New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung, January 5, 1895, p. 12

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Grey but honored. – Julius Hoffmann's 25th Anniversary. –The celebrant has served the Deutsche Gesellschaft honorably for 25 years. –He will be honored with a banquet. –

After yesterday's Board of Trustees business meeting by the German Society President Gustav H. Schwab took the opportunity to extend the warmest congratulations in the name of Board to Mr. Julius Hoffmann who on that day was celebrating 25 years as business manager of the Society. At the same time he invited him to participate in a festive banquet given in his honor by the Trustees to take place Saturday evening at the Liederkranz Hall. This no doubt elegant festivity will turn into rich ovations for Mr. Hoffmann. With the participation of some of the best German citizens of New York it will be a testimony to the high regard the celebrant enjoys in the highest ranks and at the same time an honorable sigh of recognition for the dutiful administration of his responsible position during this long time period. The office employees gave Mr. Hoffmann yesterday a bouquet of flowers and an elegant silver smoking etui.

[picture of Julius Hoffmann]

Julius Hoffmann.

He was born April 5, 1829 in Schwerin, received an excellent education and devoted himself to the book trade. In 1853 he arrived in America, first in Buffalo, where he was engaged for three years as editor of the Buffalo Telegraph. He then became the accountant for a iron hardware dealership but had to quit it when the company didn't survive.

By 1856 Mr. Hoffmann, energetic, distinguished looking and excellent speaker, was a member of the Liedertafel of Buffalo and had taken this club through his enthusiasm and eternal tactfulness to new heights so that at that time is was at the same level as the Liederkranz, Beethoven Men's Chorus and Arion. In the year 1856 the NY Liederkranz and the Teutonia took an excursion to Niagra Falls and Buffalo with the Adam Hirschmann orchestra, to which the Wannemacher music corps was the only competition. Today's Seidl and Damrosch orchestras are the successors to both earlier orchestras.

Due to his extended acquaintance with persons in political circles he became Assistant Postmaster of Buffalo but by 1869 decided to quit the post in protest of the many political demands made on him and return to business activities.

He engaged in correspondence with Mr. William Steinway, by then an energetic member of the German Society, who had known and appreciated Mr. Hoffmann's honorable character since 1856. At the time the German Society was looking for the appropriate person to manage its newly founded banking business. Since Mr. Steinway knew of Mr. Hoffmann's business talents, language capabilities and absolutely honorable character, proposed Mr. Hoffmann, supported by E. Steiger and on January 1, 1870 Mr. Hoffmann assumed the position of business manager, having shortly beforehand moved to New York with his wife.

The 25 years of his management have earned him devoted respect from the Board and by all members of the Society. Despite repeated unfavorable circumstances, he managed the splendid business success. It is probably not an exaggeration that a large part of the success of the German Society took place under Mr. Hoffmann's leadership. During all the years he shied away from politics and devoted all of his free time to the Liederkranz, whose Vice-President he was repeatedly and three times its President. He was always voted unanimously into these offices. For 19 years he has belonged to the Liederkranz Board of Trustees. He also is a member of the Isabella Home Society, the German Hospital and the German School Society. Two years ago he visited his old homeland after 40 years of absence and returned with wonderful impressions. May he enjoy many more years of equal success at the helm of the business management of the German Society of New York!

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