Reuben Hoffman was born September 4, 1811 in Harrison City, Westmoreland County, Pa., he died August 31, 1894.

Reuben was the son of John George Hoffman 1763-1822 and Salome (Sara) Guth/Good 1781-1830.

Siblings of Reuben:
Female m Parker
Female m Sadler
Esther m Sadler (These Sadler boys were brothers)
Fannie
Hannah
John 1815-1908 m Susan Smith
Leah
Polly

Reuben's father, George was first married to Salome's sister, Anna Maria. She and George had the following children:
George Hoffman
Henry Hoffman
Jacob Hoffman
Sarah Hoffman m Jacob Long

Reuben once accompanied his brother John on a trip to New Orleans by boat and walking back the entire distance. Those sturdy pioneers were made of sterner material than their descendants, for they accomplished what would be almost impossible to their grandchildren, without any serious inconvenience. The great development of steam power had not progressed far in those days, and water craft were propelled by the current of the stream, guided by oars, the boats being sold at the termination of the trip downstream.

Those that manned the oars on those trips were destined to retrace their way home by walking, following the banks of streams and narrow paths through the wilderness. Their lives were endangered by Indians and wild beasts. Four men composed the party with which John Hoffman returned to Pennsylvania, his brother Reuben, Thomas Jones and another man whose name is forgotten accompaning him.

During the night a fire was kept up, and at least one man stood guard. One night when they were in Arkansas, Jones fell asleep while on guard and Reuben Hoffman awoke to find the fire low and the camp closely surrounded by wolves, their eyes glaring like balls of fire, seemingly prepared for a rush on the helpless men.

He awakened the rest, and all, securing firebrands, charged at the wolves, driving them into the dense forest. Jones was relieved from further guard duty.

Source: Pages 7220724 Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present J H Beers & Co. 1914

On May 4, 1841, in Franklin Township, Westmoreland County, Pa., Reuben married Leah Kemerer and they had the following children:

Sarah M 1841–1919
m John W Smith 1836-1894
Mary ‘Polly' 1843-1929
m John Joseph Doverspike 1844-1896
John H 1844-1924 Civil War Veteran
m Mira E Thom
Leah Caroline 1847-1924
m Robert Clark Ellenberger
Nancy Jane 1850-1919 m William J Aites
Martha Ann 1853-1910
m William J Bargerstock
Albert 1855-1861
William Jacob 1857-1881
Emma Frances ‘Fannie' 1858-1923
m Robert A Walker
Hannah Ida 1860-1939 m Robert W Kerr
Reuben Dallas 1864-1936
m Rosa E Doverspike

OBIT
DEATH OF REUBEN HOFFMAN
It is with regret that we announce the death of Reuben Hoffman of Mahoning Township, this County, who died August 31, 1894. In the 83rd year of his life. Reuben Hoffman was born near Harrison City, Westmoreland County, Pa., September 4, 1811, consequently died three days before he would have celebrated his 83rd birthday.

His father, George Hoffman, died when he was quite young and in straitened circumstances, leaving a family of small children to be supported by his widow. Reuben, although young, was the only help of his mother in supporting the family. By working among farmers he managed during his boyhood, with his mother's help, to raise and support the family. When a young man he worked as a laborer on the Pennsylvania canal and other public works. Later he learned the trade of stonecutter. At this trade he worked for nine years on the canal and Baltimore and Ohio railroad during the summer seasons and in the winter time, when he could not work at his trade, he went south, in the state of Mississippi and elsewhere and cut cord wood for steamboats. In this way he managed, over and above the support given his mother and the family, to accumulate a considerable sum of money.

He then married Leah Kemerer, who was born and raised near the place of his birth. With what money he had he came to Armstrong County fifty three years ago and bought a farm near Eddyville, in Mahoning township, where he resided up until his death. The land at that time was new and nearly all woods, he cleared it out, bought more to it and for many years has been known to possess one of the most beautiful and best farms in this County. Besides his homestead property he was possessed of a mill property in Clarion County, and other valuable tracts of land.

He united with the Reformed Church in 1849, since which time he has been a consistent church member and the pillar of the congregation to which he belonged. In 1867 he made a gift to his congregation of the ground where the Eddyville church now stands, including the cemetery and also with his own hands cut the stone and built the foundation wall for the church free of charge, besides being the largest subscriber to the church building fund.

Since 1867 his church record shows that he has missed but few church services and that he was present at every communion service for twenty-seven years.

During the 53 years he lived there he has resided in three different townships and yet never moved, the division of townships having taken place during ......

In politics Reuben Hoffman was a Democrat all his life, having voted the straight Democratic ticket for over 60 years, during all of which time he never voted for a single Republican for any office. As a citizen and a man he was one of the most respected men of his time in Armstrong County. For 50 years in matters of business, family and other affiars, his neighbors sought his advice in all matters that seemed to them difficult and he never sent them away empty. The entire community had implicit confidence in him as a man of honesty, integrity and sound common sense, which he never betrayed and which he held in the hearts of his neighbors while he lived. He was a modest, unassuming man, who cared nothing for making show and whatever he went about to do, whether it was an act of charity or a matter of business, it was done quietly and with an honest purpose.

In his death the community loses not only one of its most useful men, but one of its best and most highly respected citizens. The public schools, the church and municipal government will miss him who has so long been an active, aggressive and liberal supporter.

The funeral took place on Sunday morning at 10 o'clock. Services were held at the church, to which he belonged, which were conducted by the pastor, Rev. Kerr, assisted by Rev. Grant. A remarkable feature was that the ceremonies embraced a double funeral, there being two deaths in the same home and occurring but a few hours apart the other being that of a grandchild of the first named deceased, and the son of Dallas Hoffman, aged about five weeks.

The services and interment of both were held together, where the aged grandfather and infant grandson were laid to rest side by side. (David Bennet Hoffman 1894-1894).