Our Elders

Recollections from the Past

ANDREW JACKSON HOFFMAN, known as "Andy" was born May 1, 1861 to DISIE HOFFMAN. Andrew had three sisters and two brothers: BETTIE, IDA, ELLEN, JOE and SAM.

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Andy was not actually a Hoffman -- that was the name·'of his Mothers Master: although it was always believed that Andy was the Master's son.  This had been rumored (down through the generations) not only because of the Andy's light complexion, but because whenever Andy's Mother was mad at the Master for some reason, the Master would always bring her some expensive gift when he returned from town in an effort to "make up”.

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All the children were half-brothers and sisters except Joe and Ellen.

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As very young children, the Hoffman children lived in slavery and their Mother died while they were still young: this was evidently after slavery, since Sam, the oldest, struggled to keep the family together by working and engaging the services of a couple who traded housekeeping for board.

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In those days, the children always waited until after the adults had eaten before they had their meals. It happened one Sunday that the Housekeeper had company for dinner and there was nothing left for the children. When Sam came home and found the children hungry, he threw the Housekeeper out, not even giving her time to pack. After a while, Sam found he could no longer care for the family and had' to find homes for them. No one knows what happened to Sam after that -- he is said to have been related to a white family in Henry County and that he lived out his life “passing” as white.

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Andy, Ida and Bettie stayed with their Uncle Wash Haynes until Andy's
marriage to LATISHA CARTER, who was known as “Tishia.” Tishia was
born in McKenzie, Tennessee on December 25, 1865, and was the
daughter of SMYRA and HARDY CARTER. Tishia had three sisters --
SMANTY, SARAH and EMMA. She also had one brother, TOM, who was

sold away from his family at the age of four.  However, it is said that

Tom went on to have six or seven children. According to one of Sam's

daughters, there were three girls: GERTRUDE and DEMMIE LAWLER

of Martin Tennessee, MATTIE BARNES who lived in St. Louis, and

either three or four boys. One of the brothers, EDWARD, has a son

in either Nashville or Martin, Tennessee, and his name is "LILBERTER."

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After Andy and Tishia's marriage, Andy's two sisters Ida and Bettie lived with them until Ida married (Ned Alexander) and had one child - BERTIE ALEXANDER. Ida later returned to live with Andy and Tishia when her marriage broke up. Andy and Tishia also raised Tishia's nephew, WILLIE CARTER. Tishia's sister, SMANTY, lived with them for a few years before her death.

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Andy and Tishia had twelve children: MYRIA, MAMIE, WILLIE MAE, IRENE, DOSHIE and CAS, JOHN HENRY (called Henry), SAM, GEORGE and JAMES. Two of Andy and Tishia's children died as infants.

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As Henry remembers, they lived in Henry County, Tennessee until he was three years old. They then moved to Huntingdon in Carroll County where they lived with a man named Hawkins  for several years. They moved from there to a place not far from Huntingdon (also in Carroll County) called ”St. Paul." Henry also recalls that when he was a child, there was a long walk to and from school -- perhaps seven or eight miles.

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Andy and Tishia stressed education and Christian living and sent their children to St. Paul school through the eighth grade. Some went on to Rosenwald School in Nashville to pursue teaching courses (in those days, a certificate was awarded for much Jess schooling than is required today to teach school).

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The family attended church regularly and believed in the concept of respect and discipline. They expected obedience on the first time a child was spoken to -­ immediately, that is! When nine o'clock came around, Andrew told his courting daughters, Cas and Doshie – “Courting time is over.” If the young men stayed until 9:01, he would say "If those boys are spending the night, it's time to fix their beds. If not, hand them their hats.” 

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Andy and Tishia gave their family a lot of love, but were people of great reserve and showed this love in little meaningful ways like bringing everyone a chocolate drop or a peppermint stick home from town. 

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Henry left his home (in St. Paul) at the age of 14 or 15 to move to East St. Louis, where his older brother, Sam, was already living. George a/so moved to East St. Louis. Doshie went to Louisville, Kentucky; Irene relocated to Nashville, and Myrta moved to Trezevant, Tennessee. Cas, James, and Willie May remained in Huntingdon. Cas was the only one still living there in 1977.

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Andy had bought land in St. Paul and there built his home;·he remained there for a while after the death of his wife, finally returning to live his last nine years with his daughter, Cas. He died in 1956 at the age of 96.

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Henry met his wife, Alma, when she was visiting some friends named Hogan, who lived on 7th Street in East St. Louis. The Hogans were great match-makers, and invited Henry (who lived next door) over to meet Alma. Henry was shy and had little to say, just hanging around the front porch: he didn't dare go inside the house. But apparently Alina made a big impression on him, because he corresponded with the Hogans and Alma while he was in the military service, finally asking Alma to marry him.​