Daniel Hoffman

Born in 1838 in Lebanon County, PA

Died in 1923 in Winchester, IN

In 1854 at the age of 16 years, Daniel Hoffman was encouraged by his relatives to enter the ministry. After considering and dismissing that vocation, he fled Pennsylvania, heading east, and settled in Buffalo, New York taking up the marble cutting trade. in 1856 Mr. Hoffman, in route to Ft. Wayne by stagecoach, was forced to layover in Winchester by a freak snowstorm. The young man was impressed by the small Indiana town and in 1854 he returned. Daniel gained employment with John Ludy. Mr. Ludy's expertise was cutting marble, stone and sculpture work. He was also in the business of installing slate roofs. For nearly a year the young stonecutter worked for Mr. Ludy for room and board only. In 1858 a deal was made and Daniel took over the business.

Mr. Wysong laid the foundation and set General Stone's monument made by Daniel Hoffman. After the monument was completed Mr. Wysong approached Mr. Hoffman and said, "Put up a bigger monument for me." Hoffman though it was a joke, until Wysong asked the second time. He never asked for a price and when given the cost he sold a large amount of wheat and paid Hoffman in cash. It was said to have been about $2,700. Mr. Stone's monument had cost about $2,300. So, this is still the tallest monument in the Cemetery at 35 feet. Many of the Wysong family are buried at this location.

Return