| Sources |
- [S75] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume II, 1955-1973, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 25 Apr 1971.
Polly Dodgen Shultz obituary
- [S76] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume III, 1974-1986, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 16 Mar 1983.
Martha Ann Hoffman obituary
- [S118] History of early Sevier County Doctors , Beulah Linn, (www.sevierlibrary.org/genealogy/doc/doc.htm).
Dr. Charles Henry HoffmaUpland Chronicles: Dr. Hoffman forgotten figure in county’s history
by THERESA WILLIAMS The Mountain Press
02.21.11 - 12:01 am
Dr. Hoffman and some of his midwives class members. From left are Hoffman, Laura Whaley, Mary Jane Trentham, Polly Whaley and Celia Ownby. Hoffman’s home in a picture taken after the place had been abandoned. Hoffman and an unidentified man.
Dr. Charles Henry Hoffman died in 1949 in Sevier County. He is forgotten by most folks, but remembered by those who loved him.
Dr. Hoffman was born July 9, 1865, in Hillsboro, Germany. His father was a physician, so his decision to practice medicine came as no surprise to his family. He attended school in Germany.
Dr. Hoffman’s greatest desire was to become a skilled surgeon. He met his first wife — who was known only as the French Model — in Paris. Dr. and Mrs. Hoffman came to America, and shortly after arrival his marriage dissolved.
Hoffman attached himself to Bellevue Hospital in New York City for his internship and residency. His love for adventure brought him to Montana. He and a good friend bought a sheep ranch.
Tragically, he lost two fingers to frostbite when his horse threw him. He broke his right knee and had to be out in the weather on a cold wintery day. Luckily, his friend found him in time.
Later, Dr. Hoffman left Montana to become a member of the faculty at the Arkansas Medical School. He came to North Carolina in the summer of 1913 to relieve a physician friend.
While here he fell in love the Appalachian Mountains. On his way back to Arkansas he decided to take a vacation to Tennessee. He stayed in the Whaley Hotel/Boarding House on Greenbrier.
The mountain people began to call on Hoffman with requests to treat their sick loved one. As word spread, he began to receive more and more requests for help. Seeing the isolation and poverty, he decided to stay and not return to Arkansas.
He set up his practice in Emerts Cove. If he could not get to people’s homes by car he road horseback, or walked. Many times when a patent was very ill he would sit up day and night with them.
He treated people in Pittman Center, Copeland, Jones Cove, Cosby, Gatlinburg, The Sugarlands, Elkmont, and even Townsend. What did he charge? If they had no money to give him, he went home with vegetables, chickens, and any item the mountain people considered valuable.
He also departed the homes of the mountain people with their heartfelt thanks and prayer for a safe journey.
He would be out treating patients in all kinds of weather. It is said that on several occasions his wife had to take a stick of stove wood to knock his feet loose from his stirrups after he had crossed icy rivers in the winter on his journeys.
Shortly after his arrival he met the love of his life, a charming mountain girl by the name of Martha Ann Dodgen. They were married in 1914. Four daughters were born to this union: Phyllis, Pauline, Ruth, and Grace.
Phyllis died in infancy. Pauline became a nurse at the Sevier County Medical Center. She married Ronald J. Ingle. Ruth became a nurse and worked at Madison County Health Department in Richmond, Ky. She married W.G. Luxon.
Grace also became a nurse and worked as an assistant director of nurses in the Sevier County Health Care Center. She married Louis Chiles.
When there was a need to perform surgery on a patient, Hoffman would call on Dr. John W. Rogers from Sevierville or Dr. William Lynn from Knoxville to assist him. Surgery was often done on the kitchen table to save the patient’s life.
Dr. Hoffman and his wife Martha Ann delivered many babies. Phyllis Higgonbotham, who was a nurse at the Pi Beta Phi in Gatlinburg, assisted him in these classes.
Some of the ladies coming out of this class: Laura Whaley, Mary Jane Trentham, Polly Whaley and Celia Ownby. These ladies were responsible for saving the lives of both babies and mothers in the mountains of Sevier County.
