AMOS HOFF (d: 1855)

HOFF

Posted By: JOHN SCOTT HOFF (email)
Date: 5/16/2004 at 19:17:29

AMOS HOFF is buried in the Hoff-Prarie Cem., 1 mi. w. of Grimes, Dallas Co., IA. His headstone says he died in 1855 at a very senior age, which hould have been within a year or two after his arrival in the County. He appears to have been one of the first burials in the Hoff-Prarie Cem. I believe he was the "1/2 uncle" of POWELL HOFF (1801-1870), buried nearby, being the 1/2 brother to POWELL's father, JONATHAN HOFF (1775 -1812 Fearing Twp., Washington Co., OH). His father, the Rev. DANIEL HOFF, had AMOS HOFF by a prior wife #1,a LAURA TITUS, who deceased and Daniel took W#2 and had POWELL's father, as an offspring of that union, making POWELL AMOS's 1/2 nephue. POWELL would have been only 11 years old when his father died in1812, and this 1/2 uncle could been a "father figure" and helped raise young POWELL, but this is pure surmise, and their exact relationship or proximity there in Dallas Co., or whether POWELL had taken care of this then very elderly gentleman, who may even have been a member of his household until his death, is unknown, since there is no data recorded in IA before 1880. It is unknown if Amos Hoff ever purchased land there or personally farmed. Given his elderly age, I found this doubtful. I find no evidence of any offspring or spouse, either. At any rate, the above research is a clue to the probable identity of this individual who was an early arrival to Dallas Co.

If anyone has any insight or data, I would welcome any direct contact at my work in Chicago at (312) 346-8111 or E/m above.