John Levi Hoffecker
Source: "Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs
of Chester and Delaware Counties, Pennsylvania Vol. 1", Gilbert Cope and Henry
Graham Ashmead, The Lewis Publishing Co., New York, NY, 1904, p. 549
"JOHN LEVI HOFFECKER, known throughout East Vincent township as an energetic
and successful farmer, and an active and worthy citizen, is a grandson of
John Hoffecker, a merchant of Berks county. He married, and subsequently
moved to Chester county, where his descendants still reside.
John Levi Hoffecker, son of John Hoffecker, was born September 30, 1834, in
Berks county, and about 1840, was taken by his parents to Chester county,
where the remainder of his life was passed. He learned the trade of a stone
mason and cooper, but never practiced it much, preferring to devote himself
to farming, in which he engaged successfully for many years, combining with
his agricultural labors the trade of a butcher. For several years he was a
director of the Famers' National Bank of Phoenixville, and was all his life
a man who took an active interest in local affairs, consenting to serve as
both a member of the school board and as tax collector. He was prominently
identified with the order of American Mechanics. His political principles
and theories were those of an earnest Democrat. He was a member of the
Reformed church.
Mr. Hoffecker married Rachel, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Ricksleir)
Hazzard, the former a farmer of Chester county. Mr. and Mrs. Hazzard were
the parents of two daughters, one of whom, Margaret, married Benjamin, son
of Samuel Buckwalter, a member of an old Chester county family, and was the
mother of three children. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Buckwalter
married Jacob Keiler, a Chester county farmer, and in his latter years, an
undertaker. Mr. and Mrs. Keiler were the parents of one son, Hosea, who is
a carpenter in Spring City, married a Miss Loomas, of Pottstown, and has no
children. The other daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hazzard was Rachel, born in
East Vincent township, and mentioned above as the wife of John Levi Hoffecker.
There was also one son, Samuel T., who is now an undertaker in Philadelphia.
The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hoffecker: S. Ella, who is
the wife of Thomas Buzer, a teamster of Philadelphia; Alvin, who is a farmer
in East Coventry, and married Ada, daughter of Joseph Johnson, a farmer of
East Vincent township; Annie M., and JOhn Levi, mentioned at length herein-
after. Mr. Hoffecker, the father of the family, died in 1896, and his widow
now resides with her daughter, Annie M., on the old homestead.
This page updated on March 8, 2013