He lectured at the Medical Society meeting in Knoxville. Later in life he had offices In the Ingle Building in Sevierville, and the Riverside Hotel in Gatlinburg. Through his love for the mountain people he never felt the desire to leave Sevier County, as he practiced medicine here for 36 years.
Dr. Charles Henry Hoffman was known by the mountain people as the “fever doctor.” When epidemics occurred, he was the first one to be called.
Wiley Ogle was stricken with typhoid fever and nearly died. His sister Mary Lydia Ogle-Ownby (grandmother to this writer) relates this story.
“Wiley was so sick that we thought he would surely die. Dr. Hoffman told us to follow his directions closely. After one visit he told us to start giving Wiley a little ‘jettie’ along with the broth we were giving him. We did not understand the word, so we ask him what was in the jettie. He told us it contained fruits. We then understood that he wanted us to give Wiley Jelly.”
Wiley recovered and lived well into his 80s.
One summer day Shannon Otis Williams, who was about 11, became quite ill. He was diagnosed with double pneumonia.
Dr. Hoffman was called to his house and stayed for several days, then went home.
One day Hoffman came to visit, as he did every day. This time he found a tourist had put up his tent in the middle of the road leading to the Williams home at the Forks of the River. It is said Hoffman shouted at the man, demanding he take down the tent.
“I’ve got a very sick boy down this road and you are hindering me from getting to him,” Dr. Hoffman told the man. When the tent was out of the way Hoffman drove his horse and buggy down the road, still threatening the man with the law if he did not keep the road open.
Otis lived to be 89 (he is the father of this writer). Dr. Charles Henry Hoffman is one of Sevier County’s unsung heroes. He will forever be remembered by those who owe him so much.
— Theresa Williams is a genealogist for the Sevier County Library System. The Upland Chronicles series celebrates the heritage and past of Sevier County. If you have suggestions for future topics, would like to submit a story or have comments please contact Carroll McMahan at 453-6411 or e-mail to cmcmahan@scoc.org; or Ron Rader at 604-9161 or e-mail to ron@ronraderproperties.com. n was born July 9, 1856 in Hillsboro, Germany, the son of a physician. He was educated in Germany and graduated from Heidelburg Medical School. He did a residency in Paris, France, specializing in surgery. He married a French model while in Paris and brought her to America, but she was not happy, and returned to Paris.
Dr. Hoffman did an internship and residency at Bellevue, New York City, He later went to Montana to practice surgery. While there, he and a physician friend bought a sheep ranch. One cold wintry day he was out on his horse rounding up the sheep when his horse threw him. His right knee was broken so he had to lie in the cold until his friend found him. During this ordeal, his right hand was frostbitten and he had to have two fingers removed-thus ending his surgery practice.
Sometime later, Dr. Hoffman left Montana and became a member of the faculty of Arkansas Medical School where he taught anatomy and surgery. In the summer of 1913 he went to North Carolina to relieve a physician friend who had to undergo surgery. While there he fell in love with the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. On his way back to Arkansas he stopped in Gatlinburg for a vacation and stayed at the Whaley Hotel or Boarding House in Greenbrier.
The mountain people soon found out that there was a physician in their midst and began to call on him to see the sick. Everyday he became more and more involved with the medical emergencies in this isolated area; and although he had planned to return to his teaching position in Arkansas, he realized the needs for medical service and decided to stay. He set up practice in Emerts Cove and, in 1914, married Martha Ann Dodgen, daughter of Elizabeth and Marion F. Dodgen.
Dr. Hoffman called on his friends, Dr. John W. Rogers of Sevierville, and Dr. William Lynn of Knoxville, to help with emergency "kitchen table" surgery. He delivered many babies, some with the help of his wife. For his services he would receive corn, potatoes, vegetables, ets. For the people who were unable to pay, and the family needed the food, Dr. Hoffman would accept nothing for his work.
Most of Dr. Hoffman's 36 years of service were spent in the mountains. If he could not get to the homes by car, he rode horseback in all kinds of weather, under difficult circumstances. Many times it was necessary for him to be up night and day visiting patients in Cosby, Pittman Center, Copeland, Jones Cove, Gatlinburg, Sugarlands, Elkmont, and Townsend. He would come home many winter evenings with his feet frozen in the stirrups of his saddle from crossing rivers on his horse, and his wife would have to take a stick of stove wood to loosen his feet from the stirrups.
