Henry Hoffmann, who for twenty­six years was engaged in the mercantile business in Manning, but is now living retired, was born in Elsdorf, province of Schleswig­Holstein, Germany, on the 25th of April, 1860. He is a son of John and Frauke (Thede) Hoffmann, who were natives of the same province, the father having been born on the 6th of December, 1818 and the mother in 1818 her natal day having been the 23rd of March. Mr. Hoffmann, who was a carpenter by trade, emigrated to the United States in 1866, arriving here on the 3rd of July. He located in Scott county, Iowa, during the first three years of his residence working as a farm hand. In 1869 he bought forty acres of land which he disposed of later and removed to Carroll county in 1875. In the same year he purchased eighty acres in Washington township, which he operated until his retirement about 1884, when he and his wife removed to Manning. Here Mr. Hoffmann passed away on the 6th of February, 1889, but she survived until the 11th of December, 1896. They were the parents of six children, the order of their births being as follows: Margaret, the wife of Henry Severs, of Manning; Wiebke, who married Christian Grube, of Manning; John, a business man of Manning; Carson, also a resident of this town; Frauke, the wife of Henry Herman, of Manning; and Henry, our subject.

As he was only a lad of six years when his parents emigrated to the United States, Henry Hoffmann acquired his education in the common schools of Scott county, during which time he also gave his father such assistance with the work of the farm as his time and strength would permit. On leaving the old homestead, in 1877, he went to West Side, Crawford county, Iowa, where he clerked in the store of Weidling & Evers, remaining with them until coming to Manning, in 1881. Here he engaged in merchandising on his own account until 1907, when he sold his business to the firm of Rober, Wehrman & Company.

Mr. Hoffmann was married on the 17th of September, 1882, to Miss Anna Peters, a daughter of Mrs. Margaret (Von Bergen) Peters, of West Side, Iowa. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann were born four children: Emil, who is deceased; Amanda, the wife of Dr. Julius J. Miller, of Manning; Laura, who is a resident of Omaha, Nebraska; and William, who is also deceased. The wife and mother passed away on the 12th of June, 1889, and on the 10th of February, 1891, Mr. Hoffmann was married to Miss Eliza Schmidt, a daughter of Henry and Minnie (Pruhs) Schmidt, of Manning, and of this union there have also been born four children: Emil W., who is on the United States Steamship Maryland; Louie, who is deceased; Hilda, also deceased; and Walter J., who is at home.

The church affiliation of the family is with the Lutheran denomination, while fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which organization he is treasurer. His political support Mr. Hoffmann has always given to the men and measures he deems best qualified to protect the interests of the majority, irrespective of party. He is now living retired, enjoying the ease and comfort denied him during the strenuous years of his business activity.