFMAN, wife of G.W. Hoffman, Esq, was noticed in the Republican last week. Her remains were brought to Niles for interment, on Saturday last, and her funeral took place from the Presbyterian Church on Sabbath afternoon. An unusually large congregation was in attendance to pay the last tribute of respect to one of the earliest and most worthy citizens of the place.
Mrs. Hoffman removed to Niles from New Haven, Vermont in 1833.
In the following year she was married to Mr. Hoffman, and commenced her first experience as a housekeeper in a log cabin. From that time, until within a few months, she has been a constant resident of his place, and deeply interested in its growth and prosperity.
On the 24th day of March, 1834, a few individuals convened at a private house, for the purpose of organizing a Presbyterian Church in Niles. Of the eight who were present she was one. She had professed her attachment to the Saviour in her native home, and came to what was then the far west and a wilderness, not to abandon, but to trim her light anew in the cause of religion. Hence we find her embracing the first opportunity that occured[sic] to identify herself with the church of Christ and his people in maintaining the ordinances of His house.
She was thus been associated with the Church here in some form, through all its vicissitudes--a constant devoted and zealous member.
And not only so, but we are informed that she, with another lady commenced the first Sabbath school in connection with this Church.
Her labors in the good cause were not in vain in the Lord for while she sought to water others, her own household was watered of heaven, four out of five of her children, having been hopefully converted and united with the Church, in whose early history she was so deeply interested.
Mrs. Hoffman was greatly beloved by those especially who were her early associates, on account of her eminently social qualities, her generous hospitality, and christian virtues. But it was her lot to outlive, or to see remove from our midst most of those who had formed the circle of her early and peculiar friendship, so that we repeatedly heard her remark that she seemed almost a stranger in the place of her adoption and that the ties which bound her were constantly being sundered.
But she has gone; the places that knew her will know her no more, and soon the few early friends that remain will disappear.