Dr. Hoff man taught classes in midwifery in the Gatlinburg area, assisted by the Pi Beta Phi school nurse, Phillis Higgonbotham. He also lectured at the Medical Society meetings in Knoxville. In his later years he had an office in the Riverside Hotel in Gatlinburg and the Ingle building in Sevierville.
Four daughters were born to Dr. and Mrs. Hoffman: Phyllis, who died in infancy, and three who followed their father into the medical profession by becoming registered nurses: Mrs. Ronald J. Ingle (Pauline) worked at the Sevier County Medical Center for thirteen years; Mrs. W. G. Luxon (Ruth) who works at Madison County Health Department, Richmond, Kentucky; and Mrs. Louis Chiles (Grace) who is assistant Director of Nurses at the Sevier County Health Care Center.
Dr. Hoffman died of a heart condition at Broady Hospital February 9,1949 and is buried at Shiloh Cemetery in Sevier County.
Information furnished by Mrs. Pauline Hoffman Ingle
- [S47] Sevier County, Tennessee and its Heritage, Sevier County Heritage Book Committee, (1994, Don Mills, Inc.), 67.
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 21 Feb 2011.
Upland Chronicles: Dr. Hoffman forgotten figure in county’s history
by THERESA WILLIAMS
Dr. Hoffman and some of his midwives class members. From left are Hoffman, Laura Whaley, Mary Jane Trentham, Polly Whaley and Celia Ownby.
Hoffman’s home in a picture taken after the place had been abandoned.
Hoffman and an unidentified man.
Dr. Charles Henry Hoffman died in 1949 in Sevier County. He is forgotten by most folks, but remembered by those who loved him.
Dr. Hoffman was born July 9, 1865, in Hillsboro, Germany. His father was a physician, so his decision to practice medicine came as no surprise to his family. He attended school in Germany.
Dr. Hoffman’s greatest desire was to become a skilled surgeon. He met his first wife — who was known only as the French Model — in Paris. Dr. and Mrs. Hoffman came to America, and shortly after arrival his marriage dissolved.
Hoffman attached himself to Bellevue Hospital in New York City for his internship and residency. His love for adventure brought him to Montana. He and a good friend bought a sheep ranch.
Tragically, he lost two fingers to frostbite when his horse threw him. He broke his right knee and had to be out in the weather on a cold wintery day. Luckily, his friend found him in time.
Later, Dr. Hoffman left Montana to become a member of the faculty at the Arkansas Medical School. He came to North Carolina in the summer of 1913 to relieve a physician friend.
While here he fell in love the Appalachian Mountains. On his way back to Arkansas he decided to take a vacation to Tennessee. He stayed in the Whaley Hotel/Boarding House on Greenbrier.
The mountain people began to call on Hoffman with requests to treat their sick loved one. As word spread, he began to receive more and more requests for help. Seeing the isolation and poverty, he decided to stay and not return to Arkansas.
He set up his practice in Emerts Cove. If he could not get to people’s homes by car he road horseback, or walked. Many times when a patent was very ill he would sit up day and night with them.
He treated people in Pittman Center, Copeland, Jones Cove, Cosby, Gatlinburg, The Sugarlands, Elkmont, and even Townsend. What did he charge? If they had no money to give him, he went home with vegetables, chickens, and any item the mountain people considered valuable.
He also departed the homes of the mountain people with their heartfelt thanks and prayer for a safe journey.
He would be out treating patients in all kinds of weather. It is said that on several occasions his wife had to take a stick of stove wood to knock his feet loose from his stirrups after he had crossed icy rivers in the winter on his journeys.
Shortly after his arrival he met the love of his life, a charming mountain girl by the name of Martha Ann Dodgen. They were married in 1914. Four daughters were born to this union: Phyllis, Pauline, Ruth, and Grace.
Phyllis died in infancy. Pauline became a nurse at the Sevier County Medical Center. She married Ronald J. Ingle. Ruth became a nurse and worked at Madison County Health Department in Richmond, Ky. She married W.G. Luxon.
Grace also became a nurse and worked as an assistant director of nurses in the Sevier County Health Care Center. She married Louis Chiles.
