Barbour County, West Virginia Biography of MONZELL M. HOFF, M. D. This file was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: The submitter does not have a connection to the subject of this sketch. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 297-298 MONZELL M. HOFF, M. D. From the time he came home with his medical diploma and began practice in his native County of Barbour Doctor Hoff has been permitted no extended vacation or interruption to his serious duties as a professional man and citizen. He came into his profes- sion well qualified and equipped from a technical stand- point, and he has also had the invaluable asset of being a "good mixer," with a praiseworthy ambition to work with and assist his fellow citizens in carrying forward the pro- gram of general improvement. Doctor Hoff was born in Philippi District, at what is now West Philippi, August 20, 1859. His ancestors came from Germany to Pennsylvania in Colonial times. His grand- father was the first representative of the family in West Virginia, and spent his life as a farmer in Barbour County. He was a republican, performed a good deal of public serv- ice in his district, including membership on the Board of Education, and was a devout Baptist. Lamar M. Hoff, father of Doctor Hoff, was a native of Barbour County, born in 1838, had to depend upon his own exertions for his early education, and as a young man he followed the trade of photographer, but eventually became a farmer. He was a loyal Union man and a republican, and was reared a Baptist. Lamar M. Hoff married Melissa E. Crislip, who is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and lives with her son, Doctor Hoff. She was born in Barbour County June 14, 1840, daughter of Samuel and Eleanor (Board) Crislip. The Crislips were of an old Pennsylvania Colonial family. Samuel Crislip was a brother of Abraham Crislip, grandfather of Albert G. Crislip, under whose name will he found a more complete sketch of this interesting family. Lamar M. Hoff had the following children: Clif- ton M., who died January 20, 1920, in Taylor County, leav- ing a family; Monzell M.; Louisa, Mrs. Amos Stoalarbarger, of Blue Jacket, Oklahoma. The mother of these children subsequently married Theodore Nutter, and had a daughter by that marriage. Soon after the birth of Doctor Hoff his parents moved to Union District, and he was five years of age when his father died there. The widow then took her little family into Elk District, to the home of her father, where Monzell remained until he was past sixteen. He worked for his grandfather Crislip on the farm and also did farm labor for other men in that locality. This work gave him the funds to attend. school. After leaving the home of his grandfather he went to Illinois, and spent two or three years as a wage worker, chiefly at farm labor at Carthage and in Hancock County. While he was there trouble arose between the fishermen along the Mississippi River and par- ties owning and controlling the land adjacent to the fish- ing grounds. An attempt was made to oust the fishermen, and this led to reprisals by not only the fishermen but by their allies, the roving tramps. Several farm houses and much property were destroyed, and to restore peace and order the state sent militia into the area. Young Hoff had been induced to join the Company of National Guards at Carthage for the benefit to be derived from military drill, and was orderly sergeant of the Carthage Company when it was called to active duty in the area of trouble. After a brief stay the tramps scattered and the fishery trouble gradually subsided. After returning to West Vir- ginia from Illinois Doctor Hoff continued his education in select schools, and prepared himself for the duties of teacher. He taught school in the country, and for seven years taught the grammar department of the schools at Philippi. All of this constituted a valuable experience to him as a preparation for the serious duties of life. From his earn- ings as a teacher Doctor Hoff was able to pursue his med- ical studies. While teaching he frequented the company and office of Doctor Rusmisel of Union District, and he also studied anatomy under Doctor Bosworth of Philippi. For his regular course he entered the University of Maryland at Baltimore, and remained there until he finished his course and graduated in 1889. He took special work in physical diagnosis and general practice, and also specialized to a certain extent in eye, ear, nose and throat work at Bay- view Hospital. When he returned home to begin practice he kept up his reading, but the demand for his service has been so insistent that he had never been able to get away for post-graduate study. Early in his career he did all the minor surgery that came to his attention, and continued that work until the establishment of local hospitals. He was health officer when the World war came on, and that put him in line for immediate service in connection with the Draft Board. He was associated as examining physician on the Draft Board with Dr. W. Scott Smith of Philippi. At the first call for men from Barbour County the require- ments were so rigid that the county was unable to fill its quota, but in subsequent examinations the Government standards were somewhat relaxed, so that the Draft Board was able to keep the Barbour County quota full. It was from a sense of public duty that Doctor Hoff accepted appointment as health officer of Barbour County. Ever since he began practice he has been a member of the Pension Board of the locality. As a consequence he has per- haps passed upon more applications for pensions than any other physician of the region. While acting as examiner for the Draft Board during the war he passed upon the physical qualifications of some thirteen hundred young men. So far as his professional duties have permitted Doctor Hoff has been alert in responding to the obligations of good citizenship. In politics he is a republican, easting his first presidential vote for General Garfield in 1880. He served as chairman of the Barbour County Republican Central Committee several years, and until recently attended state conventions, being in the convention which nominated Judge Atkinson for governor and also Governor Dawson. At Belington, West Virginia, September 4, 1890, Doctor Hoff married Ida May Teter, daughter of Colonel Jesse and Elizabeth (Phillips) Teter. The Teters were an early fam- ily in the rural district of Barbour County. Col. Jesse Teter was an officer in the Union Army, was stationed at Grafton and served on the Medical Board with Doctor Ken- nedy. After the war he returned to the farm. He served twenty years as justice of the peace, was active in the repub- lican party, and was one of the most devout men in the performance of his Christian and church duties. His in- fluence was wide and lasting, and altogether he was a noble character. Colonel Teter had three sons and two daughters: Thomas Benton, W. Worth, Floyd, Mrs. Hoff and Myrtle E., the latter of whom still lives on the home farm. Doctor Hoff had the misfortune to lose by death on Feb- ruary 10, 1921, his good wife and the companion of more than thirty years. She was born in Valley District of Bar- bour County, May 31, 1860, was well educated in select schools and in college at Pittsburgh, and for several years followed the profession of teaching. During her married life she took a deep interest in local organizations for in- creasing the standards of school education and in behalf of every moral and reform movement. She was a very active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and did much to aid Doctor Hoff in preparing the recruits from Barbour County for active war service. Doctor Hoff joined the Masonic Fraternity in 1884, and several times has been master of Bigelow Lodge No. 52, is past high priest of Philippi Chapter, R. A. M., a member of DeMolay Commandery No. 11, K. T., at Grafton, and Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine at. Wheeling. He be- came an Odd Fellow in 1888, is a member of both branches, and is also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Maccabees.