On April 25, 1881, Mr. Hoffmann was united in marriage to Miss Theresa Kirchner, a native of Minnesota, who came to Washington with her parents when she was a child of but four years. Mr. and Mrs. Hoffmann have become the parents of ten children, seven of whom are yet living: John Edward, an agriculturist of Columbia county, Washington; Bessie D., who is the wife of Ben Grote, of Walla Walla; Anna, who gave her hand in marriage to George Retzer, a druggist residing in Walla Walla; Valline, who is pursuing a course in mechanical engineering in the University of Washington at Seattle; Philip, a senior in the high school; John William, who is an eighth grade pupil; and Corleen, who is a freshman in the high school.
In politics Mr. Hoffmann has long been a stalwart republican and gives unfaltering allegiance to the principles of the party, yet without desire for office. He belongs to the Commercial Club and through that agency works for the upbuilding and development of the city in which he makes his home. He is well known in fraternal circles, holding membership in Blue Mountain Lodge, No. 13, A. F. & A. M.; Walla Walla Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M.; Columbia Commandery, K. T.; Oriental Consistory, No. 2, A. & A. S. R.; and El Katif Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. For from thirty to forty years he has belonged to the order. He and his wife are also members of the Order of the Eastern Star and they are widely and prominently known socially, having a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance. The life record of Mr. Hoffmann is indeed a notable one and there is no resident of Walla Walla who has more truly earned the proud American title of a self-made man. Being early released from the military rule of Germany, he found in the opportunities of the new world the chances for advancement if the individual possesses industry and determination. These qualities are his in large measure and step by step he has progressed until he has long since occupied a place among the men of affluence in Washington. For almost forty years he has been a witness of the changes which have here occurred and is today one of the honored pioneer settlers of Walla Walla county, his memory forming a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present.
U. F. CORKRUM.
No student of history can carry his investigations far into the annals of Walla Walla county without learning of the close connection of the Corkrum family with the development of the agricultural interests of this section of the state. U. F. Corkrum is numbered among the progressive and enterprising wheat growers of Walla Walla county, where he was born on the 1st of June, 1866. His father, Francis M. Corkrum, was a native of Kentucky, and in early life went to Illinois, where he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Killabrew, who was a native of that state. They were residents of Illinois until 1865, when they crossed the plains with ox teams to Washington. On their arrival the father took up a homestead on Dry creek, about six miles northeast of Walla Walla, where he resided until about 1895. He then removed to the city, where the last twelve years of his life were passed, his death occurring in 1907. He was one of the first men in this county to take up wheat growing, demonstrating the possibilities for the successful production of that crop in this section of the state. He became one of the most extensive wheat growers of eastern Washington and acquired twelve hundred acres of land, mostly devoted to wheat raising. His widow survived him for a brief period, passing away in 1910.
U. F. Corkrum was educated in the Union school on Dry creek, with one term at Whitman College. The winter seasons were devoted to his school work, while the summer months were spent in farm labor. As early as his nineteenth year he began farming on his own account and on attaining his majority he made his first purchase of land, becoming owner of a farm of two hundred and forty acres on Dry creek. To this he added at intervals as his financial resources increased until 1893, at which time he had ten hundred and thirty-five acres, but the widespread financial panic of that year caused him to lose all that he had and to start in business life anew. That he met discouragement bravely and undertook his task with stout heart is indicated in the fact that he now owns six hundred and forty acres of rich and valuable wheat land and recently sold another tract of one hundred and sixty acres. He is now residing in Walla Walla in order to give his children the advantages of the city, but he is still one of the active wheat growers of the county and his business affairs are systematically managed, while the results that are attained are most desirable.