The Hoff Family and extended family of two daughters who married into the Dye family, moved from Prince William Co., (near today's Manassas), VA in ~1805 by flatboat down the Ohio River to Washington Co. near to today's Marietta, OH. This included Susan Sophia Moffett (Moffitt?) Hoff, the widow of the Rev. Daniel Hoff (who died in VA ~1797), and 6 other childre, but not son Jonathan. It appears that she was later joined by son, Jonathan Hoff (B: 1775, Pr. William Co., VA), and as well as Jonathan's 2 young sons: Powell Hoff (B: 13 Aug 1801 Alexandria, VA), and John Hoff (B: 16 Apr 1807, Alexandria, VA). There hay also have been a dtr of Jonathan, named Margaret Hoff (who died 20 March 1853 and is buried next to him in the Mount Zion Cem. Washington Co. DOB is unknown). They initially lived in Fearing Tnshp, and Jonathan died there on 8 Nov 1812. He is found buried in the Zion Cem. The family eventually farmed in Cow Run, East of Marietta, and then relocated in about 1831 to a farm in Chesterhill, OH. Powell Hoff (1802-1870) married a Martha Brewster on 25 May 1824 in Marietta. She was the daughter of Revolutionary War veteran Nathan Brewster and Hannah Parker Brewster, who moved there from Ostego Co, NY on "Bounty Land" (taken in lieu of owed back compenstion for military service) sometime after Martha was born there on 28 Jul 1802. Powell and Martha moved again to Marietta and on to Athens in about 1840 (apparently with the elderly in-laws, the Bresters, in tow. Nathan Brewster is found in Athens on the 1840 Rev. War Pension rolls, and died there in 1842. His widow lived there until 1855. Powell Hoff and wife Martha Brewster Hoff moved out of Ohio in about 1843 to Rochester, Ill near Springfield where Illinois land records show that Powell purchased 4,000 acres (for $125). He eventually sold this off in parcels, and after having 2 more children there between 1844-46, moved on to Dallas Co (Walnut Tnshp) IA in ~1854 and homesteaded there. He died there on 6 May 1870 and is buried in the Hoff-Prarie Cem. east of Grimes with wife Martha, and numerous other Hoffs, many who cycled throught Washington Co. and who eventually moved on the westward migration into the midwest to farm. Although not one of the first 48 families to pioneer Washington Co. and Ohio, the Hoff Family were early pioneers who played a roll in the very early development of the County.

Contributed by: John Hoff

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