When there was a need to perform surgery on a patient, Hoffman would call on Dr. John W. Rogers from Sevierville or Dr. William Lynn from Knoxville to assist him. Surgery was often done on the kitchen table to save the patient’s life.
Dr. Hoffman and his wife Martha Ann delivered many babies. Phyllis Higgonbotham, who was a nurse at the Pi Beta Phi in Gatlinburg, assisted him in these classes.
Some of the ladies coming out of this class: Laura Whaley, Mary Jane Trentham, Polly Whaley and Celia Ownby. These ladies were responsible for saving the lives of both babies and mothers in the mountains of Sevier County.
He lectured at the Medical Society meeting in Knoxville. Later in life he had offices In the Ingle Building in Sevierville, and the Riverside Hotel in Gatlinburg. Through his love for the mountain people he never felt the desire to leave Sevier County, as he practiced medicine here for 36 years.
Dr. Charles Henry Hoffman was known by the mountain people as the “fever doctor.” When epidemics occurred, he was the first one to be called.
Wiley Ogle was stricken with typhoid fever and nearly died. His sister Mary Lydia Ogle-Ownby (grandmother to this writer) relates this story.
“Wiley was so sick that we thought he would surely die. Dr. Hoffman told us to follow his directions closely. After one visit he told us to start giving Wiley a little ‘jettie’ along with the broth we were giving him. We did not understand the word, so we ask him what was in the jettie. He told us it contained fruits. We then understood that he wanted us to give Wiley Jelly.”
Wiley recovered and lived well into his 80s.
One summer day Shannon Otis Williams, who was about 11, became quite ill. He was diagnosed with double pneumonia.
Dr. Hoffman was called to his house and stayed for several days, then went home.
One day Hoffman came to visit, as he did every day. This time he found a tourist had put up his tent in the middle of the road leading to the Williams home at the Forks of the River. It is said Hoffman shouted at the man, demanding he take down the tent.
“I’ve got a very sick boy down this road and you are hindering me from getting to him,” Dr. Hoffman told the man. When the tent was out of the way Hoffman drove his horse and buggy down the road, still threatening the man with the law if he did not keep the road open.
Otis lived to be 89 (he is the father of this writer). Dr. Charles Henry Hoffman is one of Sevier County’s unsung heroes. He will forever be remembered by those who owe him so much.
— Theresa Williams is a genealogist for the Sevier County Library System. The Upland Chronicles series celebrates the heritage and past of Sevier County. If you have suggestions for future topics, would like to submit a story or have comments please contact Carroll McMahan at 453-6411 or e-mail to cmcmahan@scoc.org; or Ron Rader at 604-9161 or e-mail to ron@ronraderproperties.com.
- [S135] Mountain Ways, Gene Aiken, (1983), 199.
- [S78] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume I, 1930-1954, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 9 Feb 1949.
Hoffman, Dr Charles Henry b. Jul 9, 1865 MN d. Feb 9, 1949 Broadys Hosp f. Carl H. Hoffman m. Elizabeth Mhore Shiloh Cem Survivors: wife Sev Co 3 dau Mrs (Dr) Ronald Ingle Sev Co Mrs Ruth Luxon Miss Grace Hoffman.
- [S87] Death Certificate.
Name: Charles Henry Dr. Hoffman
Event: Death
Event Date: 09 Feb 1949
Event Place: Sevierville, Sevier, Tennessee
Gender: Male
Marital Status:
Race or Color:
Age: 83
Estimated Birth Year: 1866
Birth Date:
Birthplace:
Spouse:
Father: Carl H. Hoffman
Father's Birthplace:
Mother: Elizobeth Mhore
Mother's Birthplace:
Occupation:
Street Address:
Residence:
Cemetery:
Burial Place:
Burial Date:
Informant:
Additional Relatives:
Digital Folder Number: 4184533
Image Number: 2506
Film Number: 2218306
Volume/Page/Certificate Number: cn 49-05968
- [S34] In the Shadow of the Smokies, Smoky Mountain Historical Society, (1993), 352.
|
Search | Advanced Search
1866 - 1949 (82 years)
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set
= Link to Google Maps