BIO: R. Hoffheins, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, historical editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, York Borough, Pg 25

R. HOFFHEINS, one of the leading dealers, and formerly manufacturer of 
agricultural implements, is a descendent of Johann Adam Hoffheins, who with his 
brother, Johann Daniel, emigrated from the Upper Rhine country to America, 
arriving at Philadelphia, on the ship Pallas, November 25, 1763.  The latter 
settled in Lancaster County, where he married a sister of the Rev. Wagner, of 
the German Reformed Church.  The former began farming near Reading; about 1780 
he removed to Dover Township, York County, losing in the interval all his means 
through the depreciation of Continental money.  His son, Sebastian, who was born 
in Berks County, in 1767, was married to Barbara, daughter of Joseph and Mary 
Gochenour.  She was born in 1764 and died in 1844.  Sebastian was a farmer, 
shoemaker, and school-teacher, and a resident of Dover Township until his death 
in 1852.  Their son, Jonas, the father of our subject, was a farmer and resided 
in Dover Township all his life.  He died in Dover Borough in 1857.  The mother 
of our subject was Susan, daughter of Peter and Catherine Weigel of West 
Manchester Township.  She is still living, and a resident of York.  Two brothers 
of Barbara Gochenour and two uncles of Catherine (Upp) Weigel were soldiers in 
the Revolution.  Two children are descendents of Jonas and Susan Hoffheins, 
Samuel, a resident of Adams County, Penn., and Reuben, the subject of this 
biography.  He was reared upon the farm in Dover Township, and until seventeen 
years of age was an assistant of his father.  He then learned the carpenter 
trade, which he followed several years, embarking at the expiration of that time 
in business for himself by starting a shop at Dover, for the repair of 
agricultural implements.  Possession natural mechanical aptitude he soon 
extended his field of operations and began the manufacture of various farming 
implements with valuable patented improvements, invented by himself, among which 
may be named the self-raking reaper; horse hay rake and cultivator and planter, 
together with other articles of minor importance.  In 1865 he removed to York, 
and under the firm name of Hoffheins, Shireman & Co., began the manufacture of 
reapers, mowers and agricultural implements upon a scale which the enlarged 
facilities of York afforded, employing at that period about sixty hands.  In 
1869 Mr. Hoffheins disposed of his interest in the manufacturing business and 
has since devoted his time to farming and the sale of agricultural implements.  
His headquarters are in York, where he carries a full line of all the implements 
necessary to agriculture.  He has branch houses at East Berlin and Table Rock, 
Adams County, and one at Dover, all of them being under his general supervision.  
Mr. Hoffheins has done much to improve the machinery in this field and has 
several valuable patents.  He has always been deeply interested in farming, and 
is at present vice-president of the York County Agricultural Society.  Mr. 
Hoffheins was united in marriage in 1857, with Miss Lydia Lenhart, daughter of 
William Lenhart, of Dover Township, and a descendant of an old York County 
family.  Two children are living: William L. and Franklin G.; both assisting 
their father in his business enterprises.