My Genealogy Hound

H. H. HOFMANN, M. D. Prominent among the physicians of Pittsburgh is the subject of this sketch. He was born at Roetha, near Leipsic, Germany, Dec. 21, 1821, his father being a physician of that town. When he was about twelve years old his father died, leaving a large family in very moderate circumstances. Of this family six were sons, who all became physicians. Herman, the fourth son, after completing a common-school education, entered the Gymnasium of St. Thomas (an institution corresponding here to a literary college). After finishing here he received his medical education at the University at Leipsic, and came to the United States in 1849. Although he had seen the application of the principles of homeopathy in Leipsic, he was not convinced as to its merits. After coming to Pittsburgh he was induced to investigate homeopathy by Dr. Reichhelm, the first homeopathic physician west of the Alleghany mountains. The success of this school of practice in the treatment of cholera in 1849 finally convinced him, and he became a firm adherent to it. Appreciating the need of a homeopathic hospital, he, with Dr. M. Cote, now deceased, and Dr. J. C. Burgher, in 1866 purchased a building, and soon after the Homeopathic hospital of Pittsburgh was incorporated. This old building was torn down some years ago to make room for a new hospital, the finest institution of its class in the city. He has not for some time been actively engaged in hospital work, but is a consulting member of the obstetrical staff of the Homeopathic Medical and Surgical Hospital and Dispensary of Pittsburgh, and is the oldest homeopathic physician in Pittsburgh. Dr. Hofmann was married at Leipsic, Germany, in 1848, to Miss Mary Erdmann, and their children are Eliza (wife of C. P. Seip, M. D., of Pittsburgh), William F. (now deceased, of the firm of Heeren Bros. & Co., wholesale jewelers, of Pittsburgh), Adella (wife of Otto Heeren, of the same firm) and Charles H., M. D., Pittsburgh. He is a graduate of Pittsburgh high-school and the Western University. In 1878 he graduated from the Pulte Medical College, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated from the New York City in 1879, and then spent one year in Ward’s Island Homeopathic College, when he went to Europe, and spent two years in Leipsic, Vienna and Berlin. He is a member of the Homeopathic Medical Society of Pennsylvania and Allegheny, and of the American Institute of Homeopathy, and one of the surgeons of the Homeopathic College, Pittsburgh. Charles H. married, in 1887, Miss Mary Robinson, daughter of George T. Robinson, of Robinson, Ruy & Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.