Henry HOFIUS

                   CENSUS:1860, Hickory Twp.,Mercer, Pa,p.112 gives Henry as 60yrs. old.
Will of George Hofius, Will Book2, pg 351, Mercer,Pa, lists Henry as one
of the children.
Note that in the 1860 census there is a 7 yr f. living with his family by
the name of Tracey or Lucey Dunlap.(Grandchild?)
BIOGRAPHY:Father of 7 children, 4 sons & 3 daughters-all by 1st marr.

Henry was born in Washington County and brought by his parents to Hickory Twp., when he was about 1 yr., old.  Raised on the homestead farm, received a common school education, principally under the tutorage of the well-known teacher, Master Hays. In 1823 he married Mary Reno a daughter of Charles Reno one of the early settlers of Sharon.  They settled on the West half of the homestead willed, by his father George, to he and his brother John.  This property of approximately 210 acres was located in Hickory Township,  Pennsylvania.  Henry remained on this part of the homestead until his death.  Later his son George C., took over the farm.

He was quite a prominent military man in the days of the old State Militia having been commissioned Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel - his commissions bearing the signatures of Governors Shulze, Wolf & Shunk.  In the Military Commission Book (Militia Book) Volume 6 for 1827-1833 Henry was in the Third Brigade of the Sixteenth Division - Greenville Volunteer Regiment - Sharon Volunteer Batalion as a Major.  In these books for 1842-1845 Volume 8 he was in the Second Brigade as a Captain - Shenango Sharpshooters.  In the same books for 1845-1848 Volume 9 he was in the Second Brigade Volunteers, Fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers as a Lieutenant Colonel.  Henry was 5 times elected justice of the peace, holding the office at time of his death.

He also took an active part in political issues of the day and in latter years great interest in the Sabbath and common schools.  During his lifetime the Morefield Cemetary was layed out as early as 1808.  Not layed out with and regularity.  On 4/18/1853 it was chartered Morefield Cemetery Assn., by the legislature.  Henry Hofius Esquire was one of the corporators.  When Mary Reno died in 1851 he married Charlotte Austin of Mahoning County, Boardman Twp., Ohio in 1853.

Henry had land holdings of 120 acres in Section 18, Town 91 and Range 29 in Humboldt County, Iowa (Dakota City) at least in the years 1861 through 1863. He paid taxes of about $6.00 per year on the land.

He had 7 children by his first wife four sons and three daughters and none by his second wife.  In the 1830 census his name was spelled Hofis and he is shown living in Shenango Township with 5 members in the family.  In the 1840 census his name is spelled Hofus and he then is shown as living in Hickory Township with 7 in the family.  In the 1850 census his name is spelled Hofius and was living in Hickory Township with 5 in the family.  In the 1860 census his name is spelled Hofins and was living in Hickory Township with a family of four.  His real estate was valued at $4,500 and his personal property at $1,235.

Henry was buried in Section 7, Row 1, Grave Site 17 in Morefield Cemetery.

Henry's will was drawn up on 6/1/1861 and registered on 11/28/1866 and witnessed by John Hofius and John S. Hofius.